Insertional inactivation of hbIC encoding the L(sub)2 component of Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 haemolysin BL strongly reduces enterotoxigenic activity, but not the haemolytic activity against human erythrocytes

Research was conducted to investigate the effect of inactivation on the toxicity of haemolysin BL in a mutant of Bacillus cereus. Results show that inactivation of the first gene of the hbl operon reduces the enterotoxigeneic and haemolytic activity against sheep erythrocytes.