Bacillus megaterium (Priestia megaterium)

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Gram stain Culture

General information
- Taxonomy
  Family: Bacillaceae
  Genus: Priestia megaterium
  Formely: Bacillus megaterium
  
  Natural habitats
  Spores occur in soil, dust, water and plants.
  
  Clinical significance
  Considered non pathogenic, but may occasionally be an oppotunistic pathogen.
Gram stain
- Large Gram positive (variable) rods, with square ends 1.2-1.5 x 2.0-5.0 µm
  
  Greatest cell diameter of a Bacillus species The bacilli tend to occur in pairs and chains
  
  Spore shape: ellipsoidal spherical
  Spore position: central, paracentral or subterminal
  Sporangia swelling: negative
Culture characteristics
- Obligate aerobic
  
  BA: colonies are large, round, convex, slimy and not hemolytic Colonies may become yellow and then brown or black after prolonged incubation.
  
  Capsule: might be present
  
  BBAØ: no growth
Characteristics
References
- James Versalovic et al.(2011) Manual of Clinical Microbiology 10th Edition