Bacillus cereus

Definition
noun
A gram-positive rod-shaped endospores forming organism that is facultative aerobes which produced toxins causes diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.
Supplement
Bacillus cereus has a size of 1 x 3-4 micrometers which is mesophilic that grows optimally at temperatures between 20’C-40’C and competent to survive in wide range of environmental conditions. Its gene consists of 5234 protein that encodes for arginine deiminase metabolic pathway causing it to survive and enable to resist in an acidic conditions. Its gene also encodes for non-hemolytic enterotoxins and extracellular proteases.
Bacillus cereus is widely distributed in nature which is commonly found in soil as saprophytic organisms as well as acts as contributor to the microflora of insects and found in the rhizosphere of plants. It also found in foods including meat, eggs and dairy products implicated in food-borne intoxication due to the secretion of emetic toxins and enterotoxins.
Bacillus cereus is associated in food borne illnesses that manifest vomiting, severe nausea and diarrhea due to the ingestion of bacterial endospores when food is improperly cooked. It is an opportunistic human pathogens associated with infections causing serious infections and periodontal disease.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Firmicutes
Class: Bacilli
Order: Bacillales
Family: Bacillaceae
Genus: Bacillus
Species: Bacillus cereus
See also:
• Bacteria
• Food-borne bacteria