View source for Bacillus licheniformis

{{Short description|Species of bacterium}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Bacillus licheniformis.jpg
| image_caption = ''Bacillus licheniformis'' colonies on a [[blood agar]] plate.
| genus = Bacillus
| species = licheniformis
| authority = (Weigmann 1898) Chester 1901<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lpsn.dsmz.de/species/bacillus-licheniformis|title=Species: Bacillus licheniformis|work=[[List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature]]|access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref>
}}

'''''Bacillus licheniformis''''' is a [[bacteria|bacterium]] commonly found in the soil. It is found on bird feathers, especially chest and back plumage, and most often in ground-dwelling birds (like [[Old World sparrow|sparrow]]s) and aquatic species (like [[duck]]s).

It is a [[gram-positive]], [[Mesophile|mesophilic]] bacterium. Its optimal growth temperature is around 50&nbsp;°C, though it can survive at much higher temperatures. The optimal temperature for enzyme secretion is 37&nbsp;°C. It can exist in a dormant [[endospore|spore]] form to resist harsh environments, or in a vegetative state when conditions are good.

High capacity of secretion of the alkaline [[serine protease]] has made ''B.'' ''licheniformis'' one of the most important  bacteria in [[industrial enzyme]] production.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Schallmey|first1=Marcus|last2=Singh|first2=Ajay|last3=Ward|first3=Owen P.|date=2004-01-01|title=Developments in the use of Bacillus species for industrial production|journal=Canadian Journal of Microbiology|volume=50|issue=1|pages=1–17|doi=10.1139/w03-076|issn=0008-4166|pmid=15052317}}</ref>  [[Subtilisin]] Carlsberg ({{UniProt|P00780}}) secreted by ''B. licheniformis'' is used as a detergent protease. It is sold under the name Alcalase by [[Novozymes]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P00780|title=UniProtKB}}</ref> A small [[antisense RNA]] against Subtilisin Carlsberg named BLi_r0872 was  discovered in an [[RNA-Seq|RNA-seq]] based study. It may have a putative impact on protease production and serve as target for strain improvement.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wiegand|first1=Sandra|last2=Dietrich|first2=Sascha|last3=Hertel|first3=Robert|last4=Bongaerts|first4=Johannes|last5=Evers|first5=Stefan|last6=Volland|first6=Sonja|last7=Daniel|first7=Rolf|last8=Liesegang|first8=Heiko|date=2013-01-01|title=RNA-Seq of Bacillus licheniformis: active regulatory RNA features expressed within a productive fermentation|journal=BMC Genomics|volume=14|pages=667|doi=10.1186/1471-2164-14-667|issn=1471-2164|pmc=3871023|pmid=24079885 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Scientists are currently exploring its ability to degrade feathers for agricultural purposes. Feathers contain high amounts of non-digestible [[protein]]s, but researchers hope that, through fermentation with ''B. licheniformis'', they can use waste feathers to produce cheap and nutritious feather meal to feed livestock.

Ecological research is also being done looking at the interaction between plumage colors and ''B. licheniformis'' activity, and the consequences thereof. Feather degrading bacteria may have played an important role in the evolution of [[molt]]ing, and patterns in feather coloration ([[Gloger's Rule]]).

== Description ==
''B. licheniformis'' is a [[Gram-positive bacteria|Gram positive]], [[Endospore|spore-forming]], [[Facultative anaerobic organism|facultative anaerobic]], rod-shaped bacterium.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Clements|first1=Laura D.|last2=Miller|first2=Brian S.|last3=Streips|first3=Uldis N.|date=August 2002|title=Comparative growth analysis of the facultative anaerobes Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Escherichia coli|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12353884/|journal=Systematic and Applied Microbiology|volume=25|issue=2|pages=284–286|doi=10.1078/0723-2020-00108|issn=0723-2020|pmid=12353884}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Citation|last1=Logan|first1=Niall A.|title=Bacillus|date=2015|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118960608.gbm00530|work=Bergey's Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria|pages=1–163|publisher=American Cancer Society|language=en|doi=10.1002/9781118960608.gbm00530|isbn=978-1-118-96060-8|access-date=2021-02-06|last2=Vos|first2=Paul De}}</ref> It was initially named ''Clostridium licheniforme'' by H. Weigmann<ref>{{Cite book|last=Weigmann|first=H.|title=Über zwei an der Käsereifung beteiligte Bakterien|publisher=Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene. Abteilung|year=1898|pages=820–834}}</ref> and renamed ''Bacillus licheniformis'' by Frederick D. Chester.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chester|first=Frederick D.|title=A Manual of Determinative Bacteriology|publisher=The MacMillan Company|year=1901|location=New York}}</ref> ''B. licheniformis'' displays a variety of [[Colonial morphology|colony morphologies]], with the rough "licheniform" colonies giving the organism its name.<ref name=":0" /> Colonies tend to be cream-colored, but will turn red in the presence of iron in media, most likely as a result of pulcherrimin.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Li|first1=Xiaoyun|last2=Wang|first2=Dong|last3=Cai|first3=Dongbo|last4=Zhan|first4=Yangyang|last5=Wang|first5=Qin|last6=Chen|first6=Shouwen|date=2017-12-01|title=Identification and High-level Production of Pulcherrimin in Bacillus licheniformis DW2|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2500-x|journal=Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology|language=en|volume=183|issue=4|pages=1323–1335|doi=10.1007/s12010-017-2500-x|pmid=28523413|s2cid=9678745|issn=1559-0291}}</ref> ''B. licheniformis'' is found in a wide variety of environments, but especially in soil and in the feathers of birds, where ''B. licheniformis'' degrades [[Beta-keratin|β-keratin]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Whitaker|first1=Justine M.|last2=Cristol|first2=Daniel A.|last3=Forsyth|first3=Mark H.|date=July 2005|title=Prevalence and genetic diversity of Bacillus licheniformis in avian plumage|url=https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-field-ornithology/volume-76/issue-3/0273-8570-76.3.264/Prevalence-and-genetic-diversity-of-Bacillus-licheniformis-in-avian-plumage/10.1648/0273-8570-76.3.264.full|journal=Journal of Field Ornithology|volume=76|issue=3|pages=264–270|doi=10.1648/0273-8570-76.3.264|s2cid=34090767|issn=0273-8570}}</ref> There is evidence that red feathers, with [[psittacofulvin]], are more resistant to degradation.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Burtt|first1=E. H.|year=2010|title=Colourful parrot feathers resist bacterial degradation|journal=Biology Letters|volume=7|issue=2|pages=214–216|doi=10.1098/rsbl.2010.0716|pmc=3061162|pmid=20926430}}</ref>

== Applications ==

=== Industrial enzymes ===
Subtilisin Carlsberg, a [[serine protease]] secreted by ''B. licheniformis'', is used in laundry detergent formulations due to its ability to perform at high pH levels (optimal activity is between 8.0 and 10.0) and high temperatures ({{convert|40|-|50|C|F|disp=or}}).<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2008-05-01|title=Stability of thermostable alkaline protease from Bacillus licheniformis RP1 in commercial solid laundry detergent formulations|journal=Microbiological Research|language=en|volume=163|issue=3|pages=299–306|doi=10.1016/j.micres.2006.06.001|issn=0944-5013|last1=Sellami-Kamoun|first1=Alya|last2=Haddar|first2=Anissa|last3=Ali|first3=Nedra El-Hadj|last4=Ghorbel-Frikha|first4=Basma|last5=Kanoun|first5=Safia|last6=Nasri|first6=Moncef|pmid=16872818|doi-access=}}</ref> [[Amylase]]s are also synthesized by ''B. licheniformis'' and used for industrial purposes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Muras|first1=Andrea|last2=Romero|first2=Manuel|last3=Mayer|first3=Celia|last4=Otero|first4=Ana|date=2021-02-16|title=Biotechnological applications of Bacillus licheniformis|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/07388551.2021.1873239|journal=Critical Reviews in Biotechnology|volume=41|issue=4|pages=609–627|doi=10.1080/07388551.2021.1873239|issn=0738-8551|pmid=33593221|s2cid=231945315 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=de Boer|first1=Anne Sietske|last2=Priest|first2=Fergus|last3=Diderichsen|first3=Børge|date=1994-01-01|title=On the industrial use of Bacillus licheniformis: a review|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00173313|journal=Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology|language=en|volume=40|issue=5|pages=595–598|doi=10.1007/BF00173313|s2cid=9649394|issn=1432-0614}}</ref>

=== Probiotics ===
''B. licheniformis'' is used as a probiotic in animal feed, where isolates have been shown to prevent disease and promote growth as well as being commercially available.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Liu|first1=Xiaolu|last2=Yan|first2=Hai|last3=Lv|first3=Le|last4=Xu|first4=Qianqian|last5=Yin|first5=Chunhua|last6=Zhang|first6=Keyi|last7=Wang|first7=Pei|last8=Hu|first8=Jiye|date=May 2012|title=Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens Supplemented with Bacillus licheniformis in Drinking Water|journal=Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences|volume=25|issue=5|pages=682–689|doi=10.5713/ajas.2011.11334|issn=1011-2367|pmc=4093119|pmid=25049614}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Deng|first1=W.|last2=Dong|first2=X. F.|last3=Tong|first3=J. M.|last4=Zhang|first4=Q.|date=March 2012|title=The probiotic Bacillus licheniformis ameliorates heat stress-induced impairment of egg production, gut morphology, and intestinal mucosal immunity in laying hens|journal=Poultry Science|volume=91|issue=3|pages=575–582|doi=10.3382/ps.2010-01293|issn=0032-5791|pmid=22334732|doi-access=free}}</ref> Some isolates have also been found to be probiotic in humans (and are also commercially available),<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Na-Kyoung|last2=Kim|first2=Won-Suck|last3=Paik|first3=Hyun-Dong|date=2019-10-08|title=Bacillus strains as human probiotics: characterization, safety, microbiome, and probiotic carrier|journal=Food Science and Biotechnology|volume=28|issue=5|pages=1297–1305|doi=10.1007/s10068-019-00691-9|issn=1226-7708|pmc=6811671|pmid=31695928}}</ref> but it's been mentioned that clinical trials have not been performed on many of them yet.<ref name=":1" />

=== Other applications ===
''B. licheniformis'' also shows possible applications in bioremediation, biomineralization, and biofuels.<ref name=":1" />

==Natural genetic transformation==

''B. licheniformis'' is naturally competent for [[Transformation (genetics)|genetic transformation]].<ref name="pmid25009236">{{cite journal |vauthors=Jakobs M, Hoffmann K, Grabke A, Neuber S, Liesegang H, Volland S, Meinhardt F |title=Unravelling the genetic basis for competence development of auxotrophic Bacillus licheniformis 9945A strains |journal=Microbiology |volume=160 |issue=Pt 10 |pages=2136–47 |year=2014 |pmid=25009236 |doi=10.1099/mic.0.079236-0 |doi-access=free }}</ref>   Natural genetic transformation is a sexual process involving DNA transfer from one bacterium to another through the intervening medium, and the integration of the donor sequence into the recipient genome by [[homologous recombination]].

== Pathogenicity and food spoilage ==
''Bacillus licheniformis'' has been found to cause infection in several cases of immunocompromised patients.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=La Jeon|first1=You|last2=Yang|first2=John Jeongseok|last3=Kim|first3=Min Jin|last4=Lim|first4=Gayoung|last5=Cho|first5=Sun Young|last6=Park|first6=Tae Sung|last7=Suh|first7=Jin-Tae|last8=Park|first8=Yong Ho|last9=Lee|first9=Mi Suk|last10=Kim|first10=Soo Cheol|last11=Lee|first11=Hee Joo|date=2012|title=Combined Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis infection in a patient with oesophageal perforation|url=https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.042275-0|journal=Journal of Medical Microbiology|volume=61|issue=12|pages=1766–1769|doi=10.1099/jmm.0.042275-0|pmid=22918867|issn=0022-2615}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Salkinoja-Salonen|first1=M. S.|last2=Vuorio|first2=R.|last3=Andersson|first3=M. A.|last4=Kämpfer|first4=P.|last5=Andersson|first5=M. C.|last6=Honkanen-Buzalski|first6=T.|last7=Scoging|first7=A. C.|date=October 1999|title=Toxigenic Strains of Bacillus licheniformis Related to Food Poisoning|journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology|volume=65|issue=10|pages=4637–4645|doi=10.1128/AEM.65.10.4637-4645.1999|issn=0099-2240|pmid=10508100|pmc=91618|bibcode=1999ApEnM..65.4637S }}</ref> ''B. licheniformis'' has been found to be the causative agent of ventriculitis, ophthalmitis, bacteremia, peritonitis, and endocarditis.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Young|first1=Ronald F.|last2=Yoshimori|first2=Robert N.|last3=Murray|first3=Dennis L.|last4=Chou|first4=Paula J.|date=1982-10-01|title=Postoperative neurosurgical infections due to bacillus species|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2F0090-3019%2882%2990343-3|journal=Surgical Neurology|language=en|volume=18|issue=4|pages=271–273|doi=10.1016/0090-3019(82)90343-3|pmid=6758158|issn=0090-3019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Maucour|first1=M. F.|last2=Brugniart|first2=C.|last3=Ducasse|first3=A.|last4=Brasme|first4=L.|last5=Bajolet|first5=O.|date=April 1999|title=[Bacillary endophthalmitis. Four case reports]|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10337596/|journal=Journal Français d'Ophtalmologie|volume=22|issue=3|pages=371–376|issn=0181-5512|pmid=10337596}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Haydushka|first1=Irina A.|last2=Markova|first2=Nadya|last3=Kirina|first3=Vesselina|last4=Atanassova|first4=Maria|date=2012-01-01|title=Recurrent sepsis due to Bacillus licheniformis|url=https://www.jgid.org/article.asp?issn=0974-777X;year=2012;volume=4;issue=1;spage=82;epage=83;aulast=Haydushka;type=0|journal=Journal of Global Infectious Diseases|language=en|volume=4|issue=1|pages=82–3|doi=10.4103/0974-777X.93768|issn=0974-777X|pmc=3326966|pmid=22529634 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Blue|first1=S. R.|last2=Singh|first2=V. R.|last3=Saubolle|first3=M. A.|date=1995-03-01|title=Bacillus licheniformis Bacteremia: Five Cases Associated with Indwelling Central Venous Catheters|url=https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/20/3/629/321700|journal=Clinical Infectious Diseases|language=en|volume=20|issue=3|pages=629–633|doi=10.1093/clinids/20.3.629|pmid=7756487|issn=1058-4838}}</ref> ''B. licheniformis'' is also known to contaminate food, especially dairy,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dhakal|first1=Rajat|last2=Chauhan|first2=Kanika|last3=Seale|first3=R. Brent|last4=Deeth|first4=Hilton C.|last5=Pillidge|first5=Christopher J.|last6=Powell|first6=Ian B.|last7=Craven|first7=Heather|last8=Turner|first8=Mark S.|date=2013-06-01|title=Genotyping of dairy Bacillus licheniformis isolates by high resolution melt analysis of multiple variable number tandem repeat loci|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740002013000075|journal=Food Microbiology|language=en|volume=34|issue=2|pages=344–351|doi=10.1016/j.fm.2013.01.006|pmid=23541201|issn=0740-0020}}</ref> as well as causing "ropiness" in bread.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Sorokulova|first1=I. B.|last2=Reva|first2=O. N.|last3=Smirnov|first3=V. V.|last4=Pinchuk|first4=I. V.|last5=Lapa|first5=S. V.|last6=Urdaci|first6=M. C.|date=2003|title=Genetic diversity and involvement in bread spoilage of Bacillus strains isolated from flour and ropy bread|journal=Letters in Applied Microbiology|language=en|volume=37|issue=2|pages=169–173|doi=10.1046/j.1472-765X.2003.01372.x|pmid=12859662|s2cid=34135869|issn=1472-765X|doi-access=free}}</ref> There is evidence that contamination may be a result of a toxin.<ref name=":2" />

== Identification ==
Below is a list of differential techniques and results that can help to identify ''Bacillus licheniformis'' from other bacteria and ''Bacillus'' species.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FCoDCAAAQBAJ&q=%22survive+serial+transfer+in+nutrient+broth+and+are+catalase-negative%2C+are+included+in+this+group.%22&pg=PA44|title=Bacillus|last=Harwood|first=Colin R.|date=2013-11-11|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9781489935021|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Anaerobic organism|Anaerobic Growth]]: Positive
* [[Voges–Proskauer test|Voges Proskauer test]]: Positive
* Acid produced from
** D-glucose: Positive
** L-arabinose: Positive
** D-mannitol: Positive
* Starch [[hydrolysis]]: Positive
* [[Nitrogen fixation|Nitrate reduction]]: Positive
* Degradation of [[tyrosine]]: Negative
* Growth at
** 10&nbsp;°C: Negative
** 50&nbsp;°C: Positive
** 55&nbsp;°C: Positive
* Utilization of [[citrate]]: Positive

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=184462&blobtype=pdf Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of a Feather Degrading Bacteria, Williams et al., 1990]
* [http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1642%2F0004-8038%282004%29121%5B0656%3ABDOBAW%5D2.0.CO%3B2 Bacterial Degradation of Black and White Feathers, Goldstein et al., 2003]
* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC545597/ Complete genome of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC14580 - publication]
* [http://www.spectroscopynow.com/details/ezine/sepspec22017ezine/Microbial-nanotechnologists.html Microbial nanotechnologists, August 1, 2009]
* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/?term=Bacillus+licheniformis Bacillus licheniformis genome]
*[http://bacdive.dsmz.de/index.php?search=689&submit=Search Type strain of ''Bacillus licheniformis'' at Bac''Dive'' -  the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2878356}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bacillus Licheniformis}}
[[Category:Bacillus|licheniformis]]
[[Category:Food microbiology]]