Cereulide synthetase gene cluster from emetic Bacillus cereus : Structure and location on a mega virulence plasmid related to Bacillus anthracis toxin plasmid pXO1

Background Cereulide, a depsipeptide structurally related to valinomycin, is responsible for the emetic type of gastrointestinal disease caused by Bacillus cereus. Recently, it has been shown that this toxin is produced by a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), but its exact genetic organization and biochemical synthesis is unknown.