Fate of Bacillus thuringiensis strains in different insect larvae.
In favorable conditions Bacillus thuringiensis spores germinate and vegetative cells multiply, whereas in unfavorable conditions Bacillus thuringiensis sporulates and produces insecticidal crystal proteins. The development of B. thuringiensis strains was investigated in the larvae of insects belonging to the orders Lepidoptera and Diptera. Bacillus thuringiensis strains able to kill the insects did not always multiply in cadavers. Strains with no specificity to kill the insect sometimes multiplied when the insects were killed mechanically. These results indicate that some insect larvae represent an environment that favors the germination of B. thuringiensis spores and the multiplication of vegetative cells; however, there was no correlation between the toxin specificity and the specificity of the host.
Suzuki
Marise Tanaka
MT
Centre of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-970 Londrina/PR, Brazil.
Lereclus
Didier
D
Arantes
Olivia M Nagy
OM
D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology
D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis