Taxonomy
Morphology
Cultural characteristics
Biochemical characters
Ecology
Pathogenicity
References
Bacteria => Firmicutes => Bacilli => Bacillales => Bacillaceae => Bacillus => Bacillus lentus Gibson (1935).
Phylogenetic studies indicate that B. circulans, B. firmus and B. lentus are closely related.
Gram positive, 0.6-0.9 x 1.2-4.0 μm, straight or slightly curved rods. Motile. Ellipsoidal, paracentral spore, may swell the
sporangium slightly.
Colonies on TSA at 30 ºC are 1-2 mm in diameter, whitish, opaque and flat, with
glossy surfaces and entire margins. Growth temperature from 10 ºC to 35 ºC.
No growth in anaerobic agar. Grow in 5% NaCl, but not in 10% NaCl. NaCl is not
required for growth. Range of pH 6-9, optimum 8. Variable growth at pH 5 and 10.
Isolated from soil.
Unknown.
- Gordon R.E., Haynes W.C., Pang C.H. (1973) – The genus Bacillus . Agriculture Handbook No. 427, U.S.D.A., Washington D.C.
- Buchanan R.E., Gibbons N.E., Cowan S.T., Holt J.G., Liston J., Murray R.G.E., Niven C.F., Ravin A.W., Stanier R.W. ( 1974) –
Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, Eight Edition, The Williams & Wilkins Company, Baltimore.
- N.A. Logan and P. De Vos, 2009. Genus I. Bacillus Cohn 1872. In: (Eds.) P.D. Vos, G. Garrity, D. Jones, N.R. Krieg, W.
Ludwig, F.A. Rainey, K.-H. Schleifer, W.B. Whitman. Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Volume 3: The Firmicutes,
Springer, 21-127.
Positive results for catalase, reduction of nitrate to nitrite, hydrolysis of starch, urease,
beta-galactosidase, hydrolysis of esculin, acid production (sometimes weak) from: L-
arabinose, amygdalin, arbutin, D-cellobiose, glucose, methyl beta-xyloside, mannitol,
D-fructose, galactose, beta-gentibiose, N-acetil-D-glucosamine, lactose, D-mannose,
maltose, D-melezitose, D-melibiose, D-raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, salicin, starch,
sucrose, trehalose & D-xylose.
Negative results for egg yolk reaction, decomposition of casein, decomposition of
tyrosine, Voges-Proskauer reaction, arginine dihydrolase, lysine decarboxylase,
ornithine decarboxylase, hydrolysis of gelatin, resistance to lysozyme, tryptophan deaminase, indole production, H2S production, acid
production from: D-arabinose, adonitol, D- & L-arabitol, dulcitol, erythritol, D-fucose, glycerol, glycogen, gluconate, inulin. 2- &
5-ketogluconate, lyxose, sorbose, xylitol & L-xylose .
Variable results for citrate utilization, acid production from: L-fucose, meso-inositol & sorbitol.

(c) Costin Stoica