title: Characterization of the first molluscicidal lipopolysaccharide from Moraxella osloensis.
abstract: Moraxella osloensis is a bacterium that is mutualistically associated with Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, a nematode that has potential for the biocontrol of mollusk pests, especially the slug Deroceras reticulatum. We discovered that purified M. osloensis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) possesses a lethal toxicity to D. reticulatum when administered by injection but no contact or oral toxicity to this slug. The toxicity of the LPS resides in the lipid A moiety. M. osloensis LPS was semiquantitated at 6 x 10(7) endotoxin units per mg. The LPS is a rough-type LPS with an estimated molecular weight of 5,300. Coinjection of galactosamine with the LPS increased the LPS's toxicity to the slug two- to four-fold. The galactosamine-induced sensitization of the slug to the LPS was reversed completely by uridine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Parwinder S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Grewal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005688:Galactosamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008974:Mollusca / Q000187:drug effects*; D009016:Moraxella / Q000378:metabolism*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D017168:Rhabditida / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D005688:Galactosamine