Bacillus licheniformis

''Bacillus licheniformis'' is a bacterium commonly found in the soil. It is found on bird feathers, especially chest and back plumage, and most often in ground-dwelling birds (like sparrows) and aquatic species (like ducks).

It is a gram-positive, mesophilic bacterium. Its optimal growth temperature is around 50 °C, though it can survive at much higher temperatures. The optimal temperature for enzyme secretion is 37 °C. It can exist in a dormant spore form to resist harsh environments, or in a vegetative state when conditions are good.

High capacity of secretion of the alkaline serine protease has made ''B.'' ''licheniformis'' one of the most important bacteria in industrial enzyme production. Subtilisin Carlsberg () secreted by ''B. licheniformis'' is used as a detergent protease. It is sold under the name Alcalase by Novozymes. A small antisense RNA against Subtilisin Carlsberg named BLi_r0872 was discovered in an RNA-seq based study. It may have a putative impact on protease production and serve as target for strain improvement.

Scientists are currently exploring its ability to degrade feathers for agricultural purposes. Feathers contain high amounts of non-digestible proteins, but researchers hope that, through fermentation with ''B. licheniformis'', they can use waste feathers to produce cheap and nutritious feather meal to feed livestock.

Ecological research is also being done looking at the interaction between plumage colors and ''B. licheniformis'' activity, and the consequences thereof. Feather degrading bacteria may have played an important role in the evolution of molting, and patterns in feather coloration ( Gloger's Rule).

Description

''B. licheniformis'' is a Gram positive, spore-forming, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium. It was initially named ''Clostridium licheniforme'' by H. Weigmann and renamed ''Bacillus licheniformis'' by Frederick D. Chester. ''B. licheniformis'' displays a variety of colony morphologies, with the rough "licheniform" colonies giving the organism its name. Colonies tend to be cream-colored, but will turn red in the presence of iron in media, most likely as a result of pulcherrimin. ''B. licheniformis'' is found in a wide variety of environments, but especially in soil and in the feathers of birds, where ''B. licheniformis'' degrades β-keratin. There is evidence that red feathers, with psittacofulvin, are more resistant to degradation.

Applications

Industrial Enzymes

Subtilisin Carlsberg, a serine protease secreted by ''B. licheniformis'', is used in laundry detergent formulations due to its ability to perform at high pH levels (optimal activity is between 8.0 and 10.0) and high temperatures (40-50 Celsius). Amylases are also synthesized by ''B. licheniformis'' and used for industrial purposes.

Probiotics

''B. licheniformis'' is used as a probiotic in animal feed, where isolates have been shown to prevent disease and promote growth as well as being commercially available. Some isolates have also been found to be probiotic in humans (and are also commercially available), but it's been mentioned that clinical trials have not been performed on many of them yet.

Other Applications

''B. licheniformis'' also shows possible applications in bioremediation, biomineralization, and biofuels as more examples.

Natural genetic transformation

''B. licheniformis'' is naturally competent for genetic transformation. Natural genetic transformation is a sexual process involving DNA transfer from one bacterium to another through the intervening medium, and the integration of the donor sequence into the recipient genome by homologous recombination.

Pathogenicity and Food Spoilage

''Bacillus licheniformis'' has been found to cause infection in several cases of immunocompromised patients. ''B. licheniformis'' has been found to be the causative agent of ventriculitis, ophthalmitis, bacteremia, peritonitis, and endocarditis. ''B. licheniformis'' is also known to contaminate food, especially dairy, as well as causing "ropiness" in bread. There is evidence that contamination may be a result of a toxin.

Identification through testing

Below is a list of differential techniques and results that can help to identify ''Bacillus licheniformis'' from other bacteria and ''Bacillus'' species.
* Anaerobic Growth: Positive
* Voges Proskauer test: Positive
* Acid produced from
** D-glucose: Positive
** L-arabinose: Positive
** D-mannitol: Positive
* Starch hydrolysis: Positive
* Nitrate reduction: Positive
* Degradation of tyrosine: Negative
* Growth at
** 10 °C: Negative
** 50 °C: Positive
** 55 °C: Positive
* Utilization of citrate: Positive

References

External links

Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of a Feather Degrading Bacteria, Williams et al., 1990

Bacterial Degradation of Black and White Feathers, Goldstein et al., 2003

Complete genome of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC14580 - publication



Bacillus licheniformis genomeType strain of ''Bacillus licheniformis'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase

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