Bacillus cereus is widely distributed on various foods and is known to cause clinical infections, food poisoning toxin induced diarrhea and vomiting. In this study, B. cereus group detected and analyzed rice, rice bran, and biofilm characterization of B. cereus confirmed. B. cereus was identified in approximately 34.6% of brown rice and 50.0% of rice bran. B. thuringiensis was detected in 3.9% of brown rice and 23% of rice bran, and B. mycoides was isolated from rice bran. The microtiter plate assay detected differences in biofilm-forming ability among B. cereus group isolates. Biofilm of B. cereus seemed to increase the MIC values of antimicrobial agent and antibiotic compounds compared with planktonic cells. Therefore, sufficient attention should be given to good manufacturing practice and good agriculture practice to avoid contamination of B. cereus group raw material including rice.

• 류혜숙 | Hye Sook Ryu