Bacillus halodurans is a rod-shaped, Gram-positive

Gram-positive

Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining. This is in contrast to Gram-negative bacteria, which cannot retain the crystal violet stain, instead taking up the counterstain and appearing red or pink...

, motile and spore

Spore

In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...

-forming bacterium which lives in soil. In a genomic comparison with Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis, known also as the hay bacillus or grass bacillus, is a Gram-positive, catalase-positive bacterium commonly found in soil. A member of the genus Bacillus, B. subtilis is rod-shaped, and has the ability to form a tough, protective endospore, allowing the organism to tolerate...

, B. halodurans strain C-125 - originally an unclassified Bacillus strain - was found to contain unique genes and sigma factor

Sigma factor

A sigma factor is a bacterial transcription initiation factor that enables specific binding of RNA polymerase to gene promoters. Different sigma factors are activated in response to different environmental conditions...

s that may have aided its adaptation to more alkaline environments.

Bacteriocin production

B. halodurans produces a bacteriocin

Bacteriocin

Bacteriocins are proteinaceous toxins produced by bacteria to inhibit the growth of similar or closely related bacterial strain. They are typically considered to be narrow spectrum antibiotics, though this has been debated...

, haloduracin, that may be useful as a lantibiotic and could be produced in large quantities by solid state fermentation.