---
title: Bacillus megaterium
description: "This microbe is a member of the *Bacillus cereus* family, which includes *B. cereus, B. megaterium*, and *B. thuringiensis*.  These are Gram positive endospore-forming rods belonging to the Group 1a *Bacilli* known for oblong spores that do not distend the…"
url: "https://vumicro.com/docs/bacillus-megaterium/"
updated: "2024-09-17"
category: Reference Library / Gram positive bacilli
---

# Bacillus megaterium

This microbe is a member of the *Bacillus cereus* family, which includes *B. cereus, B. megaterium*, and *B. thuringiensis*.  These are Gram positive endospore-forming rods belonging to the Group 1a *Bacilli* known for oblong spores that do not distend the sporangium.  They are catalase positive and ferment carbohydrates without production of gas.  They grow well over a wide range of temperatures.

*B. megaterium* has great economic importance, as a vehicle for genetic engineering and as a producer of a variety of chemicals and enzymes valuable to industry.  It is not associated with human infections.