Inducible Lytic Systems in the Genus Bacillus

Abstract
Many different strains of Bacillus cereus and members of other species of the genus Bacillus were induced to lyse by exposure to the proper concentration of mitomycin-C, a radiomimetic drug. For some bacilli, induction of lysis occurred only in Casamino acids containing medium but not in nutrient broth + yeast extract medium, whereas other bacilli showed the opposite behavior. The efficiency of induction was a function of the growth phase of the culture and of the concentration of mitomycin-C. Induction of lysis in B. thuringiensis resulted in the release of edema factor and phospholipase into the medium. Mitomycin-C-induced lysis of B. cereus was prevented by adding chloramphenicol, actinomycin-D, or 5-fluorouracil deoxyriboside up to 40 min. later. There appeared to be no sequential loss of susceptibility to inhibition by these compounds as expected.