Bacillus anthracis

**Semantic type:** Bacterium

**Definition:** A species of aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, Gram-positive, rod shaped bacteria assigned to the phylum Firmicutes. This species is nonmotile, spore forming, and catalase positive, hydrolyzes casein, starch and gelatin, reduces nitrate, is penicillin susceptible but cephalosporin resistant, gamma phage sensitive, has absent or delayed hemolysis and the capsule can be visualized using M'Faydean's stain. B. anthracis is found in most soil, causes Anthrax in humans and animals, has been utilized as a biological weapon and both a veterinary and human vaccine exists.

**Synonyms:** - BACILLUS ANTHRACIS - BACILLUS ANTHRACIS