Bacillus
Bacillus A genus of bacteria in which the cells are rod-shaped, often motile, and typically Gram-positive. Endospores can be formed in the presence of air. Bacillus species are chemo-organotrophic. Some can grow only in the presence of air; others can grow in either the presence or absence of air. There are many species, found in a wide range of habitats. Some species can cause disease in vertebrate animals (e.g. anthrax), or in insects; insecticidal species, particularly B. thuringiensis, are used in the biological control of insect pests.
bacillus
ba·cil·lus / bəˈsiləs/ • n. (pl. -cil·li / -ˈsilī/ ) a disease-causing bacterium. ∎ a rod-shaped bacterium.DERIVATIVES: bac·il·lar·y / ˈbasəˌlerē/ adj.ORIGIN: late 19th cent.: from late Latin, diminutive of Latin baculus ‘stick.’
bacillus
bacillus Any rod-shaped bacterium. Generally, bacilli are large, Gram-positive, spore-bearing, and have a tendency to form chains and produce a capsule. Some are motile, bearing flagella. They are ubiquitous in soil and air and many are responsible for food spoilage. The group also includes Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax.
bacillus
bacillus (bă-sil-ŭs) n. (pl. bacilli) any rod-shaped bacterium. See also Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Streptobacillus.
bacillus
bacillus
bacillus XIX. mod. use of late L. dim. of baculum rod, stick. Cf. BACTERIUM.
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