The document provides an overview of Bacillus species, particularly Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus, detailing their gram-positive characteristics, pathogenicity, and the diseases they cause, such as anthrax. It describes the clinical forms of anthrax, diagnostic methods, and treatment options, emphasizing the need for early intervention with antibiotics like ciprofloxacin. Additionally, it highlights the anthrax vaccine and the implications of Bacillus anthracis as a bioterrorism agent.

1. Spore forming Gram positive
bacilli
Bacillus species

2. There are 48 species included in the genus bacillus with
the following general characteristics:
1. Gram-positive bacilli have square ends arranged in
long chain .
2. Spore former (central spores).
3. Aerobic and facultative anaerobic
THE MOST IMPORTANT PATHOGENS:
1. Bacillus anthracis
2. Bacillus cereus
2

3. 3
Bacillus anthracis

4. Morphology:
1. Large gram positive bacilli.
2. Non-motile.
3. Found singly, in pairs or in long chains.
4. Capsule could be demonstrated during growth in
infected animals.(poly peptide)
5. Spores are formed in culture, dead animal's tissue
,bone marrow and skin .
6. Spores are oval and centrally located.
Survival in Soil
• Spores remain viable in soil for years.
4

5. Pathogenesis
Anthrax is a zoonotic disease of –goats ,sheep ,cattle
,horses and human .
Human become infected incidentally by contact with
infected animals or their products.
In human the infection is usually acquired by the
entry of spores through injected skin ,or eating
contaminated food with spores ,or by inhalation

6. The spores germinate in the tissue at the site
of entry ,and growth of the vegetative
organisms results in formation of a
gelatinous edema and congestion .bacilli
spread by lymphatic to the bloodstream ,and
they multiply in the blood and tissues
shortly before and after the animal’s death.

7. ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE AND
PATHOGENIC DETERMINANTS:
1. The Capsular Polypeptide: Composed of poly
peptide of a high molecular weight consisting of
D-glutamic acid and it is antiphagocytic.
2. Polysaccharide Somatic Antigen: Composed of N
acetulglucos-eamine and Dgalactose.
3. Complex Protein Toxin: This toxin appear to be
responsible for signs and symptoms characteristic
of anthrax. Accumulation of the toxin in tissue and
its effect on the central nervous system results in
death by respiratory failure and anoxia.

8. Anthrax toxin is made up of three proteins
1-protective antigen(PA)
2-Edema factor (EF)
3-Lethal factor (LF)
(PA)binds to specific cell receptor ,and following
proteolytic activation it forms a membrane
channel that mediates entry of (EF) and (LF) into
the cell
(EF)is with (PA)it forms a toxin known as edema
toxin
(LF) plus (PA) form lethal toxin ,which is the major
virulence factor and cause death in infected animal
and human .

9. Pathogenicity

10. cAMP=cyclic adinosine monophosphate
MAPKK=mitogen activated protein kinase kinase

11. 11

12. Types of anthrax :
There are different clinical forms of anthrax:
1. CUTANEOUS ANTHRAX: 95-98% of anthrax cases are of
this type. Infection occur through wounds, burns, which
may progress to toxaemia and septicemia. The site of
entry often produces a painless blister referred to as
Malignant pustule.
2. ENTERIC "INTESTINAL" ANTHRAX: Caused by the
ingestion of infected meat.
This form of the disease is severe and fatal.
3. PULMONARY ANTHRAX: Caused by the inhalation of
large number of B. anthracis spores. It is usually fetal. This
clinical form is commonly known as "wool sorter disease".
Anthrax spores are inhaled, phagocytosed in the lungs and
transported by lymphatic drainage to lymph nodes ,where
germination occurs ,this followed by toxin production and
development of hemorrhagic and sepsis ,which are usually
rapidly fatal.
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13. 13
Bacillus anthracis has long been considered bioterrorism weapon.
The bioterrorism events in the 2001 resulted 22 cases of anthrax ,11
inhalation and 11 cutaneous ,5 of the patients with inhalation anthrax
died. All the other patients survived .

14. 14

15. 15
Rod of B anthrax in lung Tissue

16. 16

17. 17

18. Diagnostic laboratory tests
Samples are collected depending on the site
affected:
1. Swab samples from cutaneous lesions and
blood cultures.
2. Sputum and blood for pulmonary anthrax
3. Gastric aspirate, feces and blood for enteric
anthrax.

19. Lab diagnosis :
1-Gram stained smears: Made from clinical samples, show
large gram positive bacilli in long chains "Bamboo-like
appearance".
2- Giemsa stained smears: Purple bacilli with red capsule.
3- spore stain (spore green ,cell red)
4- Culture on blood agar:.it produce nonhemolytic gray to
white colonies with rough texture and frosted glass&
medusa head appearance.
Bacillus anthrecis is sensitive to pencillin and incubation on
medium containing low level of penicillin causes to
bacterium swelland form a chain of cells like a string of
pearls other bacillus species don’t show this appearance

20. 20
Gram stain of Bacillus anthracis showing Gram-positive rods
forming long filaments. “Bamboo –like appearance”

21. 21
showing endospores as green and the vegetative cell as red

22. 22
Colonial growth of Bacillus anthracis. When lifted by an inoculation
loop, colonies, in this case on sheep blood agar, show a tenacity
that allows them to be pulled up and stay upright with a texture
similar to egg whites.

26. 5- Biochemical Identification:
1-catalase :positive.
2-Carbohydrate fermentation test positive for :
(glucose,maltose,ribose, sucrose ).
3- Gelatine liqefaction test: positive
4- Nitrate reduction test: Positive
5- Starch hydrolysis test: Positive
6- Voges-Proskauer test: Positive
7- Sensitivity to penicillin. Sensitive
8- Lysis by gamma phages: Positive. This test accurately
differentiate B.anthracis from other bacilllus species.
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27. 27
Lysis of Bacillus anthracis by the lytic phage gamma.
The plaque (clear area) in the region of confluent growth is where the
gamma phage was applied. The plaque results from the phage's .

28. 6- Animal inoculation test: Experimental animals are
injected intraperitoneally by a suspension of the
test organism "Suspected B. anthracis culture".
The animal dies in 48-96 hours due to respiratory
failure.
Large number of typical bacilli can be found in the
blood and tissue of spleen of the infected animal.
7- ELISA measure antibodies against edema and
lethal toxins.

29. Vaccine
four countries produce vaccines for anthrax ,Russia
and china use attenuated spore –based vaccin by
scarification .
The united state and great britain use bacteria –free
filtrate of cultures adsorbed to aluminum
hydroxide .
The dose is (0,2 and 4 weeks ,then 6,12and 18
months followed by annual boosters .
The vaccine is available only to the USA department
of defense and persons at risk for repeated
exposure to Bacillus antheracis .

30. Treatment
Many antibiotics are effective against anthrax in humans ,but
treatment must be started early , ciprofloxacin is
recommended for treatment, pencillin G, along with
gentamycin or streptomycin .
In the setting of potential exposure to bacillus anthracis as an
agent of biologic war ,prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin
should be continued for 4 weeks while three doses of
vaccine are being given ,or for 8 weeks if no vaccine is
found .

31. Bacillus cereus
31

32. Gram-positive spore forming bacilli
• Produce β-hemolysis on blood agar
Pathogenesis & clinical features
° Spores are found on most raw foods like rice
° Spores are heat-resistant & survive rapid frying
° Produce enterotoxin – ingested → food poisoning.
° Short IP – 4-6 hours – similar to Staphylococcal food
poisoning (vomiting &diarrhoea)
TREATMENT
• fluid replacement
• Bacillus cereus are resistant to penicillin by produceβ-
lactamase ,so erythromycin or ciproflxacin may be effective
alternatives to pencillin .
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33. 33
B. cereus
B. anthracis
Characteristic
-
+
growth requirement for thiamin
+
-
hemolysis on sheep blood agar
-
+
polypeptide capsule
-
+
lysis by gamma phage
+
-
motility
-
+
string-of-pearls test