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Sundaresan A, Cheong I. Elucidating Bacterial Spore Dynamics through Lanthanide-Enhanced Live Imaging. ACS Sens 2024; 9:789-798. [PMID: 38221734 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c02083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Identifying and distinguishing dormant and active bacterial spores are vital for biosecurity, food safety, and space exploration. Yet, there is a lack of simple, quick, and nondestructive methods to achieve this. The common Schaeffer-Fulton method is both sample-destructive and requires significant operator involvement. In this study, we employed lanthanide-beta-diketonate complexes to directly observe both dormant and germinated single spores. Staining is instantaneous and requires minimal sample processing. The complex stains areas outside the core of dormant spores, leaving the core hollow and nonfluorescent. However, upon germination, the complex enters the core, making it brightly fluorescent. This difference was noted in five bacterial species including Bacillus, Clostridium, and Clostridioides. Various lanthanides and beta-diketonates can be mixed to form a range of spore-visualizing complexes. Due to their low toxicity, these complexes allow for live imaging of single germinating spores. We demonstrate low-cost imaging using a USB microscope as well as imaging of spores in milk matrices. This method provides a valuable tool for studying bacterial spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajitha Sundaresan
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117558 Singapore
| | - Ian Cheong
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117558 Singapore
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Herren P, Dunn AM, Meyling NV, Savio C, Hesketh H. Effect of CO 2 Concentrations on Entomopathogen Fitness and Insect-Pathogen Interactions. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:34. [PMID: 38261023 PMCID: PMC10805855 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02347-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Numerous insect species and their associated microbial pathogens are exposed to elevated CO2 concentrations in both artificial and natural environments. However, the impacts of elevated CO2 on the fitness of these pathogens and the susceptibility of insects to pathogen infections are not well understood. The yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, is commonly produced for food and feed purposes in mass-rearing systems, which increases risk of pathogen infections. Additionally, entomopathogens are used to control T. molitor, which is also a pest of stored grains. It is therefore important to understand how elevated CO2 may affect both the pathogen directly and impact on host-pathogen interactions. We demonstrate that elevated CO2 concentrations reduced the viability and persistence of the spores of the bacterial pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis. In contrast, conidia of the fungal pathogen Metarhizium brunneum germinated faster under elevated CO2. Pre-exposure of the two pathogens to elevated CO2 prior to host infection did not affect the survival probability of T. molitor larvae. However, larvae reared at elevated CO2 concentrations were less susceptible to both pathogens compared to larvae reared at ambient CO2 concentrations. Our findings indicate that whilst elevated CO2 concentrations may be beneficial in reducing host susceptibility in mass-rearing systems, they may potentially reduce the efficacy of the tested entomopathogens when used as biological control agents of T. molitor larvae. We conclude that CO2 concentrations should be carefully selected and monitored as an additional environmental factor in laboratory experiments investigating insect-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Herren
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg, 1871, Denmark
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Alison M Dunn
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Nicolai V Meyling
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg, 1871, Denmark
| | - Carlotta Savio
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, Micalis Institute, Domaine de Vilvert, Jouy-en-Josas, AgroParisTech, 78350, France
- Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Helen Hesketh
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK.
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Periferakis AT, Periferakis A, Periferakis K, Caruntu A, Badarau IA, Savulescu-Fiedler I, Scheau C, Caruntu C. Antimicrobial Properties of Capsaicin: Available Data and Future Research Perspectives. Nutrients 2023; 15:4097. [PMID: 37836381 PMCID: PMC10574431 DOI: 10.3390/nu15194097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Capsaicin is a phytochemical derived from plants of the genus Capsicum and subject of intensive phytochemical research due to its numerous physiological and therapeutical effects, including its important antimicrobial properties. Depending on the concentration and the strain of the bacterium, capsaicin can exert either bacteriostatic or even bactericidal effects against a wide range of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while in certain cases it can reduce their pathogenicity by a variety of mechanisms such as mitigating the release of toxins or inhibiting biofilm formation. Likewise, capsaicin has been shown to be effective against fungal pathogens, particularly Candida spp., where it once again interferes with biofilm formation. The parasites Toxoplasma gondi and Trypanosoma cruzi have been found to be susceptible to the action of this compound too while there are also viruses whose invasiveness is significantly dampened by it. Among the most encouraging findings are the prospects for future development, especially using new formulations and drug delivery mechanisms. Finally, the influence of capsaicin in somatostatin and substance P secretion and action, offers an interesting array of possibilities given that these physiologically secreted compounds modulate inflammation and immune response to a significant extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristodemos-Theodoros Periferakis
- Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Elkyda, Research & Education Centre of Charismatheia, 17675 Athens, Greece
| | - Argyrios Periferakis
- Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Elkyda, Research & Education Centre of Charismatheia, 17675 Athens, Greece
- Akadimia of Ancient Greek and Traditional Chinese Medicine, 16675 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Periferakis
- Akadimia of Ancient Greek and Traditional Chinese Medicine, 16675 Athens, Greece
- Pan-Hellenic Organization of Educational Programs (P.O.E.P), 17236 Athens, Greece
| | - Ana Caruntu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, “Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Titu Maiorescu” University, 031593 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ioana Anca Badarau
- Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ilinca Savulescu-Fiedler
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Coltea Clinical Hospital, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Internal Medicine, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristian Scheau
- Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, “Foisor” Clinical Hospital of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Osteoarticular TB, 021382 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Constantin Caruntu
- Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Dermatology, ‘Prof. N.C. Paulescu’ National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, 011233 Bucharest, Romania
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Sabra DM, Krin A, Romeral AB, Frieß JL, Jeremias G. Anthrax revisited: how assessing the unpredictable can improve biosecurity. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1215773. [PMID: 37795173 PMCID: PMC10546327 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1215773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
B. anthracis is one of the most often weaponized pathogens. States had it in their bioweapons programs and criminals and terrorists have used or attempted to use it. This study is motivated by the narrative that emerging and developing technologies today contribute to the amplification of danger through greater easiness, accessibility and affordability of steps in the making of an anthrax weapon. As states would have way better preconditions if they would decide for an offensive bioweapons program, we focus on bioterrorism. This paper analyzes and assesses the possible bioterrorism threat arising from advances in synthetic biology, genome editing, information availability, and other emerging, and converging sciences and enabling technologies. Methodologically we apply foresight methods to encourage the analysis of contemporary technological advances. We have developed a conceptual six-step foresight science framework approach. It represents a synthesis of various foresight methodologies including literature review, elements of horizon scanning, trend impact analysis, red team exercise, and free flow open-ended discussions. Our results show a significant shift in the threat landscape. Increasing affordability, widespread distribution, efficiency, as well as ease of use of DNA synthesis, and rapid advances in genome-editing and synthetic genomic technologies lead to an ever-growing number and types of actors who could potentially weaponize B. anthracis. Understanding the current and future capabilities of these technologies and their potential for misuse critically shapes the current and future threat landscape and underlines the necessary adaptation of biosecurity measures in the spheres of multi-level political decision making and in the science community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dunja Manal Sabra
- Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker-Centre for Science and Peace Research (ZNF), University of Hamburg, Bogenallee, Hamburg, Germany
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Oliveira-Santos N, Pimentel Rodrigues Dos Santos LB, Fernandes JV, Cruz-Magalhães V, Loguercio LL. More than just an insect killer: The non-insecticidal activities of Bacillus thuringiensis with biotechnological potential. Toxicon 2023; 233:107261. [PMID: 37611671 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is known for the biological control of important insect pests, but scientific advances have revealed several interesting characteristics, in addition to this classical function as a bioinsecticide. To investigate the current knowledge about these non-insecticidal activities, a systematic research on primary data in the scientific literature was conducted on alternative functions of Bt with biotechnological potential. Out of a total of 140 articles selected, 15 non-insecticidal Bt activities were found. Publications related to this topic are available since 1971, and different metadata were reported, such as biomolecules and genes involved in Bt performances in non-insecticidal bioactivities. A total of 11 Bt activities with different effect measures (response variables) were identified, with an average of 48 distinct Bt strains evaluated per activity. Approximately 81.2% of all identified experiments/tests deal with the direct effects of Bt on target cells/organisms, with 36.3% of the strains within these studies tested for antibacterial action; of all microbial targets tested, 92.8% are bacteria, which led to 75.2% of the experimental conditions for all direct activities being performed in vitro. Regarding indirect Bt activities, 67.6% of these studies reported tritrophic Bt-plant-pathogen interactions. Bioremediation also appears as a relevant Bt activity being investigated in-depth. Alternative Bt activities offer innovative ways of developing biotechnology for different areas of anthropic interest; hence, we also focus on the possibility of finding multifunctional strains of Bt, as this may be advantageous from a bioeconomic point of view. Our findings are discussed in terms of research trends, aspects, details and depth of the current knowledge on alternative non-insecticidal Bt traits. We also discuss the potential application of this science for useful technological developments, aiming at solving issues related to human health, sustainable agriculture and environmental preservation/restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiane Oliveira-Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod, Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km-16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Jacquelline Viana Fernandes
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod, Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km-16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil.
| | - Valter Cruz-Magalhães
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod, Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km-16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil; Department of Phytophatology (DFP), Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, MG, Brazil.
| | - Leandro Lopes Loguercio
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod, Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km-16, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil.
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de Oliveira Dorta S, Attílio LB, Zanardi OZ, Lopes JRS, Machado MA, Freitas-Astúa J. Genetic transformation of 'Hamlin' and 'Valencia' sweet orange plants expressing the cry11A gene of Bacillus thuringiensis as another tool to the management of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). J Biotechnol 2023; 368:60-70. [PMID: 37088156 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is the vector of Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the bacteria associated with huanglongbing (HLB), the most devastating disease of citrus worldwide. HLB management has heavily counted on insecticide applications to control the ACP, although there are efforts towards more sustainable alternatives. In previous work, our group assessed the potential bioactivity of different strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Eubacteriales: Bacillaceae) (Bt) containing cry/cyt genes as feasible tools to control ACP nymphs. Here, we report an attempt to use the cry11A gene from Bt to produce transgenic sweet orange plants using two promoters. For the genetic transformation, 'Hamlin' and 'Valencia' sweet orange seedlings were used as sources of explants. Transgenic plants were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers, and the transgene copy number was confirmed by Southern blot analyses. Transcript expression levels were determined by qPCR. Mortality assays of D. citri nymphs were carried out in a greenhouse, and the effect of the events tested ranged from 22 to 43% at the end of the five-day exposure period. To our knowledge, this is the first manuscript reporting the production of citrus plants expressing the Bt cry11A gene for the management of D. citri nymphs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia de Oliveira Dorta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz/Universidade de São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), 13.418-900, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratório de Biotecnologia, Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), 13.490-970, Cordeirópolis, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Lísia Borges Attílio
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia, Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), 13.490-970, Cordeirópolis, São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratório de Insetos Vetores de Fitopatógenos, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz/Universidade de São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), 13.418-900, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Odimar Zanuzo Zanardi
- Departamento de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão, Instituto Federal de Santa Catarina (IFSC), 89.900-000, São Miguel do Oeste, Santa Catarina, Brasil
| | - João Roberto Spotti Lopes
- Laboratório de Insetos Vetores de Fitopatógenos, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz/Universidade de São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), 13.418-900, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos Antonio Machado
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia, Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), 13.490-970, Cordeirópolis, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Freitas-Astúa
- Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, 44.380-000, Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil; Unidade Laboratorial de Referência em Biologia Molecular Aplicada/Instituto Biológico (ULRBMA/IB), 04.014-900, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Ma X, Hu J, Ding C, Portieles R, Xu H, Gao J, Du L, Gao X, Yue Q, Zhao L, Borrás-Hidalgo O. New native Bacillus thuringiensis strains induce high insecticidal action against Culex pipiens pallens larvae and adults. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:100. [PMID: 37055727 PMCID: PMC10099900 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02842-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes of many species are key disease vectors, killing millions of people each year. Bacillus thuringiensis-based insecticide formulations are largely recognized as among the most effective, ecologically safe, and long-lasting methods of managing insect pests. New B. thuringiensis strains with high mosquito control effectiveness were isolated, identified, genetically defined, and physiologically characterized. Eight B. thuringiensis strains were identified and shown to carry endotoxin-producing genes. Using a scanning electron microscope, results revealed typical crystal forms of various shapes in B. thuringiensis strains. Fourteen cry and cyt genes were found in the strains examined. Although the genome of the B. thuringiensis A4 strain had twelve cry and cyt genes, not all of them were expressed, and only a few protein profiles were observed. The larvicidal activity of the eight B. thuringiensis strains was found to be positive (LC50: 1.4-28.5 g/ml and LC95: 15.3-130.3 g/ml). Bioassays in a laboratory environment demonstrated that preparations containing B. thuringiensis spores and crystals were particularly active to mosquito larvae and adults. These new findings show that the novel preparation containing B. thuringiensis A4 spores and crystals mixture might be used to control larval and adult mosquitoes in a sustainable and ecologically friendly manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmin Ma
- Joint R and D Center of Biotechnology, RETDA, Yotabio-Engineering Co., Ltd, 99 Shenzhen Road, Rizhao, 276826, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianjian Hu
- Joint R and D Center of Biotechnology, RETDA, Yotabio-Engineering Co., Ltd, 99 Shenzhen Road, Rizhao, 276826, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengsong Ding
- Joint R and D Center of Biotechnology, RETDA, Yotabio-Engineering Co., Ltd, 99 Shenzhen Road, Rizhao, 276826, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Roxana Portieles
- Joint R and D Center of Biotechnology, RETDA, Yotabio-Engineering Co., Ltd, 99 Shenzhen Road, Rizhao, 276826, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongli Xu
- Joint R and D Center of Biotechnology, RETDA, Yotabio-Engineering Co., Ltd, 99 Shenzhen Road, Rizhao, 276826, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingyao Gao
- Joint R and D Center of Biotechnology, RETDA, Yotabio-Engineering Co., Ltd, 99 Shenzhen Road, Rizhao, 276826, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Lihua Du
- Joint R and D Center of Biotechnology, RETDA, Yotabio-Engineering Co., Ltd, 99 Shenzhen Road, Rizhao, 276826, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyou Gao
- Joint R and D Center of Biotechnology, RETDA, Yotabio-Engineering Co., Ltd, 99 Shenzhen Road, Rizhao, 276826, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiulin Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Shandong Provincial Key Lab of Microbial Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academic of Science), Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Shandong Provincial Key Lab of Microbial Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academic of Science), Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Orlando Borrás-Hidalgo
- Joint R and D Center of Biotechnology, RETDA, Yotabio-Engineering Co., Ltd, 99 Shenzhen Road, Rizhao, 276826, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Shandong Provincial Key Lab of Microbial Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academic of Science), Jinan, People's Republic of China.
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Svobodová Z, Zemek R, Skoková Habuštová O. Different maize varieties have greater impact on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) than GE maize expressing Cry3Bb1 insecticidal protein. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 146:104502. [PMID: 36933763 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Genetically engineered (GE) maize expressing Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb1 protein was developed to control Diabrotica spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). However, Cry proteins have been reported to have effects on non-target arthropods. We therefore investigated whether the non-target pest Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) was negatively affected by GE maize expressing the insecticidal Cry3Bb1 protein. Five treatments were used in the laboratory tests to determine the life history parameters of T. urticae on leaves of field-grown maize varieties: (1) GE maize MON 88017, (2) isogenic maize, (3) isogenic maize protected with the soil applied insecticide chlorpyrifos (Dursban 10G), and two unrelated varieties (4) Kipous and (5) PR38N86. Newly emerged T. urticae larvae were individually released on the upper surface of leaf discs placed on water saturated cotton wool. Immatures and adults survival, duration of developmental stages and female fecundity were recorded daily until T. urticae died. Age-stage, two-sex life table method and test for trends, revealed no significant differences in 13 of 18 studied parameters. The unrelated varieties Kipous and PR38N86 on one side and maize with the same genetic background, namely GE maize and isogenic maize with or without insecticide protection, on the other side, showed significant variations in male longevity, larval survival rate, preoviposition period, and fecundity. In addition to the differences between varieties, GE maize and insecticide-protected isogenic maize showed a substantial difference in age-specific fecundity, but not in the mean number of eggs laid by females. The obtained results do not indicate that consumption of Cry3Bb1 has negative effect on T. urticae and suggest that GE maize does not pose a risk with respect to the non-target mite pest T. urticae. The results may have implications for the approval and renewal of import and cultivation for GE crop in the European Union.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdeňka Svobodová
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Rostislav Zemek
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Oxana Skoková Habuštová
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Afolayan EM, Afegbua SL, Ado SA. Characterization and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized by soil-dwelling Bacillus thuringiensis against drug-resistant bacteria. Biologia (Bratisl) 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-023-01381-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
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10
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Fatima N, Bibi Z, Rehman A, Ara Abbas Bukhari D. Biotoxicity comparison of Bacillus thuringiensis to control vector borne diseases against mosquito fauna. Saudi J Biol Sci 2023; 30:103610. [PMID: 37008283 PMCID: PMC10060249 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study was designed to evaluate the biotoxicity of screened echo-friendly Bacillus thuringiensis strains from different areas of Pakistan. Out of 50 samples, 36% Bt. isolates were quarantined from soil containing cattle waste after morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization. The toxicity bioassays with Bt. spores and protein diet proved that 11 Bt. isolates were utmost noxious to 3rd instar larvae of mosquitoes Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex pipiens. The entopathogenic activity of first 4 Bt. toxins against A. aegypti was highly lethal as compared to the other dipteran larvae. The toxicity (LC50) of spore diet of Bt. strains GCU-DAB-NF4 (442.730 ± 0.38 μg/ml), NF6 (460.845 ± 0.29 μg/ml), NF3 (470.129 ± 0.28 μg/ml), and NF7 (493.637 ± 0.70 μg/ml) was quite high against A. aegypti as compared to the C. pipiens after 24 h of incubation. The highest toxicity of total cell protein was shown by GCU-DAB-NF4 (LC50 = 84.10 ± 50 μg/ml), NF6 (95.122 ± 0.40 μg/ml), NF3 (100.715 ± 06 μg/ml), and NF5 (103.40 ± 07 μg/ml) against A. aegypti after 24 h. So, these strains a have great potential to be used as biological control especially against A. aegypti as compared to the C. pipiens.
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Kalkan S. Multimodal analysis of south-eastern Black Sea sediment bacterial population diversity. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 183:114063. [PMID: 36057154 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study focused on marine sediments from the Black Sea, mainly due to bacterial diversity-induced public health / biotechnology application value. Sediment samples were gathered from 14 locations at differing depths across Turkish shores on a seasonal basis over 10 months, with bacterial identifications performed through using multimodal analytical platforms. Overall, 26 differing, predominantly Gram-positive (57.5 %) bacterial species were identified for this region, including Bacillaceae (50.0 %) and Pseudomonadaceae (15.0 %). The most dominant classes were identified as Bacilli (52.5 %) and Gammaproteobacteria (40.0 %). Ten isolates (25 %) to the species level and thirty-six isolates (90 %) to the genus level were identified using VITEK® MS and Bruker Microflex® LT/SH, in comparison to 16S rRNA sequencing results. Identified species - particularly, novel reported species - can contribute to the knowledge of microbial life dwelling upon sediments of the south-eastern regions of the Black Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samet Kalkan
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Fisheries, Ataturk Street Fener District, 53100 Merkez, Rize, Turkey.
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Towards Understanding the Function of Aegerolysins. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14090629. [PMID: 36136567 PMCID: PMC9505663 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14090629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aegerolysins are remarkable proteins. They are distributed over the tree of life, being relatively widespread in bacteria and fungi, but also present in some insects, plants, protozoa, and viruses. Despite their abundance in cells of certain developmental stages and their presence in secretomes, only a few aegerolysins have been studied in detail. Their function, in particular, is intriguing. Here, we summarize previously published findings on the distribution, molecular interactions, and function of these versatile aegerolysins. They have very diverse protein sequences but a common fold. The machine learning approach of the AlphaFold2 algorithm, which incorporates physical and biological knowledge of protein structures and multisequence alignments, provides us new insights into the aegerolysins and their pore-forming partners, complemented by additional genomic support. We hypothesize that aegerolysins are involved in the mechanisms of competitive exclusion in the niche.
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Gonçalves KB, Appel RJC, Bôas LAV, Cardoso PF, Bôas GTV. Genomic insights into the diversity of non-coding RNAs in Bacillus cereus sensu lato. Curr Genet 2022; 68:449-466. [PMID: 35552506 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-022-01240-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus cereus sensu lato is a group of bacteria of medical and agricultural importance in different ecological niches and with controversial taxonomic relationships. Studying the composition of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in several bacterial groups has been an important tool for identifying genetic information and better understanding genetic regulation towards environment adaptation. However, to date, no comparative genomics study of ncRNA has been performed in this group. Thus, this study aimed to identify and characterize the set of ncRNAs from 132 strains of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus anthracis to obtain an overview of the diversity and distribution of these genetic elements in these species. We observed that the number of ncRNAs differs in the chromosomes of the three species, but not in the plasmids, when species or phylogenetic clusters were compared. The prevailing functional/structural category was Cis-reg and the most frequent class was Riboswitch. However, in plasmids, the class Group II intron was the most frequent. Also, nine ncRNAs were selected for validation in the strain B. thuringiensis 407 by RT-PCR, which allowed to identify the expression of the ncRNAs. The wide distribution and diversity of ncRNAs in the B. cereus group, and more intensely in B. thuringiensis, may help improve the abilities of these species to adapt to various environmental changes. Further studies should address the expression of these genetic elements in different conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kátia B Gonçalves
- Depto Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
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Rahman MM, Lim SJ, Park YC. Molecular Identification of Bacillus Isolated from Korean Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) and Striped Field Mouse (Apodemus agrarius) Feces by Using an SNP-Based 16S Ribosomal Marker. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12080979. [PMID: 35454225 PMCID: PMC9031142 DOI: 10.3390/ani12080979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Wildlife is a great concern because of its free-ranging movements. They carry bacterial zoonoses in their feces, such as Bacillus species. In this study, we developed a 16S Bacillus species-specific 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) molecular marker for species identification. For discrimination of genetically similar members of Bacillus cereus group, including Bacillus cereus, B. anthrax, and B. thuringiensis, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based marker was developed. We altered an artificial base at the 3′-end of SNP sites in each SNP-based 16S rRNA primer sequence to improve the ability of SNP-based primers to bind the PCR template sequence, thereby improving the allele-specific detection of target B. cereus strains. SNP analysis in high-quality DNA sequences could facilitate identification and discrimination of closely related bacterial species. Abstract Ambiguous, heterogeneous, endospore-forming Bacillus species, notably Bacillus cereus, often produce fatal toxins that threaten human health. We identified Bacillus from wild animal fecal samples (n = 80), including the Korean water deer (n = 25) and striped field mouse (n = 55). Using traditional culture-based methods, 25 animal fecal samples (31.25%; 25/80) were found to be positive for Bacillus species, whereas using molecular techniques, 19 samples (23.75%; 19/80) were found to be positive for the same. In addition, we designed a Bacillus species-specific 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene marker and utilized it to identify 19 samples by means of PCR amplification and sequencing, using at least one colony from the 19 Bacillus positive samples. The recovered sequences were matched to sequences of three Bacillus species (B. cereus, B. amyloliquefaciens, and B. megaterium) from the GenBank database. Moreover, the phylogenetic tree generated in this study established specific clades for the Bacillus group. In addition, to differentiate between B. cereus, B. anthracis, and B. thuringiensis, we designed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based primer by identifying SNPs in the alignment of 16S rRNA gene sequences of B. cereus group strains. The SNPs were used to design primer sets for discrimination between highly similar species from the B. cereus group. The study could be used in surveillance of agricultural fresh-produce-associated Bacillus outbreaks, for accurate identification of each Bacillus species, and in the development of control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md-Mafizur Rahman
- Division of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea;
- Department Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Science, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh
| | - Sang-Jin Lim
- Institute of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
- Correspondence: (S.-J.L.); (Y.-C.P.)
| | - Yung-Chul Park
- Division of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea;
- Correspondence: (S.-J.L.); (Y.-C.P.)
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Abstract
Bacillus anthracis, the anthrax agent, exhibits robust proliferation in diverse niches of mammalian hosts. The metabolic attributes of B. anthracis that permit rapid growth in multiple mammalian tissues have not been established. We posit that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) (isoleucine, leucine, and valine) metabolism is key to B. anthracis pathogenesis. Increasing evidence indicates the relationships between B. anthracis virulence and the expression of BCAA-related genes. The expression of some BCAA-related genes is altered during culture in bovine blood in vitro, and the bacterium exhibits valine auxotrophy in a blood serum mimic medium. Transcriptome analyses have revealed that the virulence regulator AtxA, which positively affects the expression of the anthrax toxin and capsule genes, negatively regulates genes predicted to be associated with BCAA biosynthesis and transport. Here, we show that B. anthracis growth in defined medium is severely restricted in the absence of exogenous BCAAs, indicating that BCAA transport is required for optimal growth in vitro. We demonstrate functional redundancy among multiple BrnQ-type BCAA transporters. Three transporters are associated with isoleucine and valine transport, and the deletion of one, BrnQ3, attenuates virulence in a murine model for anthrax. Interestingly, an ilvD-null mutant lacking dihydroxy acid dehydratase, an enzyme essential for BCAA synthesis, exhibits unperturbed growth when cultured in medium containing BCAAs but is highly attenuated in the murine model. Finally, our data show that BCAAs enhance AtxA activity in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a model in which BCAAs serve as a signal for virulence gene expression. IMPORTANCE Infection with B. anthracis can result in systemic disease with large numbers of the bacterium in multiple tissues. We found that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) synthesis is insufficient for the robust growth of B. anthracis; access to BCAAs is necessary for the proliferation of the pathogen during culture and during infection in a murine model for anthrax. B. anthracis produces an unusually large repertoire of BCAA-related transporters. We identified three isoleucine/valine transporters with partial functional redundancy during culture. The deletion of one of these transporters, BrnQ3, resulted in attenuated virulence. Interestingly, a BCAA biosynthesis mutant grew well in medium containing BCAAs but, like BrnQ3, was attenuated for virulence. These results suggest that BCAAs are limiting in multiple niches during infection and further our understanding of the nutritional requirements of this important pathogen.
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Prakash A, Agashe D, Khan I. The costs and benefits of basal infection resistance vs immune priming responses in an insect. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 126:104261. [PMID: 34536466 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2021.104261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In insects, basal pathogen resistance and immune priming can evolve as mutually exclusive strategies, with distinct infection outcomes. However, the evolutionary drivers of such diverse immune functions remain poorly understood. Here, we addressed this key issue by systematically analyzing the differential fitness costs and benefits of priming vs resistance evolution in Tribolium beetle populations infected with Bacillus thuringiensis. Surprisingly, resistant beetles had increased post-infection reproduction and a longer lifespan under both starving as well as fed conditions, with no other measurable costs. In contrast, priming reduced offspring early survival, development rate and reproduction. Priming did improve post-infection survival of offspring, but this added trans-generational benefit of immune priming might not compensate for its pervasive costs. Resistance was thus consistently more beneficial. Overall, our work demonstrates the evolutionary change in trans-generational priming response, and provides a detailed comparison of the complex fitness consequences of evolved priming vs resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Prakash
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Deepa Agashe
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India.
| | - Imroze Khan
- Ashoka University, Plot No. 2, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, P.O. Rai, Sonepat, Haryana, 131029, India.
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17
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de Almeida JR, Bonatelli ML, Batista BD, Teixeira-Silva NS, Mondin M, Dos Santos RC, Bento JMS, de Almeida Hayashibara CA, Azevedo JL, Quecine MC. Bacillus thuringiensis RZ2MS9, a tropical plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, colonizes maize endophytically and alters the plant's production of volatile organic compounds during co-inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 13:812-821. [PMID: 34433236 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The beneficial features of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are not limited to its role as an insecticide; it is also able to promote plant growth interacting with plants and other plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR). The PGPR Bt strain RZ2MS9 is a multi-trait maize growth promoter. We obtained a stable mutant of RZ2MS9 labelled with green fluorescent protein (RZ2MS9-GFP). We demonstrated that the Bt RZ2MS9-GFP successfully colonizes maize's roots and leaves endophytically. We evaluated whether RZ2MS9 has an additive effect on plant growth promotion when co-inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5. The two strains combined enhanced maize's roots and shoots dry weight around 50% and 80%, respectively, when compared to the non-inoculated control. However, non-differences were observed comparing RZ2MS9 alone and when co-inoculated with Ab-V5, In addition, we used co-inoculation experiments in glass chambers to analyse the plant's volatile organic compounds (VOCs) production during the maize-RZ2MS9 and maize-RZ2MS9-Ab-V5 interaction. We found that the single and co-inoculation altered maize's VOCs emission profile, with an increase in the production of indoles in the co-inoculation. Collectively, these results increase our knowledge about the interaction between the Bt and maize, and provide a new possibility of combined application with the commercial inoculant A. brasilense Ab-V5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaqueline Raquel de Almeida
- Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Letícia Bonatelli
- Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruna Durante Batista
- Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, Australia
| | - Natalia Sousa Teixeira-Silva
- Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Mateus Mondin
- Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafaela Cristina Dos Santos
- Department of Entomology, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - José Maurício Simões Bento
- Department of Entomology, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | | | - João Lúcio Azevedo
- Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina Quecine
- Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
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Gutierrez-Villagomez JM, Patey G, To TA, Lefebvre-Raine M, Lara-Jacobo LR, Comte J, Klein B, Langlois VS. Frogs Respond to Commercial Formulations of the Biopesticide Bacillus thuringiensis var . israelensis, Especially Their Intestine Microbiota. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12504-12516. [PMID: 34460233 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
It is generally believed that Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) biopesticides are harmless to non-target organisms; however, new research shows controversial results. We exposed acutely and chronicallyLithobates sylvaticusandAnaxyrus americanus tadpoles until metamorphic climax to VectoBac 200G (granules) and VectoBac 1200L (aqueous suspension) at 300-20,000 ITU/L covering field-relevant concentrations and higher. The data show that the exposure parameters tested did not affect significantly the survival, total length, total weight, hepatosomatic index, gonadosomatic index, the expression of genes of interest (i.e., related to xenobiotic exposure, oxidative stress, and metamorphosis), and the intestine tissue layer detachment ofL. sylvaticusandA. americanus in a concentration-response pattern. In contrast, VectoBac 200G significantly increased the median time to metamorphosis ofL. sylvaticus tadpoles by up to 3.5 days and decreased the median by up to 1 day inA. americanus. VectoBac 1200L significantly increased the median time to metamorphosis ofL. sylvaticusandA. americanustadpoles by up to 4.5 days. Also, the exposure to VectoBac 200G and 1200L altered the intestine bacterial community composition inA. americanus at application rates recommended by the manufacturer, which led to an increase in the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. Changes in the intestine microbiota might impact the fitness of individuals, including the susceptibility to parasitic infections. Our results indicate that the effect of Bti commercial products is limited; however, we recommend that Bti-spraying activities in amphibian-rich ecosystems should be kept minimal until there is more conclusive research to assess if the changes in the time to metamorphosis and microbiota can lead to negative outcomes in amphibian populations and, eventually, the functioning of ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Géraldine Patey
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Québec City, Quebec G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Tuan Anh To
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Québec City, Quebec G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Molly Lefebvre-Raine
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Québec City, Quebec G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Linda Ramona Lara-Jacobo
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Québec City, Quebec G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Jérôme Comte
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Québec City, Quebec G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Bert Klein
- Service des territoires fauniques et des habitats, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP), Quebec City, Quebec G1S 4X4, Canada
| | - Valerie S Langlois
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Québec City, Quebec G1K 9A9, Canada
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19
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Belousova ME, Malovichko YV, Shikov AE, Nizhnikov AA, Antonets KS. Dissecting the Environmental Consequences of Bacillus thuringiensis Application for Natural Ecosystems. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13050355. [PMID: 34065665 PMCID: PMC8155924 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13050355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a natural pathogen of different invertebrates, primarily insects, is widely used as a biological control agent. While Bt-based preparations are claimed to be safe for non-target organisms due to the immense host specificity of the bacterium, the growing evidence witnesses the distant consequences of their application for natural communities. For instance, upon introduction to soil habitats, Bt strains can affect indigenous microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, and further establish complex relationships with local plants, ranging from a mostly beneficial demeanor, to pathogenesis-like plant colonization. By exerting a direct effect on target insects, Bt can indirectly affect other organisms in the food chain. Furthermore, they can also exert an off-target activity on various soil and terrestrial invertebrates, and the frequent acquisition of virulence factors unrelated to major insecticidal toxins can extend the Bt host range to vertebrates, including humans. Even in the absence of direct detrimental effects, the exposure to Bt treatment may affect non-target organisms by reducing prey base and its nutritional value, resulting in delayed alleviation of their viability. The immense phenotypic plasticity of Bt strains, coupled with the complexity of ecological relationships they can engage in, indicates that further assessment of future Bt-based pesticides' safety should consider multiple levels of ecosystem organization and extend to a wide variety of their inhabitants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E. Belousova
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (ARRIAM), 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (M.E.B.); (Y.V.M.); (A.E.S.); (A.A.N.)
| | - Yury V. Malovichko
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (ARRIAM), 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (M.E.B.); (Y.V.M.); (A.E.S.); (A.A.N.)
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anton E. Shikov
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (ARRIAM), 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (M.E.B.); (Y.V.M.); (A.E.S.); (A.A.N.)
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anton A. Nizhnikov
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (ARRIAM), 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (M.E.B.); (Y.V.M.); (A.E.S.); (A.A.N.)
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Kirill S. Antonets
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (ARRIAM), 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (M.E.B.); (Y.V.M.); (A.E.S.); (A.A.N.)
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Correspondence:
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Phylogenetic analyses suggest centipede venom arsenals were repeatedly stocked by horizontal gene transfer. Nat Commun 2021; 12:818. [PMID: 33547293 PMCID: PMC7864903 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21093-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Venoms have evolved over a hundred times in animals. Venom toxins are thought to evolve mostly by recruitment of endogenous proteins with physiological functions. Here we report phylogenetic analyses of venom proteome-annotated venom gland transcriptome data, assisted by genomic analyses, to show that centipede venoms have recruited at least five gene families from bacterial and fungal donors, involving at least eight horizontal gene transfer events. These results establish centipedes as currently the only known animals with venoms used in predation and defence that contain multiple gene families derived from horizontal gene transfer. The results also provide the first evidence for the implication of horizontal gene transfer in the evolutionary origin of venom in an animal lineage. Three of the bacterial gene families encode virulence factors, suggesting that horizontal gene transfer can provide a fast track channel for the evolution of novelty by the exaptation of bacterial weapons into animal venoms.
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21
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Brivio MF, Mastore M. When Appearance Misleads: The Role of the Entomopathogen Surface in the Relationship with Its Host. INSECTS 2020; 11:E387. [PMID: 32585858 PMCID: PMC7348879 DOI: 10.3390/insects11060387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Currently, potentially harmful insects are controlled mainly by chemical synthetic insecticides, but environmental emergencies strongly require less invasive control techniques. The use of biological insecticides in the form of entomopathogenic organisms is undoubtedly a fundamental resource for the biological control of insect pests in the future. These infectious agents and endogenous parasites generally act by profoundly altering the host's physiology to death, but their success is closely related to the neutralization of the target insect's immune response. In general, entomopathogen parasites, entomopathogenic bacteria, and fungi can counteract immune processes through the effects of secretion/excretion products that interfere with and damage the cells and molecules typical of innate immunity. However, these effects are observed in the later stages of infection, whereas the risk of being recognized and neutralized occurs very early after penetration and involves the pathogen surface components and molecular architecture; therefore, their role becomes crucial, particularly in the earliest pathogenesis. In this review, we analyze the evasion/interference strategies that entomopathogens such as the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, fungi, nematocomplexes, and wasps implement in the initial stages of infection, i.e., the phases during which body or cell surfaces play a key role in the interaction with the host receptors responsible for the immunological discrimination between self and non-self. In this regard, these organisms demonstrate evasive abilities ascribed to their body surface and cell wall; it appears that the key process of these mechanisms is the capability to modify the surface, converting it into an immunocompatible structure, or interaction that is more or less specific to host factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Francesco Brivio
- Laboratory of Comparative Immunology and Parasitology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy;
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22
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Multiple and Overlapping Functions of Quorum Sensing Proteins for Cell Specialization in Bacillus Species. J Bacteriol 2020; 202:JB.00721-19. [PMID: 32071096 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00721-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In bacterial populations, quorum sensing (QS) systems participate in the regulation of specialization processes and regulate collective behaviors that mediate interactions and allow survival of the species. In Gram-positive bacteria, QS systems of the RRNPP family (Rgg, Rap, NprR, PlcR, and PrgX) consist of intracellular receptors and their cognate signaling peptides. Two of these receptors, Rap and NprR, have regained attention in Bacillus subtilis and the Bacillus cereus group. Some Rap proteins, such as RapH and Rap60, are multifunctional and/or redundant in function, linking the specialization processes of sporulation and competence, as well as global expression changes in the transition phase in B. subtilis NprR, an evolutionary intermediate between Rap and RRNPP transcriptional activators, is a bifunctional regulator that modulates sporulation initiation and activates nutrient scavenging genes. In this review, we discuss how these receptors switch between functions and connect distinct signaling pathways. Based on structural evidence, we propose that RapH and Rap60 should be considered moonlighting proteins. Additionally, we analyze an evolutionary and ecological perspective to understand the multifunctionality and functional redundancy of these regulators in both Bacillus spp. and non-Bacillus Firmicutes Understanding the mechanistic, structural, ecological, and evolutionary basis for the multifunctionality and redundancy of these QS systems is a key step for achieving the development of innovative technologies for health and agriculture.
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Rap Protein Paralogs of Bacillus thuringiensis: a Multifunctional and Redundant Regulatory Repertoire for the Control of Collective Functions. J Bacteriol 2020; 202:JB.00747-19. [PMID: 31871034 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00747-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a mechanism of synthesis and detection of signaling molecules to regulate gene expression and coordinate behaviors in bacterial populations. In Bacillus subtilis, multiple paralog Rap-Phr QS systems (receptor-signaling peptides) are highly redundant and multifunctional, interconnecting the regulation of differentiation processes such as sporulation and competence. However, their functions in the Bacillus cereus group are largely unknown. We evaluated the functions of Rap proteins in Bacillus thuringiensis Bt8741, which codes for eight Rap-Phr systems; these were individually overexpressed to study their participation in sporulation, biofilm formation, spreading, and extracellular proteolytic activity. Our results show that four Rap-Phr systems (RapC, RapK, RapF, and RapLike) inhibit sporulation, two of which (RapK and RapF) probably dephosphorylate Spo0F from the Spo0A phosphorelay; these two Rap proteins also inhibit biofilm formation. Four systems (RapC, RacF1, RacF2, and RapLike) participate in spreading inhibition; finally, six systems (RapC, -F, -F2, -I, and -I1 and RapLike) decrease extracellular proteolytic activity. We foresee that functions performed by Rap proteins of Bt8741 could also be carried out by Rap homologs in other strains within the B. cereus group. These results indicate that Rap-Phr systems constitute a highly multifunctional and redundant regulatory repertoire that enables B. thuringiensis and other species from the B. cereus group to efficiently regulate collective functions during their life cycle in the face of changing environments.IMPORTANCE The Bacillus cereus group of bacteria includes species of high economic, clinical, biological warfare, and biotechnological interest, e.g., B. anthracis in bioterrorism, B. cereus in food intoxications, and B. thuringiensis in biocontrol. Knowledge about the ecology of these bacteria is hindered by our limited understanding of the regulatory circuits that control differentiation and specialization processes. Here, we uncover the participation of eight Rap quorum-sensing receptors in collective functions of B. thuringiensis These proteins are highly multifunctional and redundant in their functions, linking ecologically relevant processes such as sporulation, biofilm formation, spreading, extracellular proteolytic activity, and probably other functions in species from the B. cereus group.
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Abstract
The Bacillus cereus group includes several Bacillus species with closely related phylogeny. The most well-studied members of the group, B. anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis, are known for their pathogenic potential. Here, we present the historical rationale for speciation and discuss shared and unique features of these bacteria. Aspects of cell morphology and physiology, and genome sequence similarity and gene synteny support close evolutionary relationships for these three species. For many strains, distinct differences in virulence factor synthesis provide facile means for species assignment. B. anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax. Some B. cereus strains are commonly recognized as food poisoning agents, but strains can also cause localized wound and eye infections as well as systemic disease. Certain B. thuringiensis strains are entomopathogens and have been commercialized for use as biopesticides, while some strains have been reported to cause infection in immunocompromised individuals. In this article we compare and contrast B. anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis, including ecology, cell structure and development, virulence attributes, gene regulation and genetic exchange systems, and experimental models of disease.
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25
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Martínez-Zavala SA, Barboza-Pérez UE, Hernández-Guzmán G, Bideshi DK, Barboza-Corona JE. Chitinases of Bacillus thuringiensis: Phylogeny, Modular Structure, and Applied Potentials. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3032. [PMID: 31993038 PMCID: PMC6971178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The most important bioinsecticide used worldwide is Bacillus thuringiensis and its hallmark is a rich variety of insecticidal Cry protein, many of which have been genetically engineered for expression in transgenic crops. Over the past 20 years, the discovery of other insecticidal proteins and metabolites synthesized by B. thuringiensis, including chitinases, antimicrobial peptides, vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIP), and siderophores, has expanded the applied value of this bacterium for use as an antibacterial, fungicidal, and nematicidal resource. These properties allow us to view B. thuringiensis not only as an entity for the production of a particular metabolite, but also as a multifaceted microbial factory. In particular, chitinases of B. thuringiensis are secreted enzymes that hydrolyze chitin, an abundant molecule in the biosphere, second only to cellulose. The observation that chitinases increase the insecticidal activity of Cry proteins has stimulated further study of these enzymes produced by B. thuringiensis. Here, we provide a review of a subset of our knowledge of B. thuringiensis chitinases as it relates to their phylogenetic relationships, regulation of expression, biotechnological potential for controlling entomopathogens, fungi, and nematodes, and their use in generating chitin-derived oligosaccharides (ChOGs) that possess antibacterial activities against a number of clinically significant bacterial pathogens. Recent advances in the structural organization of these enzymes are also discussed, as are our perspective for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila A Martínez-Zavala
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Uriel E Barboza-Pérez
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Gustavo Hernández-Guzmán
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico.,Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Dennis K Bideshi
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States.,Food Department, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - José E Barboza-Corona
- Graduate Program in Biosciences, Life Science Division, University of Guanajuato Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico.,Department of Biological Sciences, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, United States
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26
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Wang Y, Wang D, Wang X, Tao H, Feng E, Zhu L, Pan C, Wang B, Liu C, Liu X, Wang H. Highly Efficient Genome Engineering in Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus Using the CRISPR/Cas9 System. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1932. [PMID: 31551942 PMCID: PMC6736576 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome editing is an effective tool for the functional examination of bacterial genes and for live attenuated vaccine construction. Here, we report a method to edit the genomic DNA of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas)9 system. Using two prophages in B. anthracis as targets, large-fragment deletion mutants were achieved with rates of 100 or 20%. In B. cereus, we successfully introduced precise point mutations into plcR, with phenotypic assays showing that the resulting mutants lost hemolytic and phospholipase enzyme activities similar to B. anthracis, which is a natural plcR mutant. Our study indicates that CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genetic tool for genome editing in the Bacillus cereus group, and can efficiently modify target genes without the need for residual foreign DNA such as antibiotic selection markers. This system could be developed for use in the generation of marker-free live anthrax vaccines or for safer construction of microbiological candidate-based recombinant B. cereus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chunjie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiankai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Hengliang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
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Azizoglu U. Bacillus thuringiensis as a Biofertilizer and Biostimulator: a Mini-Review of the Little-Known Plant Growth-Promoting Properties of Bt. Curr Microbiol 2019; 76:1379-1385. [PMID: 31101973 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-019-01705-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a gram-positive spore-forming soil microorganism. Because the insecticidal activities of Bt are well known, it has been used as a tool for insect pest control worldwide. The beneficial features of Bt are not limited to its role as an insecticide; it is also used to control phytopathogenic fungi via chitinolytic activity. Bt-related studies are mostly focused on its biocontrol properties. However, studies focusing on the biostimulation and biofertilizer features of Bt, including its interactions with plants, are limited. Bt is a successful endophyte in many plants and can directly promote their development or indirectly induce plant growth by suppressing diseases. Although there are various commercial biopesticide Bt-based products, there are no commercial Bt-based plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria products on the biofertilizer market. As novel Bt strain exploration increases, there will likely be new Bt-based products with powerful biofertilizer activities in the future. The objective of this paper is to review, discuss, and evaluate the exceptional features of Bt as a plant growth promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugur Azizoglu
- Department of Crop and Animal Production, Safiye Cikrikcioglu Vocational School, Kayseri University, Kayseri, Turkey.
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28
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Buisson C, Gohar M, Huillet E, Nielsen-LeRoux C. Bacillus thuringiensis Spores and Vegetative Bacteria: Infection Capacity and Role of the Virulence Regulon PlcR Following Intrahaemocoel Injection of Galleria mellonella. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10050129. [PMID: 31060274 PMCID: PMC6571593 DOI: 10.3390/insects10050129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis is an invertebrate pathogen that produces insecticidal crystal toxins acting on the intestinal barrier. In the Galleria mellonella larvae infection model, toxins from the PlcR virulence regulon contribute to pathogenicity by the oral route. While B. thuringiensis is principally an oral pathogen, bacteria may also reach the insect haemocoel following injury of the cuticle. Here, we address the question of spore virulence as compared to vegetative cells when the wild-type Bt407cry- strain and its isogenic ∆plcR mutant are inoculated directly into G. mellonella haemocoel. Mortality dose-response curves were constructed at 25 and 37 °C using spores or vegetative cell inocula, and the 50% lethal dose (LD50) in all infection conditions was determined after 48 h of infection. Our findings show that (i) the LD50 is lower for spores than for vegetative cells for both strains, while the temperature has no significant influence, and (ii) the ∆plcR mutant is four to six times less virulent than the wild-type strain in all infection conditions. Our results suggest that the environmental resistant spores are the most infecting form in haemocoel and that the PlcR virulence regulon plays an important role in toxicity when reaching the haemocoel from the cuticle and not only following ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Buisson
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Michel Gohar
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Eugénie Huillet
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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A 16S rDNA PCR-based theoretical to actual delta approach on culturable mock communities revealed severe losses of diversity information. BMC Microbiol 2019; 19:74. [PMID: 30961521 PMCID: PMC6454784 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-019-1446-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subunits of ribosomal RNA genes (rDNAs) characterized by PCR-based protocols have been the proxy for studies in microbial taxonomy, phylogenetics, evolution and ecology. However, relevant factors have shown to interfere in the experimental outputs in a variety of systems. In this work, a 'theoretical' to 'actual' delta approach was applied to data on culturable mock bacterial communities (MBCs) to study the levels of losses in operational taxonomic units (OTUs) detectability. Computational and lab-bench strategies based on 16S rDNA amplification by 799F and U1492R primers were employed, using a fingerprinting method with highly improved detectability of fragments as a case-study tool. MBCs were of two major types: in silico MBCs, assembled with database-retrieved sequences, and in vitro MBCs, with AluI digestions of PCR data generated from culturable endophytes isolated from cacao trees. RESULTS Interfering factors for the 16 s rDNA amplifications, such as the type of template, direct and nested PCR, proportion of chloroplast DNA from a tropical plant source (Virola officinalis), and biased-amplification by the primers resulted in altered bacterial 16S rDNA amplification, both on MBCs and V. officinalis leaf-extracted DNA. For the theoretical data, the maximum number of fragments for in silico and in vitro cuts were not significantly different from each other. Primers' preferences for certain sequences were detected, depending on the MBCs' composition prior to PCR. The results indicated overall losses from 2.3 up to 8.2 times in the number of OTUs detected from actual AluI digestions of MBCs when compared to in silico and in vitro theoretical data. CONCLUSIONS Due to all those effects, the final amplification profile of the bacterial community assembled was remarkably simplified when compared to the expected number of detectable fragments known to be present in the MBC. From these findings, the scope of hypotheses generation and conclusions from experiments based on PCR amplifications of bacterial communities was discussed.
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Abdel-Aleem H, Dishisha T, Saafan A, AbouKhadra AA, Gaber Y. Biocementation of soil by calcite/aragonite precipitation usingPseudomonas azotoformansandCitrobacter freundiiderived enzymes. RSC Adv 2019; 9:17601-17611. [PMID: 35520555 PMCID: PMC9064560 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra02247c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial geotechnology is the use of microorganisms and/or their derivatives to alter engineering properties of soil for improving its stability, strength and stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba Abdel-Aleem
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Beni-Suef University
- Beni-Suef
- Egypt
| | - Tarek Dishisha
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Beni-Suef University
- Beni-Suef
- Egypt
| | - Amal Saafan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Menoufia University
- Shebeen El-kom
- Egypt
| | | | - Yasser Gaber
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Beni-Suef University
- Beni-Suef
- Egypt
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Hollensteiner J, Poehlein A, Spröer C, Bunk B, Sheppard AE, Rosenstiel P, Schulenburg H, Liesegang H. Complete genome sequence of the nematicidal Bacillus thuringiensis MYBT18247. J Biotechnol 2017; 260:48-52. [PMID: 28899808 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The Gram-positive spore forming bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis MYBT18247 encodes three cry toxin genes, (cry6Ba2, cry6Ba3 and cry21-like) which are active against nematodes. For a better understanding of the evolution of virulence and cry toxins, we present here the complete genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis MYBT18247. Various additional virulence factors such as bacteriocins, proteases and hemolysins were identified. In addition, the methylome and the metabolic potential of the strain were analyzed and the strain phylogenetically classified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Hollensteiner
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Germany
| | - Cathrin Spröer
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Boyke Bunk
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Anna E Sheppard
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Philip Rosenstiel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hinrich Schulenburg
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Heiko Liesegang
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Germany.
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32
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Microbial metabolites in nutrition, healthcare and agriculture. 3 Biotech 2017; 7:15. [PMID: 28391479 PMCID: PMC5385174 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-016-0586-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms are a promising source of an enormous number of natural products, which have made significant contribution to almost each sphere of human, plant and veterinary life. Natural compounds obtained from microorganisms have proved their value in nutrition, agriculture and healthcare. Primary metabolites, such as amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, organic acids and alcohol are used as nutritional supplements as well as in the production of industrial commodities through biotransformation. Whereas, secondary metabolites are organic compounds that are largely obtained by extraction from plants or tissues. They are primarily used in the biopharmaceutical industry due to their capability to reduce infectious diseases in human beings and animals and thus increase the life expectancy. Additionally, microorganisms and their products inevitably play a significant role in sustainable agriculture development.
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El-kersh TA, Ahmed AM, Al-sheikh YA, Tripet F, Ibrahim MS, Metwalli AAM. Isolation and characterization of native Bacillus thuringiensis strains from Saudi Arabia with enhanced larvicidal toxicity against the mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae (s.l.). Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:647. [PMID: 27993165 PMCID: PMC5168711 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1922-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Worldwide, mosquito vectors are transmitting several etiological agents of important human diseases, including malaria, causing millions of deaths every year. In Saudi Arabia, as elsewhere, vector-control is based mostly on chemical insecticides which may be toxic and cause environmental deprivation. Here, to support the development of bio-pesticide alternatives, a study was conducted to identify native Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) isolates with improved toxicity against the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae (s.l.). METHODS Sixty-eight Bt isolates were obtained from 300 soil and other samples collected from 16 sites across Saudi Arabia. Bt identification was based on morphological characteristics of colonies, shape of parasporal crystals and biochemical profiles. After characterization of their mosquitocidal activity, larvicidal strains were described through 16S ribosomal DNA gene sequencing, cry, cyt and chi genes PCR-amplification profiles, and SDS-PAGE protein analyses. RESULTS Spherical Bt crystals were predominant amongst the 68 isolates (34%), while irregular, bi-pyramidal and spore-attached crystals were found in 32, 13 and 21% of strains, respectively. LC50 and LC90 bioassays showed that 23/68 isolates were larvicidal, with distinct biochemical activity profiles compared to non-larvicidal Bt strains. Eight larvicidal strains showed larvicidal activity up to 3.4-fold higher (LC50 range: 3.90-7.40 μg/ml) than the reference Bti-H14 strain (LC50 = 13.33 μg/ml). Of these, 6 strains had cry and cyt gene profiles similar to Bti-H14 (cry4Aa, cry4Ba, cry10, cry11, cyt1Aa, cyt1Ab, cyt2Aa). The seventh strain (Bt63) displaying the highest larvicidal activity (LC50 = 3.90 μg/ml) missed the cry4Aa and cyt1Ab genes and had SDS-PAGE protein profiles and spore/crystal sizes distinct from Bti-H14. The eight strain (Bt55) with LC50 of 4.11μg/ml had cry and cyt gene profiles similar to Bti-H14 but gave a chi gene PCR product size of 2027bp. No strains harbouring cry2, cry17 + 27, cry24 + 40, cry25, cry29, cry30, or cyt2Ba were detected. CONCLUSION This study represents the first report of several Saudi indigenous Bt strains with significantly higher larvicidal efficacy against An. gambiae than the reference Bti-H14 strain. The very high toxicity of the Bt63 strain, combined with distinct cry and cyt genes and SDS-PAGE-protein profiles makes it a promising candidate for future applications in mosquito bio-control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talaat A. El-kersh
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf M. Ahmed
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yazeed A. Al-sheikh
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Frédéric Tripet
- Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG UK
| | - Mohamed S. Ibrahim
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali A. M. Metwalli
- Department of Food Science & Nutrition, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Khan I, Prakash A, Agashe D. Divergent immune priming responses across flour beetle life stages and populations. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:7847-7855. [PMID: 30128134 PMCID: PMC6093166 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence shows that low doses of pathogens may prime the immune response in many insects, conferring subsequent protection against infection in the same developmental stage (within‐life stage priming), across life stages (ontogenic priming), or to offspring (transgenerational priming). Recent work also suggests that immune priming is a costly response. Thus, depending on host and pathogen ecology and evolutionary history, tradeoffs with other fitness components may constrain the evolution of priming. However, the relative impacts of priming at different life stages and across natural populations remain unknown. We quantified immune priming responses of 10 natural populations of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, primed and infected with the natural insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis. We found that priming responses were highly variable both across life stages and populations, ranging from no detectable response to a 13‐fold survival benefit. Comparing across stages, we found that ontogenic immune priming at the larval stage conferred maximum protection against infection. Finally, we found that various forms of priming showed sex‐specific associations that may represent tradeoffs or shared mechanisms. These results indicate the importance of sex‐, life stage‐, and population‐specific selective pressures that can cause substantial divergence in priming responses even within a species. Our work highlights the necessity of further work to understand the mechanistic basis of this variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imroze Khan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
| | - Arun Prakash
- National Centre for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
| | - Deepa Agashe
- National Centre for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
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Genome Sequence of the Endophytic Bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Strain KB1, a Potential Biocontrol Agent against Phytopathogens. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2016; 4:4/2/e00279-16. [PMID: 27103716 PMCID: PMC4841131 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00279-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis is the most widely known microbial pesticide used in agricultural applications. Herein, we report a draft genome sequence of the endophytic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis strain KB1, which exhibits antagonism against phytopathogens.
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36
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Milutinović B, Höfling C, Futo M, Scharsack JP, Kurtz J. Infection of Tribolium castaneum with Bacillus thuringiensis: quantification of bacterial replication within cadavers, transmission via cannibalism, and inhibition of spore germination. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:8135-44. [PMID: 26386058 PMCID: PMC4651099 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02051-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproduction within a host and transmission to the next host are crucial for the virulence and fitness of pathogens. Nevertheless, basic knowledge about such parameters is often missing from the literature, even for well-studied bacteria, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, an endospore-forming insect pathogen, which infects its hosts via the oral route. To characterize bacterial replication success, we made use of an experimental oral infection system for the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum and developed a flow cytometric assay for the quantification of both spore ingestion by the individual beetle larvae and the resulting spore load after bacterial replication and resporulation within cadavers. On average, spore numbers increased 460-fold, showing that Bacillus thuringiensis grows and replicates successfully in insect cadavers. By inoculating cadaver-derived spores and spores from bacterial stock cultures into nutrient medium, we next investigated outgrowth characteristics of vegetative cells and found that cadaver-derived bacteria showed reduced growth compared to bacteria from the stock cultures. Interestingly, this reduced growth was a consequence of inhibited spore germination, probably originating from the host and resulting in reduced host mortality in subsequent infections by cadaver-derived spores. Nevertheless, we further showed that Bacillus thuringiensis transmission was possible via larval cannibalism when no other food was offered. These results contribute to our understanding of the ecology of Bacillus thuringiensis as an insect pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Milutinović
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christina Höfling
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Momir Futo
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jörn P Scharsack
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Joachim Kurtz
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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37
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Loguercio LL, Argôlo-Filho RC. Anthropogenic action shapes the evolutionary ecology of Bacillus thuringiensis: response to Ruan et al. Trends Microbiol 2015; 23:519-20. [PMID: 26163434 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Leandro L Loguercio
- Department of Biological Sciences (DCB), State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus-BA, Brazil.
| | - Ronaldo C Argôlo-Filho
- Department of Biological Sciences (DCB), State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus-BA, Brazil
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Ruan L, Crickmore N, Peng D, Sun M. Are nematodes a missing link in the confounded ecology of the entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis? Trends Microbiol 2015; 23:341-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Influence of lysogeny of Tectiviruses GIL01 and GIL16 on Bacillus thuringiensis growth, biofilm formation, and swarming motility. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:7620-30. [PMID: 25261525 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01869-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis is an entomopathogenic bacterium that has been used as an efficient biopesticide worldwide. Despite the fact that this bacterium is usually described as an insect pathogen, its life cycle in the environment is still largely unknown. B. thuringiensis belongs to the Bacillus cereus group of bacteria, which has been associated with many mobile genetic elements, such as species-specific temperate or virulent bacteriophages (phages). Temperate (lysogenic) phages are able to establish a long-term relationship with their host, providing, in some cases, novel ecological traits to the bacterial lysogens. Therefore, this work focuses on evaluating the potential influence of temperate tectiviruses GIL01 and GIL16 on the development of different life traits of B. thuringiensis. For this purpose, a B. thuringiensis serovar israelensis plasmid-cured (nonlysogenic) strain was used to establish bacterial lysogens for phages GIL01 and GIL16, and, subsequently, the following life traits were compared among the strains: kinetics of growth, metabolic profiles, antibiotics susceptibility, biofilm formation, swarming motility, and sporulation. The results revealed that GIL01 and GIL16 lysogeny has a significant influence on the bacterial growth, sporulation rate, biofilm formation, and swarming motility of B. thuringiensis. No changes in metabolic profiles or antibiotic susceptibilities were detected. These findings provide evidence that tectiviruses have a putative role in the B. thuringiensis life cycle as adapters of life traits with ecological advantages.
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Argôlo-Filho RC, Costa RL, Pinheiro DH, Corrêa FM, Valicente FH, Pomella AWV, Loguercio LL. Requirement of simultaneous assessment of crystal- and supernatant-related entomotoxic activities of Bacillus thuringiensis strains for biocontrol-product development. Toxins (Basel) 2014; 6:1598-614. [PMID: 24854738 PMCID: PMC4052255 DOI: 10.3390/toxins6051598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Revised: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioinsecticides with lower concentrations of endospores/crystals and without loss of efficiency are economically advantageous for pest biocontrol. In addition to Cry proteins, other Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins in culture supernatants (SN) have biocontrol potential (e.g., Vip3A, Cry1I, Sip1), whereas others are unwanted (β-exotoxins), as they display widespread toxicity across taxa. A strain simultaneously providing distinct toxin activities in crystals and SN would be desirable for bioinsecticides development; however, strains secreting β-exotoxins should be discarded, independently of other useful entomotoxins. Entomotoxicity of crystals and SN from a Brazilian Bt tolworthi strain (Btt01) was tested against Spodoptera frugiperda to assess the potential for biocontrol-product development based on more than one type of toxin/activity. Tests showed that 10(7) endospores mL(-1) caused >80% of larvae mortality, suggesting Btt01 may be used in similar concentrations as those of other Bt-based biopesticides. When it was applied to cornfields, a significant 60% reduction of larvae infestation was observed. However, bioassays with Btt01 SN revealed a thermostable toxic activity. Physicochemical characterization strongly suggests the presence of unwanted β-exotoxins, with isolate-specific temporal variation in its secretion. Knowledge of the temporal pattern of secretion/activity in culture for all forms of toxins produced by a single strain is required to both detect useful activities and avoid the potential lack of identification of undesirable toxins. These findings are discussed in the contexts of commercial Bt product development, advantages of multiple-activity strains, and care and handling recommended for large-scale fermentation systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronaldo Costa Argôlo-Filho
- Department of Biological Sciences (DCB), State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod. BR 415, Km-16, Ilhéus-BA 45662-900, Brazil.
| | - Robson Luz Costa
- Farroupilha Laboratory, Av. Cica No. 555, Patos de Minas-MG 38706-420, Brazil.
| | | | - Fábio Mathias Corrêa
- Department Exact and Technological Sciences (DCET), State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod. BR 415, Km-16, Ilhéus-BA 45662-900, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Leandro Lopes Loguercio
- Department of Biological Sciences (DCB), State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Rod. BR 415, Km-16, Ilhéus-BA 45662-900, Brazil.
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