Virulence of the Bacillus cereus bv anthracis and the CA derivative strains in mice.

Mice were inoculated with graded spore inocula of each strain in the flank or by the intranasal route (six animals per dose). The following information is specified where applicable: (i) the presence of pBCXO1, PBCXO2 for the CI and CA-derived strains, and pXO1, pXO2 for the B. anthracis (Ba) Sterne 7702 and wild-type 9602 strains; (ii) the gene inactivated on pBCXO1; and iv) the virulence factors expressed—lethal and edema toxins (Tox), hyaluronic acid capsule (HA) and polyglutamic acid capsule (PDGA)—is indicated for each mutant. Results are expressed as mean lethal dose (LD50) and mean time to death in days (MTD, mean ± SD). Each experiment was performed at least twice. The asterisk denotes absence of mortality at the highest inoculum tested. NA, not applicable.Virulence of the Bacillus cereus bv anthracis and the CA derivative strains in mice.