General Information

    Bacillus thuringiensis, commonly abbreviated Bt, is a gram-positive bacterium that is naturally found in the ground and the

stomach of some caterpillars. It is closely related to two other Bacilli: B. anthracis, the toxic bacteria commonly called

anthrax, and B. cereus, a bacteria noted for causing food poisioning.  Although similar to these other bacteria in it's

structure, the difference in the Bt's plasmid configuration results in a much less toxic variety.

    Bt is commercially used as a pesticide. Farmers often use it because it does not hurt the enviroment, and its effectiveness

is very focused so that it is only poisonous to the pest to which it is targeted. Its scientific classification is:

     Kingdom:  Eubacteria

     Phylum:  Firmicutes

     Class:  Bacilli

     Order:  Bacillales

     Family:  Bacillaceae

     Genus:  Bacillus

     Species:  thuringiensis

    It reproduces through the production of endospores as well as by conjugation.

Bacillus thuringiensis

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