Bacillus larvae: its Cultivation in vitro and its Growth in vivo

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Spores of Bacillus larvae White germinate and make initial vegetative growth best in a limited range of low redox potentials, but later growth and sporulation occur best aerobically. Different media needed for best results with each phase of development of the bacillus are described. Spores of B. larvae germinate in the mid-gut contents of honey-bee larvae up to 2 days old. The vegetative forms then migrate and become closely applied to, but do not penetrate, the mid-gut epithelium. Most organisms seem to be voided with the contents of the intestine when an infected larva defaecates shortly before it pupates. A few organisms are presumably left in the intestine and probably invade the tissues of the larva as it pupates.
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