Detection of cryIB Genes in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. entomocidus and subsp. subtoxicus

To find new crystal protein genes, we screened 42 Bacillus thuringiensis strains of serovar standards by Southern hybridization with a cryI-specific probe which was amplified from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HDl by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two strains, B. thuringiensis subsp. entomocidus HD9 and subsp. subtoxicus HD109, generated weak signals under the low-stringency hybridization conditions. Further analysis with Southern hybridization revealed that the two strains contained cryIB genes which are slightly different from those of B. thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis HD2. These results were confirmed by PCR with cryIB-specific primers followed by the restriction analysis of PCR products.