Bacillus cereus can attack the cell membranes of the alga Chara corallina by means of HlyII

►The influence of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis on cells of Chara corallina. ►Bacterium decreased the resting potential and plasma membrane resistance of algal cells. ►The efficiency of each strain was commensurable with its ability to produce HlyII. ►HlyII changed the kinetics and magnitude of transient calcium and chloride currents. ►HlyII-toxin formed additional Ca2 +-permeable pores in algal cell membrane.