Bacillus

Definition Bacillus

Bacillus: Bacillus n. a large genus of Gram-positive spore-bearing rodlike bacteria. THey are widely distributed in soil and air (usually as spores). Most feed on dead organic material and are responsible for food spoilage. The species B. anthracis which is nonmotile, causes *anthrax, a disease of farm animals transmissible to man. B. polymyxa, commonly found in soil, is the source of the *polymyxin group of antibiotics. B. subtilis may cause conjunctivitis in man; it also produces the antibiotic *bacitracin.
(pl. bacilli) any rod-shaped bacterium. See also Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Streptobacillus.