title: Bacillus atrophaeus: main characteristics and biotechnological applications - a review.
abstract: The genus Bacillus includes a great diversity of industrially important strains, including Bacillus atrophaeus (formerly Bacillus subtilis var. niger). This spore-forming bacterium has been established as industrial bacteria in the production of biological indicators for sterilization, in studies of biodefense and astrobiology methods as well as disinfection agents, in treatment evaluation and as potential adjuvants or vehicles for vaccines, among other applications. This review covers an overview of the fundamental aspects of the B. atrophaeus that have been studied to date. Although the emphasis is placed on recent findings, basic information's such as multicellularity and growth characteristics, spore structure and lifecycle are described. The wide biotechnological application of B. atrophaeus spores, including vegetative cells, is briefly demonstrated, highlighting their use as a biological indicator of sterilization or disinfection.
authors: a Production and Research Centre of Immunobiological Products, Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Paraná , Piraquara , PR , Brazil and.|b Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department , Universidade Federal do Paraná , Curitiba , PR , Brazil.
authors: Sandra R B R
authors: SR
authors: Sella
authors: b Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department , Universidade Federal do Paraná , Curitiba , PR , Brazil.
authors: Luciana P S
authors: LP
authors: Vandenberghe
authors: b Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department , Universidade Federal do Paraná , Curitiba , PR , Brazil.
authors: Carlos Ricardo
authors: CR
authors: Soccol
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D001709:Biotechnology; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D018559:Exobiology; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants
keywords: Bacillus spores; biological indicator; disinfection; multicellularity; spores applications; sporulation; sterilization