What are the effects of Bacillus licheniformis on animals and plants

Bacillus licheniformis is a widely distributed Gram positive bacterium in nature, which plays many important roles in both animals and plants.

1、 The effect on plants

Biological control effect

      Bacillus licheniformis can inhibit the growth of plant pathogens. It can produce various antibacterial substances, such as antibiotics, bacteriocins, etc. For example, its produced oxytetracycline can inhibit various plant pathogenic fungi, such as powdery mildew causing wheat powdery mildew and downy mildew causing cucumber powdery mildew. By competing with pathogens for nutrients and living space, Bacillus licheniformis can form dominant bacterial communities in the rhizosphere and surface of plants, thereby reducing the risk of pathogen infection.

      Inducing systemic resistance in plants. It can stimulate the plant's own immune system, enabling the plant to respond faster to pathogen attacks. For example, after treatment with Bacillus licheniformis, tomato plants activate the expression of a series of genes related to disease resistance, such as PR-1 (disease associated protein 1) gene, thereby enhancing resistance to diseases such as leaf mold.

Promoting plant growth

      Bacillus licheniformis can produce various plant growth hormones, such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). IAA can promote the growth and development of plant roots, making them more developed. In corn cultivation, the application of biofertilizers containing Bacillus licheniformis can significantly increase the length, number of branches, and surface area of corn roots, thereby enhancing their ability to absorb water and nutrients.

      It can also improve soil structure. When Bacillus licheniformis is active in soil, it can decompose organic matter such as cellulose and lignin in the soil. This helps improve soil aeration and water retention, creating a favorable growth environment for plant roots. Meanwhile, its metabolites can chelate metal ions such as iron, zinc, and other trace elements in the soil, making these nutrients more easily absorbed by plants.

Environmental remediation function

      Bacillus licheniformis has a certain remediation effect on heavy metal pollution in soil. It can reduce the toxicity of heavy metals in soil through adsorption, precipitation, and biotransformation. For example, in cadmium contaminated soil, the cell wall components of Bacillus licheniformis can adsorb cadmium ions, reduce the mobility of cadmium in the soil, and lower its harm to plants.

      For organic pollutants such as pesticide residues and petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants, Bacillus licheniformis can degrade them through its own metabolic processes. It secretes enzymes that can break down the complex molecular structure of organic pollutants, converting them into harmless substances such as carbon dioxide and water, thereby purifying the soil environment and promoting the healthy growth of plants.

2、 Effects on animals

Regulating the balance of animal gut microbiota

      In animal intestines, Bacillus licheniformis can competitively inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. For example, it can inhibit the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella. This is because Bacillus licheniformis can colonize on the surface of intestinal mucosa, occupy favorable ecological niches, and produce antibacterial substances to inhibit harmful bacteria.

      It can also promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. Lichen Bacillus can provide nutrients and suitable growth environment for beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. For example, it produces some short chain fatty acids during its growth process, which can provide energy sources for the growth of beneficial bacteria, thereby maintaining the diversity and stability of the gut microbiota.

Enhance animal immunity

      Bacillus licheniformis can stimulate the immune system of animals. In the animal intestine, it can activate intestinal associated lymphoid tissue and induce immune cells to produce immunoglobulins (such as IgA) and other immune active substances. For example, adding Bacillus licheniformis to piglet feed can increase the level of IgA in piglet serum, enhance their resistance to pathogens, and reduce the occurrence of diseases such as diarrhea.

      It can also regulate the inflammatory response of animals. Bacillus licheniformis can control the intensity of inflammatory responses by regulating the secretion of cytokines. When animals are infected with pathogens or under stress, it can inhibit excessive inflammatory responses and prevent inflammation from causing serious damage to the body.

Improve the digestive function of animals

      Bacillus licheniformis can produce various digestive enzymes, such as protease, amylase, lipase, etc. These enzymes can help animals better break down and digest nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, and fats in feed. For example, adding Bacillus licheniformis to poultry feed can improve the utilization of nutrients in the feed and promote the growth and development of poultry.

      It can also improve the physical and chemical environment of animal intestines. Bacillus licheniformis can regulate the pH value of the intestine to a suitable range, which is beneficial for the activity of digestive enzymes. At the same time, it can promote the development and repair of intestinal mucosa, increase the absorption area of the intestine, and improve the efficiency of nutrient absorption.