CHARACTERIZATION OF BACILLUS-LARVAE AND RELATED BACILLI BY CHROMATOGRAPHY OF CELL FATTY-ACIDS

A strain of Bacillus larvae which formed orange pigmented colonies was isolated and described from regions in the Czech and Slovak Republics . Analysis of fatty acids by gas chromatography revealed no difference s between isolates of pigment-forming (pigmenting) and standard (witho ut any ability to form pigment) B. larvae. A close relationship with B . pulvifaciens and substantial differences from B. alvei and B. latero sporus were found. Phage sensitivity, plasmid DNA presence and spore m orphology supported the conclusion that the two types of B. larvae sho uld be considered as one species.