title: Identification of a new Alcaligenes faecalis strain MOR02 and assessment of its toxicity and pathogenicity to insects.
abstract: We report the isolation of a bacterium from Galleria mellonella larva and its identification using genome sequencing and phylogenomic analysis. This bacterium was named Alcaligenes faecalis strain MOR02. Microscopic analyses revealed that the bacteria are located in the esophagus and intestine of the nematodes Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae, and H. bacteriophora. Using G. mellonella larvae as a model, when the larvae were injected with 24,000 CFU in their hemocoel, more than 96% mortality was achieved after 24 h. Additionally, toxicity assays determined that 1 μg of supernatant extract from A. faecalis MOR02 killed more than 70% G. mellonella larvae 96 h after injection. A correlation of experimental data with sequence genome analyses was also performed. We discovered genes that encode proteins and enzymes that are related to pathogenicity, toxicity, and host/environment interactions that may be responsible for the observed phenotypic characteristics. Our data demonstrates that the bacteria are able to use different strategies to colonize nematodes and kill insects to their own benefit. However, there remains an extensive group of unidentified microorganisms that could be participating in the infection process. Additionally, a nematode-bacterium association could be established probably as a strategy of dispersion and colonization.
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Rosa Estela
authors: 0000-0002-1099-2440
authors: RE
authors: Quiroz-Castañeda
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Ared
authors: A
authors: Mendoza-Mejía
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Verónica
authors: V
authors: Obregón-Barboza
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Martínez-Ocampo
authors: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: Hernández-Mendoza
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Felipe
authors: F
authors: Martínez-Garduño
authors: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Guillén-Solís
authors: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Sánchez-Rodríguez
authors: Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Guadalupe
authors: G
authors: Peña-Chora
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Ortíz-Hernández
authors: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Gaytán-Colín
authors: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62210 Cuernavaca, MOR, Mexico.
authors: Edgar
authors: E
authors: Dantán-González
mesh_terms: D042481:Alcaligenes faecalis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products