Some remarks on the history of Groningen university

The growth of Bacillus licheniformis is inhibited by baci- tracin, the antibiotic which the organism itself produces. The effect of the antibiotic is confined to the early growth phase of the organism. Bacitracin will produce a rapid lysis of protoplasts of B. licheniformis and Micrococcus lysodeikticus. The lytic process requires cadmium or zinc ions, and the rate and extent of lysis depends upon the amount of bacitracin and metal ion added. Although B. licheniformis and M. lysodeikticus differ markedly in their sensitivity to bacitracin, the protoplasts from these two organisms are equally susceptible to lysis by the antibiotic.