=link= - Bacillus Genus

When scientists search for life in extreme environments—from the stratosphere to deep-sea vents—they often find one group of bacteria: Bacillus . This genus is one of the most resilient and commercially significant groups of bacteria on Earth. What is Bacillus? The name Bacillus (Latin for "small staff" or "rod") refers to both a specific genus and a general bacterial shape (bacillus = rod-shaped). As a genus, Bacillus consists of Gram-positive , rod-shaped bacteria that belong to the phylum Firmicutes .