Diversity of cry genes and genetic characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from Brazil.
Two hundred and eighteen Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from Brazil were characterized by the presence of crystal protein genes by PCR with primers specific to different cry and cyt genes. Among these isolates, 95 were selected according to their geographic origin for genetic characterization with the 16S rRNA gene, RAPD, and plasmid profile. Isolates containing cry1 genes were the most abundant (48%) followed by the cry11 and cyt (7%) and cry8 genes (2%). Finally, 40.3% of the isolates did not produce any PCR product. The plasmid profile and RAPD analysis showed a remarkable diversity among the isolates of B. thuringiensis not observed in the 16S rRNA gene. These results suggest that the genetic diversity of B. thuringiensis species results from the influence of different ecological factors and spatial separation between strains generated by the conquest of different habitats.
Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária, FCAV/UNESP, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo D. Castellane, Jaboticabal/SP, 14884-900, Brazil. mvictor@fcav.unesp.br
Gislayne Trindade
GT
Vilas-Bôas
Manoel Victor Franco
MV
Lemos
D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D001938:Brazil; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis