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Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1977 January; 11(1): 34-37
Copyright © 1977 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Production of Megacins C and Cx: Presumptive Evidence of Extrachromosomal Control

^a Bacteriology Department, The Medical School, Bristol University, Bristol BS8 1TD, England

ABSTRACT

Exposure of growing cultures of Bacillus megaterium C4A^– to ethidium bromide or an elevated growth temperature was found to eliminate megacin C production. Ethidium bromide resulted in a cure rate of up to 13%. Growth at 43°C gave a cure rate of up to 99%. Megacin C production was lost spontaneously at a rate of 4% or less. There was a greater rate of spontaneous loss of megacin Cx production by B. megaterium 337, up to 14%. Growth at 43°C resulted in a cure rate of up to 24% in this organism. Reversion to the Meg⁺ state by cured clones has never been demonstrated. These observations support the hypothesis that production of megacins C and Cx is plasmid mediated. Meg^– clones adsorbed more megacin than either parent strain and were more susceptible to megacin action.

¹ Present address: School of Medical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, England.