Antigen changes during spore formation in Bacillus cereus.

Baillie, Ann (University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland), and John R. Norris. Antigen changes during spore formation in Bacillus cereus. J. Bacteriol. 87:1221-1226. 1964.-Ultrasonic extracts of Bacillus cereus cells harvested at different stages in spore formation were analyzed by immunoelectrophoresis with antisera prepared by injecting similar extracts into rabbits. Seven antigens resistant to heating at 80 C for 10 min were detected in extracts of young vegetative cells, and there were at least eight additional thermolabile antigens present at this stage. During spore formation, many of the thermolabile antigens disappeared from the cells and new antigens could be detected. Mature spores contained four of the heat-resistant antigens present in young vegetative cells and an additional five heat-resistant antigens. Only three thermolabile antigens were detected in spore extracts.