In addition to being used increasingly as a model system in modern molecular biology studies, the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (Maupas, 1900) is an important pathogen in fungi and straw mushrooms. In this study, Bacillus thuringiensis strain 010 was found to have significantly detrimental activity against C. elegans. To further characterize this activity, the toxicological mechanism was elucidated at molecular level. Genes encoding for crystal protein and chitinase were isolated, cloned, and sequenced. However, the toxicity was detected only in the chitinase. Under transmission electron microscopy, change in the body wall and gut structures of C. elegans was observed, and thus degeneration of body wall and gut in the worms was also investigated. Further bioassay also confirmed the mortality of C. elegans fed with Escherichia coli TB1 strain. These observations suggest great potential for B. thuringiensis 010 as a biocontrol agent against C. elegans and other nematodes.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 April 2014
Biological Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) Chitinase Against Caenorhabditis elegans (Rhabditida: Rhabditidae)
Lingling Zhang,
Jie Yu,
Yufei Xie,
Hongli Lin,
Zhipeng Huang,
Lei Xu,
Ivan Gelbič,
Xiong Guan
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
Journal of Economic Entomology
Vol. 107 • No. 2
April 2014
Vol. 107 • No. 2
April 2014
Bacillus thuringiensis
Caenorhabditis elegans
chitinase
crystal protein
nematicidal