[Toxins and enzymes of several species of Bacillus, especially of the B. cereus-thuringiensis group (author's transl)].
In the examined strains the production of following toxins or enzymes was determined by bioassay or by semiquantitative and routine diagnostical tests: delta-endotoxin, alpha-exotoxin, beta-exotoxin hemolysin, phospholipase C, proteinase. The production of delta-endotoxin (= a parasporal crystal toxic for several insects) is the only character in that B. thuringiensis differs from B. cereus. Other biochemical features as production of so-called alpha-exotoxin (= soluble toxic protein), hemolysin, phospholipase or proteinase are common in both species. Strains of B. megaterium may produce proteinase, but no phospholipase, hemolysin or alpha-exotoxin. The identity of the alpha-exotoxin of the B. cereus-thuringiensis group with any of the exoenzymes studied here could not be confirmed. At present, this toxin is only demonstrable by bioassay. Formation of beta-exotoxin (= soluble toxic nucleotide) is restricted to special strains of the B. cereus-thuringiensis group. -- All strains of B. megaterium tested do not produce any of the toxins quoted; they have found to be apathogenic under the experimental conditions. As the so-called "egg yolk clearing factor" is produced by all strains of B. megaterium (in contrast to strains of the B. cereus-thuringiensis group) it does not represent a factor of pathogenicity and therefore the term "gamma-exotoxin" is unfounded. -- Not too much attention should be paid in connection with taxonomic studies to the ability or non-ability of strains of bacteria to produce a special toxin.
D000818:Animals; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000378:metabolism; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013045:Species Specificity
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D010740:Phospholipases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
Toxine und Enzyme bei einigen Bacillus-Arten unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der B. cereus-thuringiensis-Gruppe.