Diversity of Bacillus thuringiensis environmental isolates showing larvicidal activity specific for mosquitoes.
Seven mosquito-specific strains of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated in Japan were examined for their flagellar (H) antigenicities and the properties of parasporal inclusion proteins. They were assigned to six H serovars: serovar fukuokaensis (H 3ade); serovar canadensis (H 5ac); serovar darmstadiensis (H 10); serovar kyushuensis (H 11ac); serovar shandongiensis (H 22); and an undescribed serovar belonging to H serotype 20. Purified parasporal inclusions exhibited moderate mosquito larvicidal activities with LC50 values ranging from 1 microgram ml-1 to 10 micrograms ml-1. The inclusions of these strains consisted of highly heterogeneous multiple protein components, and five distinct patterns were evident in their SDS-PAGE profiles. Antibodies against kyushuensis inclusion proteins were reactive with all strains to varying degrees, while israelensis antibodies gave only relatively weak reactions with the seven strains. Similarity in antibody-binding profiles was associated with similarity in SDS-PAGE profiles. In a given strain, different antisera gave altered immunoblot profiles. Haemolytic activity was shown by solubilized parasporal inclusion proteins of five of the seven strains.
Ishii
T
T
Institute of Biological Control, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Ohba
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007564:Japan; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D012703:Serotyping
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins