Bacillus megaterium | |
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Bacillus megaterium cells stained with Sudan Black B and safranin. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Bacillota |
Class: | Bacilli |
Order: | Bacillales |
Family: | Bacillaceae |
Genus: | Bacillus |
Species: | B. megaterium
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Binomial name | |
Bacillus megaterium de Bary 1884
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Bacillus megaterium is a rod-like, Gram-positive, mainly aerobic, spore forming bacterium found in widely diverse habitats.[1][2] It has a cell length up to 100 μm and a diameter of 0.1 μm, which is quite large for bacteria.[3] The cells often occur in pairs and chains,[1] where the cells are joined by polysaccharides on the cell walls.[citation needed]
In the 1980s, prior to the use of Bacillus subtilis for this purpose, B. megaterium was the main model organism among Gram-positive bacteria for intensive studies on biochemistry, sporulation, and bacteriophages. Recently, its popularity has started increasing in the field of biotechnology for its recombinant protein-production capacity.[3]
This species was transferred into the genus Priestia.[4] The correct nomenclature is now Priestia megaterium[5].
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