The Nature of Toxins Produced by Bacillus Cereus Bis‐59

Eight strains of Bacillus spp. were examined for production of toxin(s). Three strains of Bacillus cereus produced toxins lethal to mice. The culture filtrate of Bacillus cereus BIS‐59 contained two lethal toxins. One was a hemolysin and the other a nonhemolytic glycoprotein. The growth of cells in fresh beef infusion broth resulted in high toxin production, compared to growth in tryptone‐glucose‐yeast extract or nutrient broth. Separate identities for the two toxins from B. vcereus BIS‐59 were established on the basis of hemolytic activity, separation profiles on Sephadex gel filtration, responses to heat and radiation and kinetics of their production during the growth of the organism.