In vitro assays revealed that the coincubation of cultured human Caco-2 cells with cell-free culture filtrates of B. cereus induces various changes in the epithelial cells. These changes include a decrease in mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, noticeable morphological changes, and damage to the cell membrane leading to disruptions in its permeability. The percentage of detached enterocytes was strain-dependant and reached even 78 ± 7%. No correlation has been found between the occurrence of the hbl complex sequence in B. cereus strains and the ability to detach Caco-2 cells. Moreover, some B. cereus strains were able to invade monolayers of cultured enterocytes, which is considered to be another factor involved in the virulence of these microorganisms