Gisella Alcaraz-Bacillus Pumilus
Classification
- Domain: Bacteria
- Kingdom: Eubacteria
- Phylum: Firmicutes
- Class: Bacilli
- Order: Bacillales
- Family: Bacillaceae
Species
- Genus: Bacillis
- Species: Pumilus
Habitat Information
Describe the location and conditions under which the organism was isolated.
Description and Significance
- Colony Morphology: Rod Shaped, Bacillus
- Cellular Morphology:
- When spread on a plate of Gram (+) E. faecalis, it produced a slight zone of inhibition.
- Organism may be significant because there is research that leads us to believe that B. pumilus is involved in bacterial hay preservation. B. pumilus bacteria is also used for its plasmids in gene transfer systems. The proteases from B. pumilus are used in various industries. Food, chemical, detergent, and leather industries can benefit from the proteases from B. pumilus. The use of the plasmids from B. pumilus and insertion of other plasmids to the bacteria aide in various industries, and as antimicrobials and antifungals.
Genome Structure
Describe the size and content of the genome.
How many chromosomes?
Circular or linear?
Other interesting features?
What is known about its sequence?
Include S Ribosomal sequence that you obtained from PCR and sequencing here.
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Physiology and Pathogenesis
Biochemical characteristics, enzymes made, other characteristics that may be used to identify the organism; contributions to environment (if any).
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
Further testing and Results from Biochemical Tests:
MR-VP (Methyl Red and Voges-Proskauer)Tests:
- No mixed acid fermentation
- Neutral end products.
Citrate Test:
- Organism can use Citrate as the only carbon source.
SIM Test:
- Cannot use Sulfur as terminal electron acceptor
- Organism is not motile
- Tryptophan is not broken down and indole is not produced.
Nitrate Test:
- Organism did not make NO2 from NO3 OR organism broke down NO3 into another nitrogenous product.
- After adding zinc solution turned red = Organism did not reduce nitrate.
Urea Test:
- Organism is not able to break down Urea to Ammonia
TSI Test:
- Red Slant/ Yellow Butt/No gas production
-Does not ferment either lactose or sucrose -Some fermentation has occurred, acid has been produced, it is a facultative anaerobe.
Decarboxylation Test:
- Arginine- Negative for Arginine decarboxylase
- Lysine- Negative for Lysine decarboxylase
- Ornithine- Negative for Ornithine decarboxylase
Phenylaline Deaminase Test:
- Tested negative, which means that this organism is not able to remove amino group from phenylalnine.
Oxidase Test :
- (-) Organism is anaerobic or facultative anaerobic.
Eosin Methyline Blue Agar (EMB):
- No growth of organism, which makes this test lead us to the conclusion that the organism is Gram Positive.
Hektoen Enteric Agar (HE):
- Determind it was a Gram Positive.
- Negative for lactose fermentation.
MacConkey Agar (MAC):
- No growth, agrees with EMB test.
- Positive for lactose fermentation.
Blood Agar Test:
- β- complete breakdown of Nutrient Agar.
Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA):
- Organism is Gram Positive.
- Negative for fermentation.
Phenylethyl Alcohol Agar (PEA):
- Growth on plate leads us to the same conclusions that the organism is Gram Positive.
Catalase Test:
- Organism is able to take hydrogen peroxide and make it less harmful.
- Tested positive for catalase.
6.5% Salt Tolerance Test:
- There was growth in the broth.
Bile Esculin Test:
- Tested positive, it is able to hydrolyze Esculin in the presence of bile.
References
Author
Page authored by Gisella Alcaraz, student of Prof. Kristine Hollingsworth at Austin Community College.
