Cytotoxicity analysis of three Bacillus thuringiensis Subsp. israelensis d-Endotoxins towards insect and mammalian cells

Three members of the d-endotoxin group of toxins expressed by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, Cyt2Ba, Cry4Aa and Cry11A, were individually expressed in recombinant acrystalliferous B. thuringiensis strains for in vitro evaluation of their toxic activities against insect and mammalian cell lines. Both Cry4Aa and Cry11A toxins, activated with either trypsin or Spodoptera frugiperda gastric juice (GJ), resulted in different cleavage patterns for the activated toxins as seen by SDS-PAGE. The GJ-processed proteins were not cytotoxic to insect cell cultures. On the other hand, the combination of the trypsinactivated Cry4Aa and Cry11A toxins yielded the highest levels of cytotoxicity to all insect cells tested. The combination of activated Cyt2Ba and Cry11A also showed higher toxic activity than that of toxins activated individually. When activated Cry4Aa, Cry11A and Cyt2Ba were used simultaneously in the same assay a decrease in toxic activity was observed in all insect cells tested. No toxic effect was observed for the trypsin-activated Cry toxins in mammalian cells, but activated Cyt2Ba was toxic to human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) when tested at 20 mg/mL

First association of scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) with \u3ci\u3eSalacia crassifolia\u3c/i\u3e (Mart. Ex Schult.) G. Don. (Celastraceae)

Salacia crassifolia (Mart. ex Schult.) G.Don., (Celastraceae) is a native species of shrub/tree highly ap­preciated in Brazil for its fruits and medicinal properties. Scale insects have never been reported associated with S. crassifolia; nevertheless, this paper describes the occurrence of two diaspidids on S. crassifolia leaves in Brazil. Three mature trees were inspected in February and March 2018 and scale insect samples were collected and pre­served in 70% alcohol, then mounted and identified under an optical microscope. Two species of scale insects were found associated with this plant, Pseudoparlatoria argentata Hempel and Melanaspis aristotelesi Lepage and Gi­annotti, both from the family Diaspididae (Hemiptera). The three observed trees were infested by the diaspidids, with some leaves completely colonized by both species. This is the first reported occurrence of P. argentata and M. aristotelesi in plants of the Celastraceae family. It is also the first report of these insects in the Distrito Federal, Brazil, expanding the distribution and hosts in native plant species of the Cerrado biome

First Report of Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) on Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King)

Texas citrus mite, Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae: Tetranychinae), considered a serious pest of the citrus crop in some countries, is reported for the first time on mahogany seedlings (Swietenia macrophylla King, Meliaceae) in Brazil, causing foliar tanning with chlorotic spots and premature fall of leaves

Draft genome sequence of bacillus thuringiensis S906, a toxic strain to coleoptera and lepidoptera orders / Projeto de sequência do genoma de bacillus thuringiensis S906, uma cepa tóxica para as ordens coleoptera e lepidoptera

Bacillus thuringiensis is an important bacterium which shows insecticide action against several pests. This work describes the draft genome sequence of B. thuringiensis S906, that showed toxicity against insects from Lepidoptera order (Anticarsia gemmatalis, Helicoverpa armigera, Plutella xylostella and Spodoptera frugiperda), and Coleoptera order (Anthonomus grandis) which contains the genes cry1Ba, Vpa, Vpb and Spp1A. Genes coding for bacteriocin, plant growth promotion pathway, tyrosinase and enhancin were also identified

Draft genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis strain S601, a toxic strain to Anthonomous grandis / Sequência do genoma de Bacillus thuringiensis strain S601, uma estirpe tóxica para os Anthonomous grandis

Bacillus thuringiensis is an important bacterium showing insecticide proteins effective to control several agricultural pests, including boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). This work describes the draft genome sequence of B. thuringiensis S601, which contains genes encoding the parasporal crystal cry1B, including other genes, like Vpa, Vpb, Sip and new ones described by new nomenclature of Bt toxins. Genes coding for bacteriocin, plant growth promotion pathway and tyrosinase were also identified

Identificação de biótipos B, Q e nativo brasileiro do complexo da espécie Bemisia tabaci por meio de marcadores Scar

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver marcadores "sequence-characterized amplified region" (Scar) para identificar os biótipos B, Q e nativo brasileiro da mosca-branca [Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)]. Produtos de amplificação de DNA polimórfico amplificado ao acaso (RAPD), exclusivos aos biótipos B e nativo brasileiro, foram selecionados após análise de 12.000 amostras, para desenhar um conjunto de iniciadores específicos de Scar. Os marcadores Scar BT-B1 e BT-B3, usados para detectar o biótipo B, produziram fragmentos de PCR de 850 e 582 pb, respectivamente. O marcador Scar BT-BR1, utilizado para identificar o biótipo brasileiro, produziu um fragmento de PCR de 700 pb. Os marcadores Scar foram testados contra o biótipo Q, e um fluxograma foi proposto para indicar os passos para tomada de decisão sobre quando usar esses iniciadores, para discriminar corretamente os biótipos. Este procedimento permitiu identificar os biótipos que ocorrem em amostras de campo, como o biótipo B. O conjunto de iniciadores utilizados permitiu discriminar os biótipos B, Q e nativo brasileiro de B. tabaci. Esses iniciadores podem ser utilizados com sucesso para identificar o biótipo B de B. tabaci em amostras de campo, e mostram apenas um biótipo específico presente em todas as culturas.The objective of this work was to develop sequence-characterized amplified region (Scar) markers to identify the B, Q, and native Brazilian biotypes of the sweet potato whitefly [Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)]. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) amplification products, exclusive to the B and Brazilian biotypes, were selected after the analysis of 12,000 samples, in order to design a specific Scar primer set. The BT-B1 and BT-B3 Scar markers, used to detect the B biotype, produced PCR fragments of 850 and 582 bp, respectively. The BT-BR1 Scar marker, used to identify the Brazilian biotype, produced a PCR fragment of 700 bp. The Scar markers were tested against the Q biotype, and a flowchart was proposed to indicate the decision steps to use these primers, in order to correctly discriminate the biotypes. This procedure allowed to identify the biotypes that occur in field samples, such as the B biotype. The used set of primers allowed to discriminate the B, Q, and native Brazilian biotypes of B. tabaci. These primers can be successfully used to identify the B biotype of B. tabaci from field samples, showing only one specific biotype present in all cultures

Draft genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis strain S1307, an isolate toxic for lepidoptera / Projecto de sequência genómica de Bacillus thuringiensis strain S1307, um tóxico isolado para lepidoptera

The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces multiple toxins with activity against a diverse range of insect, including Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. The Bt strain S1307 contains genes encoding Cry1Ab, Cry1Bc, Cry1Ia, Cry1J, Cry2Aa, Mpp5Aa, Spp1Aa, Vpb1B, Vpb2Bb and Vip3Aa. Genes coding for plant growth promotion metabolic pathway were identified. And the operon which encodes the bacteriocins thuricin 17 and nisin were identified

Draft genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis strain s908, an isolate toxic for coleopteran / Projeto de sequência genómica de Bacillus thuringiensis strain s908, um tóxico isolado para coleopteran

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces pore forming toxins that have been used for Diptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera pest control in agriculture for many years. This work describes the draft genome sequence of B. thuringiensis S908, which contains the genes cry1B, Vpa, Vpb and Sip. Genes coding for bacteriocin, enhancin, plant growth promotion pathway and tyrosinase were identifie

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis Strain 907, an Isolate Toxic for Coleopteran / Projecto de Sequência Genómica de Bacillus thuringiensis Strain 907, um Tóxico Isolado para Coleopteran

Bacillus thuringiensis is an important bactéria which shows insecticide action effective to control several Lepidoptera like Anticarsia gemmatalis, Helicoverpa armigera, Plutella xylostella and S. frugiperda, and Coleoptera like A. grandis. This work describes the draft genome sequence of B. thuringiensis S907, which contains the genes cry1Ba1, Vpb1Bc1, Vpa2Bb4 and Sip1Aa1. Genes coding for bacteriocin, plant growth promotion pathway and tyrosinase were identified

Draft genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis strain S2195, an isolate toxic for lepidoptera / Projeto de sequência do genoma de Bacillus thuringiensis strain S2195, um tóxico isolado para lepidoptera

Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram-positive bacterium which produces insecticidal proteins effective to control several medical and agriculture insect pests. These proteins belong to the Cry, Cyt, Vip and Sip families. This work describes the draft genome sequence of B. thuringiensis S2193, which contains genes encoding the parasporal crystal cry1Ad, cry1Ca, cry1Da, cry1Fa, cry1Ia, cry2A, cry9Ea and vip3Ca. Genes coding for plant growth promotion pathway were identified. And the operon which encodes the bacteriocin Thuricin 17 were annoted. We found the gene which encodes the toxin enhancin