Identification of Cyt2Ba from a New Strain of Bacillus thuringiensis and Its Toxicity in Bradysia difformis

Curr Microbiol. 2020 Oct;77(10):2859-2866. doi: 10.1007/s00284-020-02018-y. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Abstract

Bradysia difformis is one of the most damaging pests in mushroom production in China. In this study, eight Bacillus thuringiensis strains were analyzed for insecticidal activity in B. difformis. The strain JW-1 showed the highest insecticidal activity against B. difformis larvae, but did not inhibit the mycelial growth of Pleurotus ostreatus and P. geesteranus. The 16S rRNA gene (1397 bp) and cyt2 gene (792 bp) were obtained from strain JW-1. The phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene and Cyt2 toxin showed that strain JW-1 was a member of B. thuringiensis and Cyt2 toxin belonged to Cyt2Ba toxin cluster. The Cyt2Ba toxin from strain JW-1 was overexpressed in E. coli as a fusion protein and the fusion protein (70 kDa) was purified by Ni-IDA affinity chromatography. The purified Cyt2Ba fusion protein was toxic to B. difformis larvae (LC50 was 2.25 ng/mL). The identification of Cyt2Ba from strain JW-1 and confirmation of the insecticidal activity of Cyt2Ba in B. difformis provided a new means of biological control of the important pest in mushroom production.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins* / toxicity
  • Bacillus thuringiensis* / classification
  • Bacillus thuringiensis* / genetics
  • China
  • Diptera* / drug effects
  • Endotoxins* / toxicity
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Hemolysin Proteins* / toxicity
  • Larva
  • Pest Control, Biological
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / toxicity

Substances

  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Endotoxins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis