Characterization of two Bacillus thuringiensis genes identified by in vivo screening of virulence factors.

ABSTRACT: Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative cells are known to be highly pathogenic when injected into the hemocoel of susceptible insect larvae. This pathogenicity is due to the capacity of B. thuringiensis to cause septicemia in the host. We screened a B. thuringiensis mini-Tn10 insertion library for loss of virulence against Bombyx mori larvae on injection into the hemocoel. Three clones with attenuated virulence were isolated, corresponding to two different mini-Tn10 insertions mapping to the yqgB/yqfZ locus. Single disruptions of the yqgB and yqfZ genes did not affect virulence against B. mori. In contrast, the inactivation of both genes simultaneously reproduced the effect of the mini-Tn10 insertion and resulted in a significant delay to infection. The double DeltayqgB DeltayqfZ mutant was als

SUBMITTER: Fedhila S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC492376 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature