Kingdom: Bacteria

Division: Firmicutes

Class: Bacilli

Order: Lactobacillales

Family: Lactobacillacaea

Genus: Lactobacillus

Species: L. delbrueckii

Subspecies: L. d. bulgaricus

    Lactobacillus bulgaricus is a rod-shaped bacteria in the Lactobacillus genus. All Lactobacillus are gram positive and facultative anaerobic. They also do not form spores. Being gram positive means that in a Gram stain test, the bacteria would stay the same color (purple). See also Gram-positive. Like most gram positive bacteria, L. bulgaricus has a cell wall. It is a chemoheterotrophic bacteria. Chemoheterotrophic bacteria do not require organic compounds to form energy. As a facultative anaerobic bacteria, it means that L. bulgaricus can survive in environments both with and without oxygen. It can be found on decomposing plants and in the breast milk of nearly all animals. Like most bacteria, L. bulgaricus reproduces by binary fission. The optimal temperature for the reproduction of L. bulgaricus is approximately ninety degrees farenheit, although it can survive in a wide range of temperatures, in environments like refridgerators.

    Facultative anearobic bacteria are capable of producing ATP cellular respiration or fermentation. Cellular respiration is when a cell combines oxygen (O2) with an organic compound to form ATP. Fermentation is when a cell forms ATP without the use of oxygen.  product of respiration include carbon dioxide (CO2) . Products of fermentation include various alcohols and lactic acid. For information on the uses of Lactobacillus delbrueckii bulgaricus click here, or click on "Use" in the sidebar.