The enterotoxin T (BcET) from Bacillus cereus can probably not contribute to food poisoning.
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragment from strain NVH 38 (containing bceT) was cloned, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli. This sequence showed 50-60% identity to the original. When this bceT clone was expressed in E. coli no biological activity was found in either supernatants or cell extracts. Cell extracts from the Bacillus cereus strains (NVH 38 and B-4ac) were also negative on Vero cells. Neutralisation of supernatant from B. cereus B-4ac using a monoclonal antibody (reacting with NheB and HblD) abolished the activity. A test for cytotoxic enterotoxins was negative for both cell extracts and supernatants. Our data suggest that BcET either has an unknown type enterotoxic action or non at all.
Choma
Caroline
C
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Pharmacology Microbiology and Food Hygiene, PO Box 8146, 0033, Oslo, Norway.
Granum
Per Einar
PE
D000818:Animals; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000032:analysis; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014709:Vero Cells
D004768:Enterotoxins; C040792:enterotoxin, Bacillus cereus; D000242:Cyclic AMP