Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 28, 2026

Brevibacillus brevis

Brevibacillus brevis is a Gram-positive, aerobic, motile, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium commonly found in soil, air, water, and decaying matter. It is rarely associated with infectious diseases. The antibiotics gramicidin and tyrocidine were first isolated from it.

Last revised
Jul 28, 2026
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≈ 1 min
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Brevibacillus brevis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Bacteria
Kingdom: Bacillati
Phylum: Bacillota
Class: Bacilli
Order: Brevibacillales
Family: Brevibacillaceae
Genus: Brevibacillus
Species:
B. brevis
Binomial name
Brevibacillus brevis
(Migula 1900) Shida et al. 19961

Brevibacillus brevis (formerly known as Bacillus brevis2) is a Gram-positive, aerobic, motile, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium commonly found in soil, air, water, and decaying matter. It is rarely associated with infectious diseases.3 The antibiotics gramicidin and tyrocidine were first isolated from it.4

Brevibacillus brevis is catalase positive, amylase negative, casein negative, gelatinase positive, and indole negative; most strains are citrate users. Some strains are capable of oxidizing carbon monoxide aerobically. Optimal growth occurs at 35 °C to 55 °C.

References

References

  1. "Brevibacillus". LPSN.
  2. SHIDA, O.; TAKAGI, H.; KADOWAKI, K.; KOMAGATA, K. (1 October 1996). "Proposal for Two New Genera, Brevibacillus gen. nov. and Aneurinibacillus gen. nov". International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 46 (4): 939–946. doi:10.1099/00207713-46-4-939. PMID 8863420.
  3. Pearce, Paul. "Laboratory Evaluation of Endoscope Water Bottles." EndoNurse. 2005. 17 Jun 2006 <Laboratory Evaluation of Endoscope Water Bottles>.
  4. Abedon, Stephen. "Bacteria Binomials." 26 Apr 1998. Ohio State University. 17 Jun 2006 <http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sabedon/biol4045.htm> Archived June 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.