The
Firmicutes (
Latin:
firmus, strong, and
cutis, skin, referring to the cell wall) are a
phylum of
bacteria, most of which have
Gram-positive cell wall structure. A few, however, such as
Megasphaera,
Pectinatus,
Selenomonas and
Zymophilus, have a porous pseudo-outer-membrane that causes them to stain
Gram-negative. Scientists once classified the Firmicutes to include all Gram-positive bacteria, but have recently defined them to be of a core group of related forms called the low-
G+C group, in contrast to the
Actinobacteria. They have round cells, called cocci (singular coccus), or rod-like forms (bacillus).