CPD – MICROBIOLOGY

BACILLUS CEREUS
BACILLUS CEREUS (B. CEREUS)
aerobic gram-positive,
spore-forming,
rod-shaped bacterium
ubiquitous in the environment
BACILLUS GENUS
Bacillus anthracis,
Bacillus thuringiensis,
Bacillus mycoides,
Bacillus pseudomycoides,
Bacillus weihenstephanensis, and
Bacillus toyonensis
BACILLUS GENUS
extremely similar properties,
autonomic differentiation system is not sufficient to determine the species of
the genus
identified by differences in plasmid content, morphological structure, and
pathogenicity
BACILLUS GENUS
Bacillus spores are abundant in soil, fresh water, and hospital
environment
also in normal gastrointestinal flora of prolonged hospitalized patients
BACILLUS GENUS
Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus cereus, have very similar
chromosomal structure
B. anthracis contains two plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2, which encodes
encapsulation and toxin production
B. thuringiensis is indistinguishable from B. cereus, but B. thuringiensis is
primarily an insect pathogen and detected by crystalline toxin inclusions
during sporulation
PATHOGENICITY

Association with food poisoning and severe eye infections

clinical conditions such as anthrax-like progressive pneumonia, fulminant
sepsis, and devastating central nervous system infections, particularly in
immunosuppressed individuals, intravenous drug abusers, and neonates
PATHOGENICITY
bacterium produces several exotoxins including cereolysin, lecithinase,
phospholipase, and proteases that are responsible for tissue damage and
progression of the infection
fulminant septic shock and coma during bacteremia
Mortality is related to resistance of B. cereus to penicillins and
cephalosporins as a result of beta lactamase production
Treatment of choice: vancomycin and ciprofloxacin
COLONIES

Colony shape and size: irregular, large

Margin: undulate to curled
Elevation: flat to raised
Color: opaque
Texture: smooth
MORPHOLOGY
gram-positive,
rod-shaped,
chains with square ends
contains terminal endospores.
MORPHOLOGY OF ENDOSPORES
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:

Bacillus cereus is motile - when this bacterium is

inoculated into the motility media, the growth of
this bacterium is not restricted within the stab line
of the inoculation but can be seen throughout the
media
True Bacillus cereus can ferment glucose but it
cannot ferment lactose; none of the fermentation
reactions produce gas as well
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:
Bacillus cereus produces β-hemolytic enzymes
therefore hemolysis test in blood agar will be
positive
Produces beta lactamases ie resistant to beta
lactam antimicrobial agents like penicillin
(Kirby Bauer method)
OTHER TESTS
appearance on PEMBA (Polymixin pyruvate egg
yolk mannitol bromothymol blue agar) media
forms crenate or fimbriate to slightly rhizoid
colonies
distinct turquoise to peacock blue colour due to
the absence of mannitol fermentation and are
usually surrounded by an egg yolk precipitate of
similar colour due to lecithinase production
(Sneath, 1986).
Gram Stain (+) B anthracis B. Cereus
Endospore

Thioglycollate (+)
Motility Non-motile motile
Facultative Anaerobe

Motility (+) Capsule Capsulated Non-

Glucose: A and NG
encapsulated
Lactose: NA and NG

Hemolysis (+) Hemolysis Non-hemolytic β-hemolytic

A=Acid production, NA= No acid
production, G= Gas production,
NG= No gas production, FA=
Resistance to Sensitive Resistant
Facultative Anaerobe, (+)= Positive
for biochemical test, (-)= Negative Penicillin (produce β-
for biochemical test
lactamase)
REFERENCE
Drobniewski F. 1993. Bacillus cereus and Related Species. Clinical
Microbiology Reviews. (6)4: 324-338.
Harley J. 2008. Laboratory Exercises in Microbiology. New York:
McGraw-Hill. 486 p.
https://www.fda.gov/food/foodscienceresearch/laboratorymethods/u
cm070875.htm