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Introduction
Introduction
Commonly known as Bt.
Found all over the world but most commonly found in water, soil, storage grains, and dead insects.
Primary Literature Article: AlejandraBravoaSupapornLikitvivatanavongbSarjeet S.GillbMarioSoberónaPersonEnvelope, et al. “Bacillus Thuringiensis: A Story of a Successful Bioinsecticide.” Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pergamon, 2 Mar. 2011, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965174811000543.
Background
Background
Facultative bacterium – meaning it can grow without oxygen.
Reproduce by forming spores.
Feeds on insect larvae.
Toxin used in most insecticides.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Firmicutes
Class: Bacilli
Order: Squamata
Family: Bacillaceae
Genus: Bacillus
Species: B. thuringiensis
Prokaryotic, Unicellular
Gram positive bacteria
Vegatative cells
Non-capsulated
Motile: flagella
Authors:
Alejandra Bravo, Supaporn Likitivivatanavong, Sarjeet S. Gill, Mario Soberon
Scientists discovered the process of which bacillus thuringiensis is harmful to insects
Experiment design and results:
A 3D model of the cry toxins found within Bt was taken which showed that Bt had evolved over time to swap the kind of cry toxins they had.
They discovered this by studying the areas called domains within each cry toxin
From this they were able to discover that Bt had multiple amino acid copies stored within itself allowing it to choose which cry toxin to produce based on the amino acid sequence found within the insect
Conclusion
Conclusion
Bacillus Thuringiensis can adapt to swap its cry toxins.
Evidence later shown that Bacillus Thuringiensis may be becoming less effective as insects adapt to the cry toxins.
Further studies:
Can Bt learn even more cry toxins?
Can Bt potentially be dangerous to other organisms.
References
References
Primary Source: AlejandraBravoaSupapornLikitvivatanavongbSarjeet S.GillbMarioSoberónaPersonEnvelope, et al. “Bacillus Thuringiensis: A Story of a Successful Bioinsecticide.” Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pergamon, 2 Mar. 2011, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965174811000543.
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