The thermotroph Bacillus licheniformis is known to be ubiquitous. Therefore isolates of this bacterial species from a wide variety of niches such as the production chain of gelatine fac tory, food contamination, bovine abortions as well as other spots at the farm, will be characterised polyphasically. As a result, this heterogenic taxon will be much better characterized and a more reliable identification will be possible. The final goal of the study on the longer term is to unravel mechanisms of evolution (horizontal gene transfer) in a risk assessment study for evaluation of the potential clinical importance of this organism for men and animal.