A phylogenetic analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis serovars by RFLP-based ribotyping.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the 23S and 5S rRNA gene fingerprints in order to reveal phylogenetic relationships among Bacillus thuringiensis strains.


RESULTS
Eighty-six B. thuringiensis strains which include 80 serovar type strains, five intraserovar strains and a non-serotypeable strain, wuhanensis, were tested. Total DNA was digested with EcoRI and HindIII. The 23S and 5S rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphisms showed 82 distinctive ribopatterns. The dendrogram generated by numerical analysis showed 10 phylogenetic groups and six ungrouped serovars at the 95.5% DNA relatedness rate. A second dendrogram was constructed using a combination of the data from this study and from a previous study on 16S rRNA gene fingerprinting. It revealed eight distinct phylogenetic groups and three ungrouped serovars at the 94% DNA relatedness rate.


CONCLUSIONS
This method permitted the classification and positioning of a wide variety of B. thuringiensis strains on a phylogenetic tree. Bacillus thuringiensis strains appear to be relatively homogeneous and to share a high degree of DNA relatedness.


CONCLUSIONS
This study contributes a further step to the definition of valid taxonomic sublevels for the B. thuringiensis species.
Joung
K B
KB
Programme de doctorat en sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada.
Côté
J C
JC
D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000235:genetics; D021521:Ribotyping
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes