• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.185-189
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• 2001

Wild type Bacilus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis and B. sphaericus toxins have been used separately as active in ingredients for bacterial insecticides to control mosquito larvae due to their comparable toxicity to chemical insecticides. Cry11B, recently cloned from B. thuringiensis subsp. jegathesan, shows higher toxicity against three major species of mosquito larvae than Cry11A, one of the major component of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis inclusion body. To determine whether the combination of cry11B and B. sphaericus binary toxins is as toxic as B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis parental strain, cry11B and B. sphaericus binary toxins genes were co-expressed as an operon using cytlA promoters/STAB-SD hybrid expression system in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis acrystalliferous strain 4Q7. However, unexpectedly, B. sphaericus binary toxins were barely produced, whereas relatively large amount of Cry11B was produced. When this strain was grown in four different media, NB+G and Peptonized Milk produced more toxin proteins and spores per unit of media than GYS and G-Tris. Toxicity of this strain against fourth instar Culex quinquefasciatus was ranged from of 8.3 to 45.7 ng/ml, with NB+G culture being the highest, and GYS culture was the lowest.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1107-1115
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• 2013

The Cyt1Aa protein of Bacillus thuringiensis susbp. israelensis elaborates demonstrable toxicity to mosquito larvae, but more importantly, it enhances the larvicidal activity of this species Cry proteins (Cry11Aa, Cry4Aa, and Cry4Ba) and delays the phenotypic expression of resistance to these that has evolved in Culex quinquefasciatus. It is also known that Cyt1Aa, which is highly lipophilic, synergizes Cry11Aa by functioning as a surrogate membrane-bound receptor for the latter protein. Little is known, however, about whether Cyt1Aa can interact similarly with other Cry proteins not primarily mosquitocidal; for example, Cry2Aa, which is active against lepidopteran larvae, but essentially inactive or has very low toxicity to mosquito larvae. Here we demonstrate by ligand binding and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays that Cyt1Aa and Cry2Aa form intermolecular complexes in vitro, and in addition show that Cyt1Aa facilitates binding of Cry2Aa throughout the midgut of C. quinquefasciatus larvae. As Cry2Aa and Cry11Aa share structural similarity in domain II, the interaction between Cyt1Aa and Cry2Aa could be a result of a similar mechanism previously proposed for Cry11Aa and Cyt1Aa. Finally, despite the observed interaction between Cry2Aa and Cyt1Aa, only a 2-fold enhancement in toxicity resulted against C. quinquefasciatus. Regardless, our results suggest that Cry2Aa could be a useful component of mosquitocidal endotoxin complements being developed for recombinant strains of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis and B. sphaericus aimed at improving the efficacy of commercial products and avoiding resistance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.749-759
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• 2009

A survey of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) strains isolated from Spanish citrus orchards has been performed, and the strains were tested for insecticidal activity against the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), a key citrus pest in Spain. From a total of 150 environmental samples, 376 isolates were selected, recording a total B. thuringiensis index of 0.52. The collection was characterized by means of phase-contrast microscopy, SDS-PAGE, and PCR analysis with primer pairs detecting toxin genes cry1, cry2, cry3, cry4, cry5, cry7, cry8, cry9, cry10, cry11, cry12, cry14, cry17, cry19, cry21, cry27, cry39, cry44, cyt1, and cyt2. Diverse crystal inclusion morphologies were identified: bipyramidal (45%), round (40%), adhered to the spore (7%), small (5%), and irregular (3%). SDS-PAGE of spore-crystal preparations revealed 39 different electrophoresis patterns. All primer pairs used in PCR tests gave positive amplifications in strains of our collection, except for primers for detection of cry3, cry19, cry39, or cry44 genes. Strains containing cry1, cry2, cry4, and cry27 genes were the most abundant (48.7%, 46%, 11.2%, and 8.2% of the strains, respectively). Ten different genetic profiles were found, although a total of 109 strains did not amplify with the set of primers used. Screening for toxicity against C. capitata adults was performed using both spore-crystal and soluble fractions. Mortality levels were less than 30%. We have developed a large and diverse B. thuringiensis strain collection with huge potential to control several agricultural pests; however, further research is needed to find out Bt strains active against C. capitata.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 1993

The objective of this study is to identify plasmids of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1(B. t k HD-1) toxic to lepidopteran larvae. The results from agarose gel electrophoresis indicated that the bacterium contained 9 plasmids with approximate sizes of 1.4, 4.9, 5.4, 9.3, 10, 29, 44, 52, and 150 megadaltons(Md). By treating the wild type of B. t k HD-1 with either SDS or EtBr as curing agent, 26 cured mutants of the bacterium were obtained, 9 of them were crystallifereous(cry+) and the others acrystallifereous(cry-). Plasmids from B. t k HD-1 were transferred to B. cereus 569 strR cry- recipients(Bc569 M1). Among 13 isolates of Bc569 M1 transcipient, 11 of them were capable of producing the crystal toxic proteins. The plasmid patterns of Bc569 M1 transcipients and partially curved mutants of B. t k HD-1 on agarose gel electrophoresis suggested that the 29 and 44Md plasmids should be involved in the production of crystalline toxic proteins.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1998

The cryIB, truncated cryIB$[cryIB({\alpha})]$, cryIA(b), and cytA genes, encoding 135-, 89-, 131-, and 27-kDa proteins, respectively, from Bacillus thuringiensis were cloned into a shuttle vector pBES and expressed in E. coli and Bacillus species. The morphology and solubility in alkaline buffer of the insecticidal crystal proteins were investigated. Transformation of intact cells of E. coli and Bacillus species was achieved by electroporation. High field strength of 11.0 kV/cm and resistance of 129 ohms were required for efficient transformation of E. coli strains and 4.5 kV/cm and 48 ohms for Bacillus species. Strains of recombinant E. coli and Bacillus species produced the insecticidal crystal proteins and accumulated as the same bipyramidal and irregular structures as those of CryIB and IA(b) and CytA of B. thuringiensls, respectively. The insecticidal crystal proteins accumulated in recombinant E. coli wire smaller in size than those in recombinant Bacillus species. The solubility in alkaline buffer of the insecticidal crystal proteins of recombinant E. coli increased gradually as the pH increased, whereas in the case of Bacillus species the solubility increased gradually as the pH increased up to 9 and then the solubility increased greatly up to two times higher than that of E. coli proteins.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1996

For the effective control of mosquito larvae, Anopheles sinensis, the expression vector pCYASK5-1 containing cryIVD gene of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni PG-14 was constructed and transformed into the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803. The transformants were selected on BG-11 medium containing kanamycin. The expression of cryIVD gene in transformant was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. The mortality of A. sinensis larvae was scored for 3 days. Furthermore, growth and distribution rate of transformant were examined. The results showed that Synechocystis PCC6803 transformed with cryIVD gene of B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni PG-14 was highly toxic to A. sinensis larvae, demonstrating that it will be a potential agent for mosquito control.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.271-275
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• 2020

Objectives : The acupoint TE11 (cheongnaengyeon; CNY) firstly appeared in the ≪A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (AB Classic)≫. The name CNY is known to be originated from an ancient deep pool described in the book of ≪Chuangtzu (Jangja in Korean)≫. Description of the name, however, was not found in a single form in the book of ≪Chuangtzu≫ and its annotated books which made a confusion. The aim of the present study is to review the name of TE11 in terms of its origin. Methods : We have compared printed editions of ≪Chuangtzu≫ and its annotated books and various acupuncture classics including ≪AB Classic≫, ≪Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies (Essential Prescriptions)≫, ≪Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points of the Bronze Figure (Illustrated Manual)≫, ≪Collection of Gems of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Collections of Gems)≫, and ≪Complete Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Complete Compendium)≫. Results : The name of ancient deep pool was found in two different forms in the book of ≪Chuangtzu≫ and its annotated books. One was CNY, the other was Cheong Ryeong Yeon (CRY). The description in the ≪Chuangtzu≫, the source book, was CRY. In addition, the acupoint TE11 was described as CRY in the ≪AB Classic≫, Cheong Ryeong Cheon in the ≪Essential Prescriptions≫. Meanwhile, the point was described as CNY in the ≪Illustrated Manual≫, the ≪Collections of Gems≫ and the ≪Complete Compendium≫. Conclusions : Data suggest that the original description was CRY and a mix of CNY and CRY as a name of TE11 was used. The Korean standard name of TE11 should be changed as CRY.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1057-1062
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• 2004

The entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is the most widely used biopesticide. Insecticidal proteins, coded by genes located in plasmids, form typical parasporal, crystalline inclusions during sporulation. We isolated a Bacillus thuringiensis strain having insecticidal activity against larvae of the house fly (M. domestica) from the soils at a pig farm in Korea, and named it Bacillus thuringiensis SM. The culture filtrate from Bacillus thuringiensis SM showed strong lethality (83.3%) against M. domestica larvae. The parasporal crystal is enclosed within the spores' outermost envelope, as determined by transmission electron microscopy, and exhibited a bipyramidal form. The crystal proteins of strain SM consisted of five proteins with molecular weights of approximately ~130, ~80, ~68, ~42, and ~27 kDa on a 10% SDS-PAGE (major band, a size characteristic of Cry protein). Examination of antibiotic resistance revealed that the strain SM showed multiple resistant. The strain SM had at least three different plasmids with sizes of 6.6, 9.3, and 54 kb. Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) revealed the presence of cry1, cry4A2, and cry11A1 genes in the strain SM. The cry1 gene profile of the strain SM appeared in the three respective products of 487 bp [cry1A(c)], 414 bp [cry1D], and 238 bp [cry1A(b)]. However, the strain SM has not shown the cry4A2 md cry11A1 genes. In in vivo toxicity assays, the strain SM showed high toxicity on fly larvae (M. domestic) [with $LC_{50}$ of 4.2 mg/ml, $LC_{90}$ of 8.2 mg/ml].

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 1989

Six plasmids of B. thuringiensis serovar. kurstaki HD73 were detected, with approximate sizes of 7.4, 7.8, 8.1, 11.3, and 75 Kb, as well as a low copied plasmid of similar length to 75 Kb. Partially cured mutants from B. thuringiensis HD73 were obtained either by the treatment of the curing agent, ethidium bromide(0.02 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) or by spontaneous curing, Acrystalliferous mutants(Cry$^-$) were identified by microscopic observation and immunoblotting with polyclonal antibody against 133 KD deltaendotoxin of HD73. Ten Cry$^-$ mutants were found to be lack of 75 Kb plasmid. These results implicated that this plasmid was associated with delta-endotoxin production, After isolating the mutants, we streaked them on potato dextrose agar, spizizen casamino acid glucose, starch agar, and nutrient agar. Only on starch agar medium did morphologies of Cry$^-$ appear translucent and light greyish. On the other hand, the mutants of B. thuringiensis isolated from Korean soil, designated KBS722, were obtained by the treatment of novobiocin (3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$). Acrystalliferous mutants of KBS722 were less translucent than HD73 mutants' only on nutrient agar medium. Compared the plasmid profile of the mutants with delta-endotoxin production, the results seemed to indicate that the insecticidal protein gene of B. thuringiensis isolates KBS722 located on about 225 Kb plasmid DNA.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2005

A strain of Bacillus thuringiensis that showed signifi­cantly high toxicity to Plutella xylostella was isolated from a dust sample collected from Chinese tobacco warehouse and characterized. The isolate named B. thuringiensis LY-99 was determined to belong to subsp. alesti (H3a3c) by an H antisera agglutination test and produced bipyramidal inclusions. Plasmid and crystal protein patterns of the LY-99 were different from those of the reference strain, subsp. alesti. PCR analysis with specific primers revealed that this isolate contained abundant cry genes including crylAa, crylAc, crylB, crylD, crylE, crylF and cry2 genes, which was absolutely different from cry gene profile of the subsp. alesti. In addition, insecticidal activity of the LY-99 against P. xylostella larvae was about 44 times higher than that of the subsp. alesti.