title: Molecular markers to determine the ecological fate of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki.
abstract: A set of DNA markers was developed that successfully identifies Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki (Btk) when screened against other Bacillus species and subspecies. These subspecies-specific primer sets allowed detection and characterization of Btk within an environmental background that contained many Bacillus species. Because Btk is used as an active ingredient in many commercial formulations, yet is not naturally widely distributed in North America or Europe, these markers will prove useful in investigations on the environmental persistence and ecological fate of Btk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23284-2012, USA, Insect Biocontrol Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shrinivas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kester
authors.forename: P A W
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brown