A novel Bacillus thuringiensis strain LLB6, isolated from bryophytes, and its new cry2Ac-type gene.
OBJECTIVE
To isolate and characterize the novel Bacillus thuringiensis strains from bryophytes collected from Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province of China, and identify new B. thuringiensis strains and toxins active against mosquitoes.


RESULTS
Twelve novel B. thuringiensis strains were isolated from 76 bryophyte samples. According to the results of this preliminary screening, LLB6 was the most toxic to Aedes albopictus. Then phase-contrast as well as scanning electron microscopy, bioassays, cloning, sequencing and expression were performed to characterize the novel isolate LLB6 and its new gene cry2Ac5.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacillus thuringiensis occurred naturally on bryophytes. LLB6 isolated from Physcomitrium japonicum was toxic to A. albopictus. A new cry2Ac5 gene of LLB6 was detected, cloned and expressed successfully. Bioassays on A. albopictus showed that the expressed Cry2Ac5 was also toxic to the third instar larvae.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of B. thuringiensis strains isolated from bryophytes. It represents a specific source of new B. thuringiensis strains and is of great importance for the knowledge of the ecology of B. thuringiensis. Novel LLB6 harboring the new gene cry2Ac5 and its expressed Cry2Ac5 protein revealed activity against A. albopictus and became a new member of B. thuringiensis toxins.
Zhang
L L
LL
Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, P. R. China.
Lin
J
J
Luo
L
L
Guan
C Y
CY
Zhang
Q L
QL
Guan
Y
Y
Zhang
Y
Y
Ji
J T
JT
Huang
Z P
ZP
Guan
X
X
D000330:Aedes / Q000254:growth & development; D000531:Altitude; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000382:microbiology*; D002681:China; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009032:Mosquito Control; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D007306:Insecticides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis