title: Bacillus probiotics.
abstract: Bacterial spore formers are being used as probiotic supplements for use in animal feeds, for human dietary supplements as well as in registered medicines. Their heat stability and ability to survive the gastric barrier makes them attractive as food additives and this use is now being taken forward. While often considered soil organisms this conception is misplaced and Bacilli should be considered as gut commensals. This review summarises the current use of Bacillus species as probiotics, their safety, mode of action as well as their commercial applications.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK. s.cutting@rhul.ac.uk
authors.forename: Simon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cutting
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D001407:Bacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D019936:Probiotics; D013171:Spores, Bacterial