Bacillin, a New Antibiotic Substance from a Soil Isolate of Bacillus subtilis

Abstract

A new antibiotic, bacillin, has been obtained from a soil isolate of B. subtilis. Bacillin is highly active against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in certain media. Its differentiation from known antibiotics from similar bacteria, the conditions relating to its production in solid and in liquid media, the purification procedure for obtaining highly potent concentrates, and some chemical properties are described. Crude bacillin concentrates are moderately toxic for mice and completely ineffective in protecting the animals from virulent bacterial infections. The presence in the medium of blood and other complex natural materials reduces or abolishes the antibacterial properties of bacillin.