1316 Characterization of BINP (brain injury-derived neurotrophic peptide) binding protein in synaptosomes and cultures from rat brain

Abstract

Bacillus cereus belongs to the B. cereus group which comprises the species B. cereus, B. mycoides, B. pseudomycoides, B. thuringiensis, B. weihenstephanensis, B. cytotoxicus, B. toyonensis and B. anthracis. These are Gram-positive, endospore-forming facultatively anaerobic members of the genus Bacillus and, within the group, toxin production is an important way by which disease is caused. Bacillus cereus causes two distinct forms of foodborne disease: a diarrheal syndrome and an emetic syndrome, both through the production of distinct toxins. The emetic illness is associated with the production of a preformed heat stable toxin in foods while the diarrheal disease is caused by toxin production in the gut. The ubiquitous nature of the spores of this group makes contamination of food materials a common occurrence. However specific food types tend to be associated with each disease syndrome. Desserts, meat dishes, and dairy products are most frequently the vehicles for transmission of the diarrheal form of the illness, whereas rice is the main vehicle of the emetic illness. The emergence of psychrotrophic and thermophilic species may mean that the B. cereus group will be of increasing concern to the food industry in the future.