Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis is a type of common rod-shaped bacterium of the Bacillus genus and Bacillaceae family. German scientist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg first named it Vibrio subtilis in 1835, but German scientist Ferdinand Julius Cohn renamed it Bacillus subtilis in 1872.

Bacillus subtilis is found in a variety of places, such as the air, decomposing plant matter, dust, and water. However, it is most abundant in soil. It is Gram-positive, which means it can grow when exposed to oxygen. Because bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis can form endospores, they have the ability to create a thick wall around their DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), or hereditary material, and other structures. This makes them strong and able to survive chemicals, extreme temperatures, environmental factors, and radiation.

Uses

Because of the durability of Bacillus subtilis, it is used for laboratory studies such as genetic research, mostly due to its responsiveness to genetic mutations. The bacteria also can produce enzymes used for a variety of purposes and by many industries.

The strain of bacteria has many benefits, unlike other members of the genus. Although a small risk exists that Bacillus subtilis can cause illness in humans, this is very rare. A Toxic Substances Control Act report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the strain does not have disease-causing traits. However, a few people have reported illness after using products that contain Bacillus subtilis. Illnesses are typically attributed to other members of the Bacillus genus. For example, the strain Bacillus cereus can cause food poisoning, and Bacillus anthracis was found to cause anthrax.

Bacillus subtilis is used in many industrial applications. It can produce enzymes such as amylase, which is important to the textile and paper industries, and the protease (protein-digesting enzyme) subtilisin, which can be used to make detergent and by the leather industry.

The healthcare industry uses the bacterium to make antibiotics such as bacilli, bacillomycin D, Bacitracin, difficidin, and oxydifficidin. Bacitracin treats skin infections caused by bacteria and helps to prevent infection in burns, and bacillomycin D is a type of antifungal medication. The bacterium is also used to produce hyaluronic acid, which is used in injection form in the treatment of various joint disorders and in eye surgeries such as cataract removal. Hyaluronic acid is additionally used in skincare products for purposes such as reducing the appearance of scars and preventing visible signs of aging, although this has not been proven to be effective.

Probiotics, which are used to aid in digestion and immunity and to soothe the gastrointestinal tract, are also made from Bacillus subtilis. Some fermented foods, such as natto, a soybean product, use the bacteria in the fermentation process.

The agricultural sector uses Bacillus subtilis as a fungicide to prevent fungal disease of the seeds of crops such as cotton, peanuts, soybeans, and vegetables. It is also used on some floral varieties and to make toxins that kill pests and insects, such as the larvae of malarial mosquitoes. The agricultural corporation Monsanto has also used a gene from Bacillus subtilis in its drought-resistant corn since 2011, as the bacterium is extremely resistant to harsh conditions.

Bibliography

Gower, Timothy. "Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Osteoarthritis." Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/medication/drug-types/other/hyaluronic-acid-injections.php. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.

Stulke, Jorg, et al. "Bacillus Subtilis, a Swiss Army Knife in Science and Biotechnology." Journal of Bacteriology, vol. 205, no. 5, 4 May 2023, doi.org/10.1128/jb.00102-23. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.

Su, Yuan, et al. "Bacillus Subtilis: A Universal Cell Factory for Industry, Agriculture, Biomaterials and Medicine." Microbial Cell Factories, vol. 19, no. 173, 3 Sept. 2020, doi.org/10.1186/s12934-020-01436-8. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.