Bacillus anthracis

Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium, 1–1.2µm in width and 3–5µm in length. It is the agent which causes anthrax.

Bacillus anthracis
Photomicrograph of Bacillus anthracis (fuchsin-methylene blue spore stain).
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Firmicutes
Class:	Bacilli
Order:	Bacillales
Family:	Bacillaceae
Genus:	Bacillus
Binomial name
Bacillus anthracis

Description

The bacillus lives in soils worldwide at moderate temperatures. It can be grown in aerobic or anaerobic conditions (it is a facultative anaerobe) in a medium with essential nutrients, including carbon and nitrogen sources. In 1877, this organism was the first to be shown to cause disease by Robert Koch and verified by Louis Pasteur.