title: Genomic and transcriptomic insights into the efficient entomopathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis.
abstract: Bacillus thuringiensis has been globally used as a microbial pesticide for over 70 years. However, information regarding its various adaptions and virulence factors and their roles in the entomopathogenic process remains limited. In this work, we present the complete genomes of two industrially patented Bacillus thuringiensis strains (HD-1 and YBT-1520). A comparative genomic analysis showed a larger and more complicated genome constitution that included novel insecticidal toxicity-related genes (ITRGs). All of the putative ITRGs were summarized according to the steps of infection. A comparative genomic analysis showed that highly toxic strains contained significantly more ITRGs, thereby providing additional strategies for infection, immune evasion, and cadaver utilization. Furthermore, a comparative transcriptomic analysis suggested that a high expression of these ITRGs was a key factor in efficient entomopathogenicity. We identified an active extra urease synthesis system in the highly toxic strains that may aid B. thuringiensis survival in insects (similar to previous results with well-known pathogens). Taken together, these results explain the efficient entomopathogenicity of B. thuringiensis. It provides novel insights into the strategies used by B. thuringiensis to resist and overcome host immune defenses and helps identify novel toxicity factors.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Donghai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yueying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weixing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jinshui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Changming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ce
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lifang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ziniu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D007446:Chromosome Inversion; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D023061:Gene Order; D059646:Genome Size; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D007313:Insecta / Q000382:microbiology; D005810:Multigene Family; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D059467:Transcriptome; D014510:Urease / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D014510:Urease