BACILLUS CLAUSII: CHARACTERISTICS, MORPHOLOGY AND BENEFITS - BIOLOGY - 2025

Bacillus clausii is one of the many bacterial species that belong to the genus bacillus. It is located within the most innocuous bacteria, since they do not have pathogenic effects on man. It is also part of the intestinal bacterial flora. It belongs to the group of microorganisms that maintain symbiotic relationships with their host.

Likewise, it is a sporulated bacterium, which has been the subject of numerous studies for its properties and applications for the benefit of human health. Bacillus clausii spores are the active principle of the drug Enterogermina, which is frequently used in the treatment of diarrhea caused by alteration of the intestinal microbiota.

Bacillus clausii isolated from the drug Enterogermina. Source: By Giraffe Gregor, via Wikimedia Commons

Thanks to the health benefits that Bacillus clausii has, it has been included among the so-called probiotics ("pro-life"), which are non-pathogenic live microorganisms that are administered in adequate doses. Once inside the body, they exert a positive influence on the health and physiological balance of the host.

Taxonomy

The taxonomic classification of an organism is important because it allows determining the characteristics that a living being can have, as well as the behavior that it can have under certain environmental conditions.

The taxonomic classification of Bacillus clausii is:

Domain: Bacteria

Phylum: Firmicutes

Class: Bacilli

Order: Bacillales

Family: Bacillaceae

Genus: Bacillus

Species: Bacillus clausii

Morphology

As its name implies, Bacillus clausii is a rod-shaped bacterium with rounded edges. Under the microscope, several bacterial cells are observed together, forming long chains. The cell is surrounded by a fairly thick cell wall.

Similarly, it has flagella throughout the cell surface. It measures 2-3 microns long by 1 micron wide. In agar cultures, circular colonies are seen, which can be about 3-4 mm in diameter.

From a genetic point of view, Bacillus clausii has a single circular chromosome. In it, 4204 genes are contained, of which 4096 code for the expression of certain proteins.

As it is a sporulated organism, inside the bacterial cell the spore can be observed, which does not cause a modification in the conventional form of the bacterium.

General characteristics

Gram positive

Bacillus clausii belongs to the group of gram-positive bacteria. This means that it has a peptidoglycan in its cell wall that traps the Gram stain particles, causing the cell to be stained purple.

Aerobics

In the same way it is a strict aerobic bacteria. It must be in environments with oxygen availability to carry out its metabolic processes.

Metabolism

With regard to metabolism, the bacterium is able to use various carbon sources, such as galactose, dulcitol, sorbitol and L-aribose. It is also capable of reducing nitrates to nitrites in processes to obtain energy.

Increase

For its growth, it requires an approximate temperature of 40 ° C and an alkaline environment, with an optimum pH of 9.0.

It is also capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, thanks to the presence of the enzyme catalase in it.

Habitat

Regarding the habitat, it is mainly found in alkaline environments. Its spores are quite resistant, being able to survive even the action of bile salts, as well as high temperatures of up to 100 ° C.

Antibiotic resistance

This bacterium has shown high levels of resistance to antibiotics such as cephalosporin, erythromycin, lincomycin, and cycloserine. However, contrary to what might be thought, this does not condition its pathogenicity, since it does not cause any type of pathology in humans.

Benefits for humans

Bacillus clausii is a bacterium that reports certain benefits for humans and so far, no harm.

Probiotics

It is included in the wide group of probiotic microorganisms, which are ingested and contribute to solving certain pathological conditions. In the case of Bacillus clausii, it has been used in various ways.

Treatment of diarrhea

It has been shown to be useful in the treatment of diarrhea caused by the ingestion of antibiotics, in certain respiratory conditions and in the prevention of some pathologies such as diverticulitis.

Bacillus clausii spores are often chosen as treatment. This is because they are very resistant and can travel through the upper gastrointestinal tract to the colon. All this without being affected by the levels of acidity that exist, for example in the stomach.

Effects on the gastrointestinal tract

The beneficial effects of this bacterium on the gastrointestinal tract are varied. First, it has been shown to synthesize and release antimicrobial substances that are capable of killing various types of pathogens.

Production of substances

Particularly valuable is the production of active substances that act against other bacteria, specifically Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium and Clostridium difficile.

Adherence to the intestinal wall

Likewise, another of the mechanisms of action that this bacterium has at the gastrointestinal level is that its spores adhere to the wall of the intestine, colonizing it, thus preventing other pathogenic microorganisms from doing so.

Regulates immune activity

Another beneficial effect is that they regulate immune activity, stimulating the production of a type of antibody known as Immunoglobulin A. This antibody plays a very important role in the defense of the body against bacterial and viral agents.

Immunoglobulin A prevents bacteria and viruses from adhering to intestinal epithelial cells and thus causing tissue damage.

Vitamins production

Likewise, according to certain studies, Bacillus clausii can produce certain vitamins, including some of the B complex. Thanks to this, it could also be used to treat vitamin deficiencies. However, this is a point on which multiple investigations are still being conducted.

Taking into account the aforementioned benefits, drugs containing Bacillus clausii spores have been marketed. Among these, one of the most recognized is Enterogermina.

Bacillus clausii is a bacterial specimen that has generated great benefits in the field of human health. However, all have not yet been elucidated. The action at the gastrointestinal level is widely known, but in other areas, such as the respiratory tract, many questions remain to be answered.

This is a complex bacterium, the properties of which arouse the interest of scientists. This is why every day there are more studies that are carried out to establish in a reliable way its role in the recovery and maintenance of health in humans.

References

1. Bacillus clausii. Retrieved from microbewiki.com
2. Curran, R. Immunoglobulin A (IgA). Obtained from: immunologia.eu
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4. González, J. (2015, March). Prevention of Recurrent Acute Diverticulitis with Bacillus clausii. Journal of the Venezuelan Society of Gastroenterology. 69 (1). 2-6
5. León, K., Urbina, H., Sánchez, E., Abraham, A. and Artis, M. (2015, December). Products and Effects. Venezuelan Archives of Childcare and Pediatrics. 78 (4).
6. Marseglia, G., Tosca, M., Cirillo, I., Licari, A., Leone, M., Marseglia, A., Castellazzi, A. and Ciprandi, G. (2007, March). Efficacy of Bacillus clausii spores in the prevention of recurrent respiratory infections in children: a pilot study. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 3 (1). 13 - 17
7. Neelamraju, J. and Ratna, M. (2015, January). Bacillus clausii - The Probiotic of Choice in the Treatment of Diarrhoea. Yoga & Physical Therapy. 5 (4).
8. Urdaci, M. and Pinchuk, I. (2004, January). Chapter 15: Antimicrobial Activity of Bacillus Probiotics. Retrieved from: researchgate.net.