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Bacilli

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	Topics Bacilli Topic Home Bacilli specifically refers to a taxonomicTaxonomy Taxonomy was once only the science of classifying living organisms , but later the word was applied in a wider sense, and m... classClass (biology) A class is a rank in the scientific classification of animals and plants in biology.... of bacteriaBacteria Bacteria are a major group of living organisms.... . It includes two orders, BacillalesBacillales The Bacillales are an order of Gram-positive bacteria, placed within the Firmicutes.... and LactobacillalesLactobacillales The Lactobacillales are an order of Gram-positive bacteria, placed within the Firmicutes.... , which contain several well-known pathogens like Bacillus anthracisBacillus anthracis *Bacillus anthracis* is a Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Bacillus.... (the cause of anthraxAnthrax Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis and is highly lethal in some forms.... ), StreptococcusStreptococcus *Streptococcus* is a genus of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes.... , and StaphylococcusStaphylococcus *Staphylococcus* is a genus of gram-positive bacteria.... . All members of class Bacilli are gram-positiveGram-positive Gram-positive bacteria are classified as bacteria that retain a crystal violet dye during the Gram stain process.... . Ambiguity There are several related concepts that make use of similar words, and the ambiguity can create considerable confusion. The term "BacillusBacillus *Bacillus* is a genus of rod-shaped, Gram-positive bacteria and a member of the division Firmicutes.... " (capitalized and italicized) is also the name of a genusGenus In the binomial nomenclature used worldwide, the name of an organism is composed of two parts: its genus name and a species... that, among many other genera, falls within the class Bacilli. Also, "bacillusBacillus (shape) Although Bacillus, capitalized and italicized, specifically refers to the genus, the word bacillus may also be used to d... " (or the plural "bacilli") can be a generic term to describe the morphologyBacteria Bacteria are a major group of living organisms.... of any rod-shaped bacterium. This general term does not mean that the subject is a member of class Bacilli or genus Bacillus. Thus, it does not necessarily imply a similar group of characteristics. Not all members of class Bacilli are rod-shaped (StaphylococcusStaphylococcus *Staphylococcus* is a genus of gram-positive bacteria.... is spherical), and many other rod-shaped bacteria exist that do not fall within that class (ClostridiumClostridium *Clostridium* is a large genus of Gram-positive bacteria, belonging to the Firmicutes.... is rod-shaped but very different taxonomically). Moreover, the general term "bacillus" does not necessarily indicate the Gram-positiveGram-positive Gram-positive bacteria are classified as bacteria that retain a crystal violet dye during the Gram stain process.... staining common to class Bacilli. For example E. coli is a rod-shaped bacteria that could therefore be described as "a bacillus", but it stains Gram-negativeGram-negative Gram-negative bacteria are those that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol.... and does not belong to genus Bacillus or class Bacilli. Some microbiologistFacts About Microbiologist A microbiologist is a biologist that studies the field of microbiology.... s have forsaken the general "bacillus" term because of the confusion it can create.