Bacitracin increases size of parasporal crystals and spores in Bacillus thuringiensis

The effect of bacitracin on Bacillus thuringiensis is described. When added after the end of the exponential phase, it produces a marked increase in the size of spores and parasporal crystals. The cultures to which the antibiotic was added are able to produce more crystal proteins than non-treated cultures. The protein composition of crystals from bacitracin-treated cultures is the same as that of crystals purified from control cultures.