Bacillus megaterium

Bacillus megaterium is a Gram-positive, immovable rod-shaped bacterium. With a size of 2 x 5 microns, it is considered a " giant " among the eubacteria. Growing the bacterium under an aerobic condition, is oxidase - negative and catalase -positive. Like all bacteria from the genus Bacillus is B. megaterium Endosporenbildner. Bacterial colonies from B. megaterium have on nutrient media on a yellowish color. B. megaterium is a possible alternative to E. coli for the industrial production of recombinant proteins.

In 1926, the French scientist Maurice and isolated Lemoigne from cells of B. megaterium polyhydroxybutyric (PHB ).