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| Bacillota | |
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| Bacillus subtilis, Gram-stained | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Clade: | Terrabacteria |
| Phylum: | Bacillota Gibbons and Murray 2021[1] |
| Classes | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Bacillota (synonym Firmicutes) is a phylum of bacteria, most of which have gram-positive cell wall structure.[2] The renaming of phyla such as Firmicutes in 2021 remains controversial among microbiologists, many of whom continue to use the earlier names of long standing in the literature.[3]
The name "Firmicutes" was derived from the Latin words for "tough skin," referring to the thick cell wall typical of bacteria in this phylum. Scientists once classified the Firmicutes to include all gram-positive bacteria, but have recently defined them to be of a core group of related forms called the low-G+C group, in contrast to the Actinomycetota. They have round cells, called cocci (singular coccus), or rod-like forms (bacillus). A few Firmicutes, such as Megasphaera, Pectinatus, Selenomonas and Zymophilus, have a porous pseudo-outer membrane that causes them to stain gram-negative.
Many Bacillota (Firmicutes) produce endospores, which are resistant to desiccation and can survive extreme conditions. They are found in various environments, and the group includes some notable pathogens. Those in one family, the heliobacteria, produce energy through anoxygenic photosynthesis. Bacillota play an important role in beer, wine, and cider spoilage.
- ^ Oren A, Garrity GM (2021). "Valid publication of the names of forty-two phyla of prokaryotes". Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 71 (10): 5056. doi:10.1099/ijsem.0.005056. PMID 34694987. S2CID 239887308.
- ^ "Firmicutes" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ Robitzki, Dan (4 January 2022). "Newly Renamed Prokaryote Phyla Cause Uproar". The Scientist Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.