[Interaction of bacillus anthracis with benzylpenicillin in vivo and in vitro]

Interaction of the cells of Bacillus anthracis strain CH-7 with benzylpenicillin was studied. The cells of strain CH-7 were shown to contain the penicillinase gene in the repressed state. Spontaneous derepression of the gene at a rate of 10(-8) resulting in the synthesis of penicillinase was observed. Penicillinase was synthesized constitutionally and its synthesis did not depend on the presence of benzylpenicillin in the cultivation medium. The therapeutic effect of benzylpenicillin in the treatment of the experimental infection induced by the B. anthracis strain producing penicillinase was estimated. The efficacy was shown to depend on the time of the beginning of the antibiotic therapy. When the clinical signs of the infection were evident in the animals contaminated with the penicillinase-producing strain of B. anthracis, their treatment with the mean daily doses of benzylpenicillin failed.