[Toxins and enzymes of several species of Bacillus, especially of the B. cereus-thuringiensis group (author's transl)].

In the examined strains the production of following toxins or enzymes was determined by bioassay or by semiquantitative and routine diagnostical tests: delta-endotoxin, alpha-exotoxin, beta-exotoxin hemolysin, phospholipase C, proteinase. The production of delta-endotoxin (= a parasporal crystal toxic for several insects) is the only character in that B. thuringiensis differs from B. cereus. Other biochemical features as production of so-called alpha-exotoxin (= soluble toxic protein), hemolysin, phospholipase or proteinase are common in both species. Strains of B. megaterium may produce proteinase, but no phospholipase, hemolysin or alpha-exotoxin. The identity of the alpha-exotoxin of the B. cereus-thuringiensis group with any of the exoenzymes studied here could not be confirmed. At present, this toxin is only demonstrable by bioassay. Formation of beta-exotoxin (= soluble toxic nucleotide) is restricted to special strains of the B. cereus-thuringiensis group. -- All strains of B. megaterium tested do not produce any of the toxins quoted; they have found to be apathogenic under the experimental conditions. As the so-called "egg yolk clearing factor" is produced by all strains of B. megaterium (in contrast to strains of the B. cereus-thuringiensis group) it does not represent a factor of pathogenicity and therefore the term "gamma-exotoxin" is unfounded. -- Not too much attention should be paid in connection with taxonomic studies to the ability or non-ability of strains of bacteria to produce a special toxin.