• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.647-652
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• 1990

The production of delta-endotoxin crystal and the cloning of endotoxin protein gene in Bscillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD1 strain were studied. The strain produced bipyramidal crystals ($2.9\times 1.0 \mu m$) in their cells during sporulation. The B. thuringiensis contained about 10 plasmid DNA elements ranging from 2.1 to 80 kilobases. The 73 kb plasmid DNA, the 29 kb BamHI fragment and the 7.9 kb Pstl DNA fragment hybridized to the pHL probe. The 7.9 kb fragment was eluted and cloned in the PstI site of pBR322 vector and transformed into E. coli HB101, which produced insecticidal proteins killing Bornbyx mori larvae.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 1996

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni PG-14 is a gram-positive soil bacterium producing mosquitocidal parasporal inclusions composed of several crystal proteins. Among these crystal protein genes, cryIVD gene is one of major component which has 72 kDa in size. However, these parasporal inclusions sink quickly from the surface of water where mosquito larval feeding occurred. To develope mosquitocidal cyanobacterium, therefore, we constructed the expression vector, pCYASK 5-1 harboring cryIVD gene. The expression vector, pCYASK5-1 was transformed into the cyanobacterium Syne- chocystis PCC6803 reported as a natural mosquito larval food source and the transformants were selected with kanamycin. Expression of IVD gene in transformant was characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and immunoblot analysis. The mosquitocidal activity of a transformant was determined with Culex tritaeniorhynchus. The results showed that, the transformed cyanobacterium is toxic to mosquito larvae and will be expected as a potential agent that is used for mosquito control.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.138-142
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• 1995

Bacillus thuringiensis strain BT-209 was isolated from a soybean grain dust sample in Korea. The strain BT-209 produced two different sizes of cuboidal crystals and one spore in the cell. In the biochemical characterization, the strain BT-209 showed negative reactions on the production of urease, and the utilization of citrate and sucrose. Examination of its antibiotic resistance revealed that while the strain BT-209 showed higher sensitivity than B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-1 to ampicillin, bacitracin, chlortetracycline, gentamycin, neomycin, penicillin G, tetracycline and tobramycin, it was more resistant to methicillin than B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-1. The $\delta$-endotoxin crystal of strain BT-209 consisted of three proteins with apparent molecular weights of appoximately 148, 135 and 62 kDa on a 10% SDS-PAGE. The strain BT-209 had at least eight different plasmids with sizes of 4.1, 5.2, 6.3, 8.6, 14.6, 24.5, 67.6 and 77.6 Kb. The strain BT-209 showed strong lethalities of 70% and 87% against Bombyx mori and Hyphantria cunea larvae. at 72 h, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.428-434
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• 1993

Cloning and expression of two different crystal protein genes from transformed Bacillus thuringiensis were investigated. B. thuringiensis NT0423 is toxic to both Lepidopterous and Dipte-rous larvae. The pCG5 vector carrying crystal protein genes (mosquitocidal and hemolytic activity) of B. thurigiensis subsp. morrisoni PG-14 was transformed into B. thurigiensis NT0423. Transformant has expressed two type crystals of bipyramid from NT0423 and ovoid from pCG5 in one cell.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.154-158
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• 2005

Twenty-three Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated from Korea were screened to detect the cry-type genes using PCR with 21 specific oligonucleotide primers. Eight strains contained distinct multiple crystal genes; cry1Aa2, cry1Ab1, cry1Ac1 and cry2Aa1. These results indicate that the strains coincided with the B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain. The other 15 strains were not recognised to the 21 specific primers.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.137-140
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• 1998

The transgenic tomato plants showing the insecticidal activity against the coleopteran insect larvae have been bred to the 4th generation $(R_4)$. The Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis (B.t.t.)-toxin gene and the expression were detected in the $R_4$ transgenic plants. The expression of the toxin gene conferred a coleopteran insect larvae tolerance to the transgenic tomato plants. The ploidy levels of the $R_4$ transgenic plants were diploid. The results indicated that the toxin gene was inherrited to the next generation and expressed. Such a molecular breeding can provide a method for a permanent control of insects a agronomic relevance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.31-32
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• 2003

Bacillus thuringiensis produces insecticidal parasporal inclusions (crystal protein) used as a major ingredient of most microbial insecticides. Although many B. thuringiensis strains and their crystal proteins have been isolated and characterized, such findings have limitation of usefulness. For enhanced toxicity, fast effects, and the delay of resistance development, research on genetic manipulation of crystal genes and proteins by genetic engineering should be continued. (omitted)

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1989

The parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringinsis subspecies kurstaki, dendrolimus, finitimus, aizawai and israelensis were compared by polyacrylamide electrophoresis, amino acid composition and immunological analysis. In the subspecies of kurstaki, dendrolimus, finitimus and aizawai, the molecular weights of main subusnits of crystal solubilized by alkaline solution were 1.3${\times}$105 and 6.5${\times}$104 while those of subsp. israelensis were 4${\times}$104 and 1,4${\times}$104. The degradation of lepidopteran toxic subspecies crystals by silkworm midgut protease showed 6.0-6.4${\times}$104 molecular weight and the pattern of degradation of subsp. israelensis crystals was similar to that of alkaline solution treatment. In the amino acid composition, aspartic acid in subsp. israelensis and glutiamic acid in the other four subspecies were the most abundant. The immunological characteristics of the crystals revealed that the antibody produced against the alkali-solubilized crystal protein of subsp. israelensis reacted with only its antigen, but the crystal antigens from the other four lepidopteran toxic subspecies did cross-react with each other as well as with their own homologous antisera.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1498-1503
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• 2007

To identify novel crystal proteins, Bacillus thuringiensis 2385-1 was isolated from Korean soil samples and characterized. The H-serotype of 2385-1 was identical to that of subsp. kenyae (H4a4c), and its crystal toxin was bipyramidal-shaped. However, 2385-1 showed a much higher toxicity towards Plutella xylostella and Spodoptera exigua larvae than subsp. kenyae. In addition, the crystal protein profile and plasmid DNA pattern of 2385-1 differed from those of subsp. kenyae. To verify the crystal protein gene types of 2385-1, a PCR-RFLP analysis was performed, and the results revealed that 2385-1 contained two novel cry1-type crystal protein genes, cryl-5 and cry1-12, in addition to the crylJal gene. The deduced amino acid sequences of cryl-5 and cry1-12 showed a 97.9% and 75.7% sequence similarity with the CrylAb and CrylJa crystal proteins, respectively. Among the novel crystal proteins, Cry1-5 showed a high toxicity towards P. xylostella and S. exigua larvae. In conclusion, B. thuringiensis 2385-1 is a new isolate in terms of its gene types, and should be a promising source for an insecticide to control lepidopteran larvae.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.509-517
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• 2009

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai CAB109 isolated in Korea is known active against Spodoptera sp.. Especially, B. thuringiensis aizawai CAB109 isolates showed 100% mortality against Spodoptera litura and Spodoptera exigua. To screen highly active B. thuringiensis, the pathogenicity of B. thuringiensis CAB109 was compared with that of commercialized B. thuringiensis products. $LC_{50}$ values of CAB109, product TB-WP and product SC strains of B. thuringiensis were $1.3{\times}10^5$, $2.3{\times}10^6$ and $5.2{\times}10^5\;cfu/ml$ against the 2nd larva of S. litura and $1.8{\times}10^4$, $1.3{\times}10^6$ and $1.5{\times}10^6\;cfu/ml$ against the 2nd larva S. exigua, respectively. To determine new gene's existence and absence, the plasmid DNA was extracted, and compared to that of B.t. aizawai HD-133. Both B. thuringiensis were not like plasmid DNA pattern. PCR technique was used to predict both plasmid DNA's cry gene. PCR products analysis showed that B.t. CAB109 harbor Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1C and Cry1D and B.t. HD-133 has Cry1Aa and Cry1Ab, respectively.