Serratia proteamaculans Strain AGR96X Encodes an Antifeeding Prophage (Tailocin) with Activity against Grass Grub (Costelytra giveni) and Manuka Beetle (Pyronota Species) Larvae.

ABSTRACT: A highly virulent Serratia proteamaculans strain, AGR96X, exhibiting specific pathogenicity against larvae of the New Zealand grass grub (Costelytra giveni; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and the New Zealand manuka beetle (Pyronota festiva and P. setosa; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), was isolated from a diseased grass grub larva. A 12-day median lethal dose of 4.89 × 10³ ± 0.92 × 10³ cells per grass grub larva was defined for AGR96X, and death occurred within 5 to 12 days following the ingestion of a high bacterial dose. During the infection period, the bacterium rapidly multiplied within the insect host and invaded the hemocoel, leading to a mean bacterial load of 8.2 × 10⁹ cells per larva at 6 days postingestion. Genome sequencing of s

SUBMITTER: Hurst MRH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5930377 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature