Journal of Microbiology

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

A Highly Pathogenic Strain of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar kurstaki in Lepidopteran Pests: Hatice Kati , Kazim Sezen , Remziye Nalcacioglu , Zihni Demirbag; J. Microbiol. 2007;45(6):553-557.; DOI: https://doi.org/2609 [pii]

Abstract: In order to detect and identify the most toxic Bacillus thuringiensis strains against pests, we isolated a B. thuringiensis strain (Bn1) from Balaninus nucum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the most damaging hazelnut pest. Bn1 was characterized via morphological, biochemical, and molecular techniques. The isolate was serotyped, and the results showed that Bn1 was the B. thuringiensis serovar, kurstaki (H3abc). The scanning electron microscopy indicated that Bn1 has crystals with cubic and bipyramidal shapes. The Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) revealed the presence of the cry1 and cry2 genes. The presence of Cry1 and Cry2 proteins in the Bn1 isolate was confirmed via SDS-PAGE, at approximately 130 kDa and 65 kDa, respectively. The bioassays conducted to determine the insecticidal activity of the Bn1 isolate were conducted with four distinct insects, using spore-crystal mixtures. We noted that Bn1 has higher toxicity as compared with the standard B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (HD-1). The highest observed mortality was 90% against Malacosoma neustria and Lymantria dispar larvae. Our results show that the B. thuringiensis isolate (Bn1) may prove valuable as a significant microbial control agent against lepidopteran pests.

Isolation and Characterization of a Lymantria dispar Multinucleocapsid Nucleopolyhedrovirus Isolate in Korea: Hee Jin Shim , Jong Yul Roh , Jae Young Choi , Ming Shun Li , Soo Dong Woo , Hyun Woo Oh , Kyung Saeng Boo , Yeon Ho Je; J. Microbiol. 2003;41(4):306-311.

Abstract: In Korea, a Lymantria dispar multinucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus, LdMNPV-NM, was isolated and characterized from dead L. dispar larvae. The polyhedra of LdMNPV-NM were irregularly shaped with a diameter of 1.62?0.33 ?m. Numerous virions comprised of the multinucleocapsid were evident in the electron microscopic examination of the polyhedra cross sections. These polyhedra were composed of a major protein of 30 kDa. The restriction enzyme digestion patterns of LdMNPV-NM showed that this isolate had some different fragments from those of the Gypchek팜?LdMNPV isolate, although their overall profiles were similar. The deduced amino acid sequence of the enhancin gene of LdMNPV-NM showed differences when compared to previously reported enhancin genes of other LdMNPV strains. These results suggested that the LdMNPV-NM isolate from Korea was a new NPV strain and had a new enhancin gene.

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