Biotechnological applications of Bacillus licheniformis

Abstract

Bacillus licheniformis is a Gram positive spore-forming bacterial species of high biotechnological interest with numerous present and potential uses, including the production of bioactive compounds that are applied in a wide range of fields, such as aquaculture, agriculture, food, biomedicine, and pharmaceutical industries. Its use as an expression vector for the production of enzymes and other bioproducts is also gaining interest due to the availability of novel genetic manipulation tools. Furthermore, besides its widespread use as a probiotic, other biotechnological applications of B. licheniformis strains include: bioflocculation, biomineralization, biofuel production, bioremediation, and anti-biofilm activity. Although authorities have approved the use of B. licheniformis as a feed additive worldwide due to the absence of toxigenic potential, some probiotics containing this bacterium are considered unsafe due to the possible transference of antibiotic resistance genes. The wide variability in biological activities and genetic characteristics of this species makes it necessary to establish an exact protocol for describing the novel strains, in order to evaluate its biotechnological potential.

Keywords:

• Bacillus licheniformis
• industry
• probiotics
• expression platform
• bioremediation
• enzymes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Andrea Muras was financially supported by a predoctoral fellowship from the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia (ED481A-2015/311). This work has been supported by the European project BYEFOULING "Low-toxic cost-efficient environment-friendly antifouling materials" [FP7-OCEAN-2013 612717] and Xunta de Galicia [ED431B 2020/13].