(bă-sĭl′ŭs)
[Pronunciation]
[L.]

A genus of gram-positive, spore-forming, often aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria in the family Bacillaceae; they grow singly or in chains.
Most inhabit soil and water. Some, such as Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus, cause serious human diseases.

Figure: BACILLUS
Gram stain of Bacillus species (spores visible in upper left quadrant)



See: bacterium

Subentry:
Bacillus cereus