Bacillus subtilis

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Bacillus subtitilis is a gram positive bacterium, grown in temperature of 25-35oC. B. subtilis has many strategies to survive under harsh environmental conditions. One strategy, for example, is to form an endospore. Another is to aquire external DNA forming a recombinant.  The B. subtitilis is not harmful for humans and is found in the gut due to its probiotic effects. However, in an immunosuppressed patient the bacterium can be harmful. 

B. subtitilis produce a type of antibiotic called Iturins which it uses to kill off other bacteria in order to have a competitive advantages for nutrients and space etc. other products produced by this bacteria have been found to have fungicidal properties therefore this bacterial can be used to control plant diseases as it kills other pathogens in the seeds or plant.[1][2]

References

  1. Backman et Al,2004.
  2. Backman, PA, M. Wilson and J. F. Murphy. 1997. Bacteria for Biological Control of Plant Diseases in Rechcigl and Rechcigl, eds., Environmentally Safe Approaches to Crop Disease Control. pp. 95-109. CRC Press. Cline, D. 2004. Agraquest Inc. Personal communication.