Specific Exosporium Reaction of Bacillus megaterium

Abstract
SUMMARY: The sporulation of 51 strains of Bacillus megaterium was examined in shaken cultures in potato extract and in Grelet's denned medium. Some abnormal strains are described in which the spores germinate within the sporangia or very soon after their liberation. The spores of B. megaterium could be completely freed from vegetative cell remnants by treatment with lysozyme followed by thorough washing. Rabbit anti-sera produced with these treated spores did not cross-react with the vegetative organisms. On the basis of their agglutination reactions the spores of 36 strains of B. megaterium were divided into 5 types.