Bacillus Cereus

definition

Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium[1]. It is the type species of the Bacillus cereus sensu lato (s.l.) group, a genetically diverse complex of soil-dwelling bacteria that includes significant human and animal pathogens [2]. In food microbiology, it is primarily defined as a toxin-producing agent responsible for two distinct types of food poisoning: the emetic (vomiting) syndrome and the diarrheal syndrome [3]. Bacillus cereus is the species of Bacillus most commonly associated with food poisoning outbreaks. It is widely distributed in the environment (soil, dust, vegetables) and can contaminate various foods, especially those rich in starch [2].