News: Kerala became India’s first State to declare Bacillus subtilis as its State microbe.
About Bacillus subtilis
- It is the type species for the genus Bacillus which are gram-positive, spore-forming bacilli.
- Found in: It is commonly found in diverse environments ranging from soil to the gastrointestinal tract of cattle and humans.
- Properties: It can produce endospores by forming a thick protective layer around its DNA and other cellular components.
- This protective structure allows it to withstand harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures, environmental stresses, and radiation.
- It is widely used in laboratory research, especially genetic studies, because its durability and sensitivity to genetic mutations make it easy to study.
- It also produces useful enzymes that are applied in many industries for various purposes.
- Application:
- As a probiotic, it supports human and animal gut health and helps digestion.
- In industry, it is used to produce important enzymes for food processing, detergents, and pharmaceuticals.
- It plays a role in wastewater treatment and environmental clean-up by breaking down harmful substances.
