• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.19-23
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• 2001

Two B. thuringiensis strains, which possess mosquitocidal activities, were isolated from Korean soil samples and named K-1205-1 and K-1381-1. Serological studies indicated that K-1205-1 and K-1381-1 belonged to B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (H3a3b3c) and subsp. aizawai (H7), respectively. K-1205-1 produced typical bipyramidal parasporal inclusions, but K-1381-1 produced irregular bipyramidal shape. Total plasmid DNA patterns analysis shewed that K-1205-1 and K- 1381-1 were different from their reference strains, subsp. kurstaki and subsp. aizawai, respectively, in high molecules, whereas their crystal protein patterns showed no difference. The cry gene contents of K-1205-1 and K-1381-1 were identical with those of the reference strains. Mosquitocidal activities of crystal proteins produced by K-1205-1 and K-1381-1 were significantly high by about 40-50 folds at $LC_50$ when compared to those of subsp. kurstaki and subsp. aizawai. Finally, in southern blot analysis using cry1A-type specific probe, K-1205-1 and K-1381-1 had different bands from subsp. kurstaki and subsp. aizawai, respectively. In conclusion, our results suggest that K-1205-1 and K-1381-1 appear to be new moquitocidal B. thuringiensis strains isolated from Korean soil.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제59권1호
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• pp.41-54
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• 2020

안동지역 농가 주변의 정수에서 두 종의 모기가 채집되었다. 형태적 특징을 바탕으로 이들이 한국숲모기(Aedes koreicus)와 줄다리집모기(Culex vagans)로 각각 동정되었다. 또한, DNA 바코드 서열을 분석한 결과 이러한 동정 결과를 뒷받침하였다. 이들 모기류 유충에 대해 곤충병원세균인 Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (BtI)가 살충효과를 보였으며 유사한 B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki에 비해 우수하였다. 한편 곤충의 면역억제를 유발하여 B. thuringiensis의 병원력을 높인다고 알려진 Xenorhabdus 세균류의 배양액을 BtI에 첨가하여 이들 모기류에 대한 살충력 증가 효과 유무를 확인하였다. 분석에 이용된 3 종류의 Xenorhabdus 세균배양액 가운데 X. ehlersii (Xe)의 배양액이 비교적 다른 세균배양액에 비해 두 종의 모기류에 대해서 BtI의 살충력을 높이는 것으로 나타났다. 이를 바탕으로 Xe 세균배양액으로부터 유기용매 추출물의 생물활성을 분석한 결과 모기의 혈구 활착행동을 뚜렷이 억제시키는 면역억제자가 존재한다는 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구는 BtI와 Xe의 두 세균을 혼합한 비티플러스 미생물제제가 한국숲모기와 줄다리집모기의 방제에 효과적이라는 것을 제시한다.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.425-429
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• 1987

B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis 균주가 생성하는 $\delta$-endotoxin의 alkali 용해에서 생성되는 hemolysin fragment 와 extra-cellular hemolysin 의 상관관계를 조사하기 위한 기초자료로서 extra-cellular hemolysin을 분리 정제하여 그 성질을 조사하였다. 균체 배양액에 유안을 염석 및 투석시킨 후, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration 과 DEAE-cellulose column chromatography를 행하여 균체외 homely-sin을 정제하였다. 정제된 extra-cellular hemolysin 은 SDS-polyacrylamide gel 전기영동에서 47,000 dalton의 분자량을 가진 단일 단백질 band를 얻었다. 또한 정제된 hemolysin은 thiol agents에 의해 그 활성이 증가되었으나, cholesterol 및 protease 처리 또는 금속이온 즉, FeSO$_4$나 CuSO$_4$에 의해 그 활성 이 감소되었다.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제43권5호
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• pp.463-468
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• 2005

Studying the bacteria of hazardous insects allows the opportunity to find potentially better biological control agents. Therefore, in this study, bacteria from summer chafer (Amphimallon solstitiale L., Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) we isolated and identified the insecticidal effects of bacteria isolated from A. solstitiale and Melolontha melolontha L. (common cockchafer, Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and the mixtures of these bacterial isolates were investigated on A. solstitiale larvae. Crystals from Bacillus sp. isolated from M. melolontha were also purified, and tested against the second and third-stage larvae of A. solstitiale. The bacterial isolates of A. solstitiale were identified as Pseudomonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus, based on their morphology, spore formation, nutritional features, and physiological and biochemical characteristics. The insecticidal effects of the bacterial isolates determined on the larvae of A. solstitiale were $90\%$ with B. cereus isolated from A. solstitiale, and $75\%$ with B. cereus, B. sphaericus and B. thuringiensis isolated from M. melolontha within ten days. The highest insecticidal effects of the mixed infections on the larvae of A. solstitiale were $100\%$ both with B. cereus+B. sphaericus and with B. cereus+B. thuringiensis. In the crystal protein bioassays, the highest insecticidal effect was $65\%$ with crystals of B. thuringiensis and B. sphaericus isolated from M. melolontha within seven days. Finally, our results showed that the mixed infections could be utilized as microbial control agents, as they have a $100\%$ insecticidal effect on the larvae of A. solstitiale.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.241-249
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• 2010

Xenorhabdus 및 Photorhabdus 두 곤충병원세균은 곤충의 아이코사노이드 생합성을 억제하여 면역작용을 저하시키는 인자로 알려지고 있다. 본 연구는 이들 세균의 배양액을 이용하여 배추좀나방(Plutella xylostella)을 방제하는 새로운 생화학농약을 개발하려 추진되었다. 두 세균 배양액의 단독 처리는 배추좀나방의 생존력에 뚜렷한 영향을 주지 않았다. 그러나 비티(Bacillus thuringiensis) 생물농약과 혼합하여 처리할 경우 비티 단독 처리에 비해 배추좀나방 4령충에 대해서 현격하게 높은 병원성 증가효과를 주었다. 배양액의 세균 활성을 조사하기 위해 이 세균 배양액을 고온 멸균 및 $0.2\;{\mu}m$ 여과 멸균 처리하였다. 이렇게 처리된 멸균 배양액은 세균이 생존했던 배양액과 차이 없이 비티 생물농약의 병원력을 상승시켰다. X. nematophila 배양액에서 유래된 세 가지 대사물질도 세균배양액과 유사한 비티 병원력 상승효과를 보였다. 야외 배추좀나방 방제 시험에서도 세균배양액은 비티 생물농약의 방제가를 상승시키는 효과를 나타냈다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권8호
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• pp.749-759
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• 2009

A survey of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) strains isolated from Spanish citrus orchards has been performed, and the strains were tested for insecticidal activity against the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), a key citrus pest in Spain. From a total of 150 environmental samples, 376 isolates were selected, recording a total B. thuringiensis index of 0.52. The collection was characterized by means of phase-contrast microscopy, SDS-PAGE, and PCR analysis with primer pairs detecting toxin genes cry1, cry2, cry3, cry4, cry5, cry7, cry8, cry9, cry10, cry11, cry12, cry14, cry17, cry19, cry21, cry27, cry39, cry44, cyt1, and cyt2. Diverse crystal inclusion morphologies were identified: bipyramidal (45%), round (40%), adhered to the spore (7%), small (5%), and irregular (3%). SDS-PAGE of spore-crystal preparations revealed 39 different electrophoresis patterns. All primer pairs used in PCR tests gave positive amplifications in strains of our collection, except for primers for detection of cry3, cry19, cry39, or cry44 genes. Strains containing cry1, cry2, cry4, and cry27 genes were the most abundant (48.7%, 46%, 11.2%, and 8.2% of the strains, respectively). Ten different genetic profiles were found, although a total of 109 strains did not amplify with the set of primers used. Screening for toxicity against C. capitata adults was performed using both spore-crystal and soluble fractions. Mortality levels were less than 30%. We have developed a large and diverse B. thuringiensis strain collection with huge potential to control several agricultural pests; however, further research is needed to find out Bt strains active against C. capitata.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.407-415
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• 2012

An endophytic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis GS1, was isolated from bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) and found to have maximal production of chitinase (4.3 units/ml) at 5 days after culture. This study investigated the ability of B. thuringiensis GS1 to induce resistance to Rhizoctonia solani KACC 40111 (RS) in cucumber plants. Chitinase activity was greatest in RS-treated plants at 4 days. ${\beta}$-1,3-Glucanase activity was highest in GS1-treated plants at 5 days. Guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD) activity increased continuously in all treated plants for 5 days. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity in RS-treated plants was increased 1.5-fold compared with the control at 4 days. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in RS-treated plants was increased 1.5-fold compared with the control at 3 days. At 5 days after treatment, activity staining revealed three bands with chitinase activity (Ch1, Ch2, and Ch3) on SDS-PAGE of cucumber plants treated with GS1+RS, whereas only one band was observed for RS-treated plants (Ch2). One GPOD isozyme (Gp1) was also observed in response to treatment with RS and GS1+RS at 4 days. One APX band (Ap2) was present on the native-PAGE gel of the control, and GS1- and GS1+RS-treated plants at 1 day. PPO bands (Po1 and Po2) from RS- and GS1+RS-treated plants were stronger than in the control and GS1-treated plants upon native-PAGE at 5 days. Taken together, these results indicate that the induction of PR proteins and defense-related enzymes by B. thuringiensis GS1 might have suppressed the damping-off caused by R. solani KACC 40111 in cucumber plants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.1146-1155
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• 2008

A total of 72 Bacillus cereus strains and 5 Bacillus thuringiensis strains were analyzed for their EcoRI ribogroup by ribotyping and for the presence or absence of seven virulence-associated genes. From these 77 strains, 42 distinctive ribogroup were identified using EcoRI, but the two species could not be discriminated by their EcoRI ribogroup. The 77 strains were also examined by PCR for the presence of seven virulence-associated genes, cerAB, pi-plc, entFM, bceT, hblA, hblC, and hblD. All five Bacillus thuringiensis strains were positive for these genes. Although differences in the patterns of virulence genes were observed among the different B. cereus strains, within any given ribogroup the patterns of the seven virulence genes was the same. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis in combination with available chromosomal maps for a selected group of B. cereus strains revealed significant differences in their chromosome size and the placement of virulence genes. Evidence for significant rearrangements within the B. cereus chromosome suggests the mechanism through which the pattern of virulence-associated genes varies. The results suggest linkage between ribogroups and virulence gene patterns as well as no apparent containment of the latter within any particular species boundary.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.152-161
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• 2015

CodY is a highly conserved protein in low G+C gram-positive bacteria that regulates genes involved in sporulation and stationary-phase adaptation. Bacillus thuringiensis is a grampositive bacterium that forms spores and parasporal crystals during the stationary phase. To our knowledge, the regulatory mechanism of CodY in B. thuringiensis is unknown. To study the function of CodY protein in B. thuringiensis, BMB171codY^- was constructed in a BMB171 strain. A shuttle vector containing the ORF of cry1Ac10 was transformed into BMB171 and BMB171codY^-, named BMB171cry1Ac and BMB171codY^-cry1Ac, respectively. Some morphological and physiological changes of codY mutant BMB171codY^-cry1Ac were observed. A comparative proteomic analysis was conducted for both BMB171codY^-cry1Ac and BMB171cry1Ac through two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF-MS/MS analysis. The results showed that the proteins regulated by CodY are involved in microbial metabolism, including branched-chain amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and energy metabolism. Furthermore, we found CodY to be involved in sporulation, biosynthesis of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, growth, genetic competence, and translation. According to the analysis of differentially expressed proteins, and physiological characterization of the codY mutant, we performed bacterial one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assay experiments and confirmed the direct regulation of genes by CodY, specifically those involved in metabolism of branched-chain amino acids, ribosomal recycling factor FRR, and the late competence protein ComER. Our data establish the foundation for in-depth study of the regulation of CodY in B. thuringiensis, and also offer a potential biocatalyst for functions of CodY in other bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.1177-1182
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• 2007

Bacillus cereus group bacteria share a significant degree of genetic similarity. Thus, to differentiate and identify the Bacillus cereus group efficiently, a multiplex PCR method using the gyrB and groEL genes as diagnostic markers is suggested for simultaneous detection. The assay yielded a 400 bp amplicon for the groEL gene from all the B. cereus group bacteria, and a 253 bp amplicon from B. anthracis, 475 bp amplicon from B. cereus, 299 bp amplicon from B. thuringiensis, and 604 bp amplicon from B. mycoides for the gyrB gene. No nonspecific amplicons were observed with the DNA from 29 other pathogenic bacteria. The specificity and sensitivity of the B. cereus group identification using this multiplex PCR assay were evaluated with different kinds of food samples. In conclusion, the proposed multiplex PCR is a reliable, simple, rapid, and efficient method for the simultaneous identification of B. cereus group bacteria from food samples in a single tube.