Bacillus subtilis is also known as grass or hay bacillus, since it is often found in dirt, and in the digestive tract of farm animals who eat grass. B. subtilis is also found as a commensal (normal) part of the human digestive tract, and sometimes, the vagina.
B. subtilis is generally considered a useful human probiotic, and not pathogenic, but has been known to cause food poisoning and possible opportunistic infections.
B. subtilis cultures were used globally prior to the introduction of antibiotics as an immunostimulant in urinary tract infections and issues, and digestive disease. It used to be considered an alternative medicine, however it has since be demonstrated that B. subtilis stimulates broad-spectrum immune activity.
A strain of B. subtilis, Bacillus natto, is used to make natto, and its derivative, nattokinase – an enzyme used to treat blood vessel disorders and biofilms. B. subtilis is also used to make certain enzymes such as amylase (to digest carbohydrates) and protease (to digest proteins), laundry detergents, and many other commonly used products.
An enzyme produced by B. subtilis is used in industry by biotech companies. A 2015 example was a team in Indonesia using subtilosin-A, an antimicrobial peptide, as a spermicide. This bacterium is easily genetically manipulable, so is being used frequently in genetic experiments.
Substances derived from B. subtilis are considered ‘generally recognised as safe’ (GRAS) and Qualified Presumption of Safety status by the European Food Safety Authority.
This hardy bacteria can tolerate extreme conditions due to its production of an endospore (outer protective membrane), and because of this, is very well studied as a ‘model organism’. B. subtilis has also been into space, and can survive for up to six years if coated in dust that protects from UV rays. B. subtilis was originally named Vibrio subtilis.
B. subtilis can move quickly through liquids, due to its heavy flagellation.
| Condition type | Bacteria |
|---|---|
| Affected systems | Reproductive, Immune, Urinary, Digestive |
| Sexually Transmissible | |
| Genitourinary Incidence | |
| Age group affected |
|
Microbial information
| Anaerobe / Aerobe | Facultative anaerobe |
|---|---|
| Gram stain | Gram-positive |
| Best tests to detect | |
| Pathogen of |
| Commensal of (Can naturally inhabit, but not necessarily as a healthy addition) |
|
| Optimal growth pH | |
| Conditions correlated with |
|
| Cellular adherence capacities | |
| Found in healthy vaginas | Possibly |
| Biofilm-forming capacities | |
| Cellular Morphology |
|
| Microbe Motility | Flagella |
| Colony Colour |
|
| Substances Produced | |
| Sexually Transmissible | Possibly |
What are the symptoms of Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use?
What causes Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use?
- No causes found for Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use, yet.
What are the risk factors associated with Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use?
- No risk factors for Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use, yet.
How do you diagnose Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use?
- No diagnoses found for Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use, yet.
How do you treat Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use?
Treatments for Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use are only for practitioners and people who purchased the book Killing BV and Killing BV for men.
Which treatments are likely to be ineffective for Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use?
- No resistances found for Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use, yet.
What complications are associated with Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use?
- No complications found for Bacillus subtilis vulvovaginal colonisation and use, yet.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3495728/