Basic Characteristics | Properties (Bacillus cereus) |
Catalase | Positive (+ve) |
Citrate | Positive (+ve) |
Gelatin Hydrolysis | Negative (-ve) |
Gram Staining | Positive (+ve) |
Growth in KCN | Positive (+ve) |
Hemolysis | Positive (+ve) |
Indole | Negative (-ve) |
Motility | Positive (+ve) |
MR (Methyl Red) | Negative (-ve) |
Nitrate Reduction | Variable |
Oxidase | Negative (-ve) |
Pigment | Negative (-ve) |
Shape | Rods |
Spore | Positive (+ve) |
VP (Voges Proskauer) | Positive (+ve) |
Fermentation of | |
Adonitol | Negative (-ve) |
Arabinose | Negative (-ve) |
Arabitol | Negative (-ve) |
Cellobiose | Variable |
Fructose | Positive (+ve) |
Galactose | Negative (-ve) |
Glucose | Positive (+ve) |
Glycerol | Positive (+ve) |
Glycogen | Positive (+ve) |
Inositol | Negative (-ve) |
Inulin | Negative (-ve) |
Lactose | Negative (-ve) |
Maltose | Positive (+ve) |
Mannitol | Negative (-ve) |
Mannose | Negative (-ve) |
Melibiose | Negative (-ve) |
Raffinose | Negative (-ve) |
Rhamnose | Negative (-ve) |
Ribose | Positive (+ve) |
Salicin | Variable |
Sorbitol | Negative (-ve) |
Starch | Positive (+ve) |
Sucrose | Variable |
Trehalose | Positive (+ve) |
Xylose | Negative (-ve) |
Enzymatic Reactions | |
Acetate Utilization | Variable |
Arginine Dehydrolase | Variable |
Casein Hydrolysis | Positive (+ve) |
Esculin Hydrolysis | Positive (+ve) |
Lecithinase | Positive (+ve) |
Lysine | Negative (-ve) |
Ornithine Decarboxylase | Negative (-ve) |
Phenylalanine Deaminase | Negative (-ve) |
Tyrosine Hydrolysis | Positive (+ve) |

Bacillus cereus is positive for vp and production of gelatinase and on ferment mannitole
I conducted a Gelatin Hydrolysis Test and observed a positive result. B. Cereus does produce the enzyme Gelatinase.
Id like to note that some of these are incorrect. Bergy’s manual specifically states the fact that it is positive for gelatin hydrolysis as well as a positive methyl red test and a negative VP test.
Bergey’s states that B. cereus does produce acetylmethylcarbinol which is what VP tests for.
(ve) stands for
+positive or
-negative
If you see -ve in the table it means negative and +ve it serves as positive so it means a sign of reaction
Please I would like to know what does it mean: (ve) of table of identification.