Failure to phenotypically discriminate between non-insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis strains with anticancer parasporins (PS2, PS3, and PS4) and Bacillus thuringiensis strains that produce insecticidal Cry proteins

Masayasu Ichikawa; Akiko Uemori; Koichi Yasutake; Kumiko Kagoshima; Eiichi Mizuki; Michio Ohba

doi:10.1303/aez.2008.421

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Failure to phenotypically discriminate between non-insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis strains with anticancer parasporins (PS2, PS3, and PS4) and Bacillus thuringiensis strains that produce insecticidal Cry proteins

Masayasu Ichikawa, Akiko Uemori, Koichi Yasutake, Kumiko Kagoshima, Eiichi Mizuki, Michio Ohba

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Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis, parasporin producer, phenotypic characteristics, spore morphometry

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2008 Volume 43 Issue 3 Pages 421-426

DOI https://doi.org/10.1303/aez.2008.421

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Abstract

This study examined the microbiological features of the three reference strains of Bacillus thuringiensis whose non-insecticidal parasporal inclusions contain anticancer parasporins (PS2, PS3, and PS4). Morphometric analysis showed that the sizes and aspect ratios of the spores of these strains were in the range of those reported for the Bacillus cereus/B. thuringiensis group. The API 50CH test revealed that the carbohydrate utilization profiles of these strains were typical of the B. cereus/B. thuringiensis group. These parasporin producers proved resistant to ampicillin, and induced β-hemolysis on sheep blood agar. Overall results show that there is no significant difference in several phenotypic key characters between B. thuringiensis strains with PS2, PS3, and PS4 and those with insecticidal crystal proteins.

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