Bacteriocinogenesis in Bacillus megaterium

Abstract

A water-soluble anti-bacterial substance "megacin" is produced by strain 216 of B. megaterium. The induction of megacin formation following UV radiation is similar in many respects to induction of bacteriophage in lysogenic strains of this species; however, megacin does not give rise to further production of the antibacterial substance. No lysogenic property could be demonstrated in strain 216. It is suggested that megacin may be a non-reproductive product of a prophage carried by the strain and that the production of megacin and lysogeny are related in some as yet unknown way.