• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2013

3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid (HPP) is a bacterial metabolite synthesized and released by an entomopathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila K1. In this study, the control efficacy of HPP was tested against Phytophthora blight and anthracnose of red pepper plants. HPP suppressed mycelial growth of Phytophthora blight and anthracnose pathogens. Under natural sunlight condition, HPP maintained the antifungal activity on the diseases for at least twenty five days. The antifungal activity was not decreased even in the condition of soil-water. It was proved that HPP was able to penetrate the roots and travel upward of the red pepper plants. When HPP suspension was applied to soil rhizosphere before transplanting the red pepper seedlings or was regularly sprayed to the foliage of the plants with ten days interval, it resulted in significant reduction of the disease occurrences (Phytophthora blight and anthracnose) without any phytotoxicity. These results suggested that HPP can be developed to a systemic agrochemical against Phytophthora blight and anthracnose of red pepper plants.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2012

Indole compound is a bacterial metabolite synthesized and released by an entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila K1. The antibiotic activity was evaluated against plant pathogens, such as Phytophthora blight and anthracnose of red pepper. Indole significantly suppressed mycelial growth of Phytophthora blight and anthracnose pathogens. Under natural sunlight conditions, indole maintained the antifungal activity for at least sixty days. The activity was not affected under the condition of soil-water. When the indole suspension was applied to surface soil before transplanting of red pepper seedlings and was then regularly sprayed to the foliage of the plants with ten days interval, it resulted in significant reduction of the disease occurrences (Phytophthora blight, anthracnose, soft rot, and black mold) by about 30%. These results suggest that indole can be used to control Phytophthora blight and anthracnose of red pepper.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.301-311
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• 2015

To enhance Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) efficacy, four Cry toxins were purified from four different Bt strains and assessed in their combined efficacy. The Cry mixtures significantly expanded their target insect spectra. Bacterial culture broth of Xenorhabdus nematophila (Xn) significantly suppressed insect cellular immune response and increased Cry toxicity. The addition of Xn culture broth to Cry mixture significantly enhanced Bt efficacy in target insect spectrum and insecticidal activity.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.914-917
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• 2001

The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophillus are major pests of aquatic rice plant throughout the country. In field, we examined efficacy of Steinernema carpocapsae and Xenorhabdus nematophilus against rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus. Steinernema carpocapsae showed 71-74.2% mortality after 15days in the field. Also symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophilus isolated from Steinernema carpocapsae showed 33.3-58.3% mortality after 15days at vat against rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.507-521
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• 2014

A phase variation has been reported in an entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila. Compared with a wild-type primary form, a secondary form usually loses several physiological and biochemical characters. This study showed that the phase variation of X. nematophila caused a significant alteration in its immunosuppressive activity and subsequent entomopathogenicity. A secondary form of X. nematophila was detected in laboratory colonies and exhibited significant differences in dye absorption and entomopathogenicity. In addition, the secondary form was different in its production of eicosanoid-biosynthesis inhibitors (EBIs) compared with the primary form of X. nematophila. Production of oxindole and p-hydroxypropionic acid was significantly reduced in the culture broth of the secondary form of X. nematophila. The reduced EBI production resulted in significant suppression in the inhibitory effects on cellular nodule formation and phenoloxidase activity. Culture broth of the primary form of X. nematophila enhanced the pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt) significantly more than the culture broth of the secondary form. Furthermore, this study developed a highly efficient "Dual Bt-Plus: to control both lepidopteran insect pests Plutella xylostella and Spodoptera exigua, by mixing two effective Bt strains along with the addition of potent bacterial metabolites or 100-fold concentrated X. nematophila culture broth.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.385-392
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• 2009

Two entomopathogenic bacteria, Xenorhabdus nematophila and Photorhabdus temperata subsp. temperata, are known to be potent against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, when the bacteria are injected into the hemocoel. This study investigated any pathogenic effect of their culture broth on P. xylostella by oral administration. Only culture broth of both bacterial species did not give enough pathogenic effects by the oral administration. However, when the culture broth was orally treated together with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), both cell-free culture broth significantly enhanced Bt pathogenicity against the 3rd instar larvae of P. xylostella. The culture broth was then fractionated into hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extracts. Most synergistic effect on Bt pathogenicity was found in ethyl acetate extracts of both bacterial species. Thin layer chromatography of these extracts clearly showed that ethyl acetate extracts of both bacterial culture broths possessed metabolites that were different to those of hexane and aqueous extracts. These results suggest that the both entomopathogenic bacteria produce and secrete different factors to give significant synergistic effect on Bt pathogenicity.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2020

Two mosquito species were collected in still-water near farming area in Andong, Korea. Based on morphological characters, these two mosquitoes were identified as Aedes koreicus and Culex vagans, respectively. DNA barcode analyses supported the identification. An entomopathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (BtI), exhibited insecticidal activities against the two mosquito species and its virulence was more potent than that of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. It has been known that the bacterial metabolites of Xenorhabdus spp. suppress insect immunity and enhance pathogenicity of B. thuringiensis. This study tested the effect of the bacterial culture broth of Xenorhabdus spp. on enhancing BtI pathogenicity. Among three Xenorhabdus spp., culture broth of X. ehlersii (Xe) was relatively effective to enhance BtI pathogenicity against both mosquito species. Indeed, organic extracts of Xe culture broth suppressed the hemocyte-spreading behavior, suggesting the presence of immunosuppressant in the culture broth. These results suggest a formulation of BtPlus by mixing BtI spore and Xe culture broth to be applied to control the two mosquito species.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2011

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacterial biopesticide against insect pests, mainly lepidopterans. Spodoptera exigua and Plutella xylostella exhibit significant decreases in Bt susceptibility in late larval instars. To enhance Bt pathogenicity, we used a mixture treatment of Bt and other bacterial metabolites which possessed significant immunosuppressive activities. Mixtures of Bt with culture broths of Xenorhabdus nematophila (Xn) or Photorhabdus temperata ssp. temperata (Ptt) significantly enhanced the Bt pathogenicity against late larval instars. Different ratios of Bt to bacterial culture broth had significant pathogenicities against last instar P. xylostella and S. exigua. Five compounds identified from the bacterial culture broth also enhanced Bt pathogenicity. After determining the optimal ratios, the mixture was applied to cabbage infested by late instar P. xylostella or S. exigua in greenhouse conditions. A mixture of Bt and Xn culture broth killed 100% of both insect pests when it was sprayed twice, while Bt alone killed less than 80% or 60% of P. xylostella and S. exigua, respectively. Other Bt mixtures, including Ptt culture broth or bacterial metabolites, also significantly increased pathogenicity in the semi-field assays. These results demonstrated that the Bt mixtures collectively names "Bt-Plus" can be developed into potent biopesticides to increase the efficacy of Bt.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2004

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2000

Entomopathogenic nematodes are being used for insect control. We purified a toxin secreted by the insect-pathogenic bacterium, Xenorhadbus nematophilus, which lives in the gut of entomopathogenic nematodes. Culture broth of X. nematophilus was separated by centrifugation and concentrated by ultration. The concentrated culture broth was applied to a DEAE Sephadex A-50 column, and proteins were eluted stepwise with increasing concentrations of KCI. Fractions column. The molecty weight of purified toxin was39 kDa on SDS-PAGE, and Fourier tranformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that this toxin could be a new protein exhiting the charactristics of C=O stretching peak near 1650cm-1.