HELP! What are the lab differences between Bacillus subtilis & Bacillus cereus

Hi Everybody,

We are working on Unknown #2 in Microbiology, and I was wondering:

How can you tell Bacillus subtilis from Bacillus cereus clinically in the lab. My unknown looks alot like the 1st unknown I got, but smaller. My first unknown was Bacillus megaterium. It stains gram positive, It is CRAZY motile!!! This is a VERY motile bacterium!! But my best guesses are between B. subtilis and B. cereus. What is a good way to differentiate between B. subtilis and B. cereus???

Thanks a BUNCH everybody!!!!!!!

I am sorry I have NO idea, I haven't started my unknown yet and I am so scared!!! I hope you do well and I hope you find answers here it will give me hope.

Hi Everybody,

We are working on Unknown #2 in Microbiology, and I was wondering:

How can you tell Bacillus subtilis from Bacillus cereus clinically in the lab. My unknown looks alot like the 1st unknown I got, but smaller. My first unknown was Bacillus megaterium. It stains gram positive, It is CRAZY motile!!! This is a VERY motile bacterium!! But my best guesses are between B. subtilis and B. cereus. What is a good way to differentiate between B. subtilis and B. cereus???

Thanks a BUNCH everybody!!!!!!!

Laura

Test for alkaline, B.cereus is supposed to be negative and B.subtilis positive.

Do DNase test- cereus is supposed to be positive, cereus should be negative

Test for oxygen - cereus is supposed to be facultative and subtilis is supposed to be aerobic.

Both cereus and subtilis should test negative for motility Good luck