Whole genome sequencing and identification of Bacillus endophyticus and B. anthracis isolated from anthrax outbreaks in South Africa

Table 2 Comparison of phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of Bacillus endophyticus, B. anthracis, B. cereus, B. megaterium and B. smithii

Microbiological characteristics	B. endophyticus	B. anthracis	B. cereus	B. megaterium	B. smithii
Gram reaction	+	+	+	+	+
Rods (μm)	2.5–3.5 × 0.5–1.5	3–6 × 1–1.25	3-5 × 1–1.2	2–5 × 1.2–1.5	5–6 × 0.8–1.0
Spores	Ellipsoidal/cylindrical	Ellipsoidal/cylindrical	Ellipsoidal/cylindrical	Ellipsoidal/Spherical	Ellipsoidal/cylindical
Haemolysis	NH	NH	H	H^%%	ND
Motility	Non-motile	Non-motile	Motile	Non-motile	motile
Capsule	–	+	–	+	–
Penicillin	S	S	R	ND	ND
Gelatin hydrolysis	–	+ ^*	+	+	–
Nitrate reduction	–	+	+	(−)	–
Starch hydrolysis	–	+	+	+	W+
Voges Proskaeur (VP)	–	+	+	–	–
γ –phage	R	S^$	R	S^@	ND
Casein	–	+	+	+	–
Egg yolk/Lecithinase	–	+	+	–	–
Urea hydrolysis	–	–	–	-^%%	–
Citrate	W+	–	+	+	(−)
NaCl	2–10%	5%	2–7%	7%	2–3%
Catalase	+	+	+	+	+
Indole	–	–	–	–	–
Oxidase	+	+	–	(+)	+

Abbreviations: +, positive, W+, weakly positive, −, negative, (), variable, S, susceptible, R, resistance, ND, not determined, NH, non-haemolytic, ^*, inverted fir tree, ^$, B. anthracis strains resistance to γ-phage have been reported [22], ^@ resistant γ-phage B. megaterium strain has been reported at Kansas State University [44] . All data of B. endophyticus were obtained in the study and supplemented with information of Reva et al. [1]. B. anthracis and B. cereus information was compiled from WHO [42]; ^%% Beesley et al. [27] reported B. megaterium non-haemolytic and urea hydrolysis strains

ISSN: 1471-2180