MOUSE LETHAL ACTIVITY OF A HEP-2 VACUOLATION FACTOR, CEREULIDE, PRODUCED BY BACILLUS-CEREUS ISOLATED FROM VOMITING-TYPE FOOD POISONING

The HEp-2 vacuolation factor (or cereulide) produced by Bacillus cereu s isolated from vomiting-type food poisoning, which is supposed to ind uce emesis, was found to give mouse and suncus lethality after intrave nous and intraperitoneal administration. The emetic activity of the fa ctor was also found to be resistant to heating at 121 degrees C for 15 min, exposure to pH 2 and 11, and to digestion with proteolytic enzym es such as pepsin and trypsin. These findings suggest that the cereuli de produced by B. cereus is stable in the digestive tracts, induce eme sis, and show lethal activity leading to cellular damage.