title: Hexamerin a novel protein associated with Bacillus sphaericus resistance in Culex quinquefasciatus.
abstract: Bacterial insecticides like, Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis, have been used for the control of nuisance and vector mosquitoes for more than two decades. For many years, it was assumed that the use of microbial larvicides based on B. sphaericus would not lead to resistance in mosquitoes. However, recent reports have shown that B. sphaericus toxins are not free from this problem. Therefore, the resistance of mosquito populations to be will seriously threaten the sustainability of current mosquito control programme using these microbial insecticides. In the present study, we have characterised a novel protein responsible for resistance development in the filariasis vector of Culex quinquefasciatus. Laboratory selection experiments with B. sphaericus against the larvae were carried out up to 17 generations, and the occurrence of resistance was reported (resistance ratio (RR) at lethal concentration (LC)50 and LC90 = 1,987 and 2,051 folds, respectively). The protein profiles of B. sphaericus-resistant and susceptible population have confirmed with the expression of a new polypeptide (80 kDa) in the resistant strain only. Sequence result revealed that the newly expressed protein was 'hexamerin', and this factor might conceivably be responsible for the inheritance of resistance. This study is therefore valuable for comprehending the underlining factor and management of B. sphaericus resistance problem in mosquito population.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Indira Nagar, Puducherry, 605 006, India, Subbiahpoopathi@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Subbiah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poopathi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thirugnanasambantham
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: K Athisaya
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mary
authors.forename: B Ann
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mary
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balagangadharan
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001407:Bacillus / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D001947:Breeding; D003465:Culex / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009032:Mosquito Control
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D019476:Insect Proteins; C041137:storage proteins, Insecta