Isolation and Identification of a Symbiotic Bacterium from Steinernema carpocapsae

Xenorhabdus nematophilus sp., an insect-pathogenic bacterium, was newly isolated from Korean entomopathogenic nematode of Steinernema carpocapsae, which can be used as a useful bioinsecticide. Primary and secondary form variants of Xenorhabdus nematophilus were observed when cultured in vitro. Primary form variants adsorbed bromothymol blue, while secondary form did not. However, many other characters of two variants were very similar. The variants were all rod-shaped and cell size was highly variable ranging from 0.5 by 2.0 ${\mu}$m to 1.0 by 5.0 ${\mu}$m. Both produced highly toxic substances and killed the insect larva within 20∼38 hr, indicating that insect pathogenicity of Xenorhabdus is not directly associated with its phase variation. In addition, cell-free culture supernatant of Xenorhabdus was sufficient to kill the insect larva by injecting it ito insect hemolymph; however, cell-harboring culture broth was more effective for killing the insect. The use of Xenorhabdus nematophilus may provide a potential alternative to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins.