Characterization of the spore-forming Bacillus cereus sensu lato group and Clostridium perfringens bacteria isolated from the Australian dairy farm environment.

Background: The Bacillus cereus sensu lato group and Clostridium perfringens are spore-forming bacteria often associated with food spoilage and which can cause emetic and diarrheal syndromes in humans and ruminants. This study characterised the phenotypes and genotypes of 50 Bacillus cereus s. l.

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of Bacillus cereus group strains.

Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) subtyping has been used extensively to characterize various bacterial species and to facilitate comparative analysis of geographically diverse populations. To this end, standardized protocols for many different genera and species have been developed, particularly through the PulseNet platform. The Bacillus cereus group of bacteria includes a diverse species set, which are of particular importance in food safety as both human pathogens and spoilage organisms.