A novel dodecadepsipeptide, cereulide, is an emetic toxin of Bacillus cereus

Abstract

A vacuole-formation substance, cereulide of Bncillus cereus, is an emetic toxin in animals. Both oral administration and intraperitoneal injection of cereuiidec ausedd ose-dependenetm esisin Suncusm urinus,a new animalm odel of emesis. Vagotomy or a 5-HT, receptor antagonist completely abolished this emetic effect. Therefore, cereulide causes emesis throught he 5-HT, receptora nds timulationo f the vagusa fferent. We alsof ound that our purifiedc ereulidec auseds welling of mitochondria of HEp-2 cells.