• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.547-559
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• 2007

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was first described by Berliner [10] when he isolated a Bacillus species from the Mediterranean flour moth, Anagasta kuehniella, and named it after the province Thuringia in Germany where the infected moth was found. Although this was the first description under the name B. thuringiensis, it was not the first isolation. In 1901, a Japanese biologist, Ishiwata Shigetane, discovered a previously undescribed bacterium as the causative agent of a disease afflicting silkworms. Bt was originally considered a risk for silkworm rearing but it has become the heart of microbial insect control. The earliest commercial production began in France in 1938, under the name Sporeine [72]. A resurgence of interest in Bt has been attributed to Edward Steinhaus [105], who obtained a culture in 1942 and attracted attention to the potential of Bt through his subsequent studies. In 1956, T. Angus [3] demonstrated that the crystalline protein inclusions formed in the course of sporulation were responsible for the insecticidal action of Bt. By the early 1980's, Gonzalez et al. [48] revealed that the genes coding for crystal proteins were localized on transmissible plasmids, using a plasmid curing technique, and Schnepf and Whiteley [103] first cloned and characterized the genes coding for crystal proteins that had toxicity to larvae of the tobacco hornworm, from plasmid DNA of Bt subsp. kurstaki HD-1. This first cloning was followed quickly by the cloning of many other cry genes and eventually led to the development of Bt transgenic plants. In the 1980s, several scientists successively demonstrated that plants can be genetically engineered, and finally, Bt cotton reached the market in 1996 [104].

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2004

Bacillus thuringiensis produces crystal proteins toxic to medically and agriculturally important pests during sporulation. To improve the activity of insecticidal crystal protein in applying to mosquito larval control, an expression vector, pSyn4D harboring the mosquitocidal cry11Aa gene under control of psbA promoter of Amaranthus hybridus was constructed. This expression vector was transformed into Synechocystis PCC6803 and a transformant, Tr2C was selected with kanamycin. The mosquitocidal cry11Aa gene was stably integrated Into genomic DNA of Tr2C in PCR detection using cry11Aa-specific primers. The transformant expressed 72-kDa Cry11Aa protein and median lethal time (LT$\sub$50/) was approximately 2.1 days for Culex tritaeniorhynchus larvae and 0.7 day for Anopheles sinensis larvae, respectively. These results suggest this transformant can be used for mosquito larval control as a biological control agent.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.553-557
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• 2007

In order to detect and identify the most toxic Bacillus thuringiensis strains against pests, we isolated a B. thuringiensis strain (Bn1) from Balaninus nucum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the most damaging hazelnut pest. Bn1 was characterized via morphological, biochemical, and molecular techniques. The isolate was serotyped, and the results showed that Bn1 was the B. thuringiensis serovar, kurstaki (H3abc). The scanning electron microscopy indicated that Bn1 has crystals with cubic and bipyramidal shapes. The Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) revealed the presence of the cry1 and cry2 genes. The presence of Cry1 and Cry2 proteins in the Bn1 isolate was confirmed via SDS-PAGE, at approximately 130 kDa and 65 kDa, respectively. The bioassays conducted to determine the insecticidal activity of the Bn1 isolate were conducted with four distinct insects, using spore-crystal mixtures. We noted that Bn1 has higher toxicity as compared with the standard B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (HD-1). The highest observed mortality was 90% against Malacosoma neustria and Lymantria dispar larvae. Our results show that the B. thuringiensis isolate (Bn1) may prove valuable as a significant microbial control agent against lepidopteran pests.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.344-349
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• 1995

To isolate naturally occurring novel Bacillus thuringiensis strains for useful pest con시 agents, A total of 64 isolates of B. thuringiensis producing spore and crystal were obtained from 583 soil samples in Korea. Toxicity of isolates was assayed against Lepidoptera (Bombyx ori), Diptera (Culex pipens) and Coleoptera (Sitophilus oryzae), respectively. The results showed that B. thuringiensis isolates toxic Lepidoptera are 42.2% , both Lepidoptera and Diptera are 31.3% and Diptera are 20.3%, demonstrating that spectrum of insecticidal activity of B. thuringiensis isolates is various. But no B. thuringiensis isolates have toxicity against Coleoptera.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1995

This study was to investigate an effective biological control of forage diseases and provide a basic data and a model in improving variety of antagonistic bacteria, with growth promoting effect on forage, through cell fusion. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. The antagonistic himbacterium against soil-borne phathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani was isolated from continuous cropping himsphere soil of forage, and its biological and physiological characteristics were investigated. This bacterium was identified as Bacillus subrilis and named BS 101. Another strain for cell fusion was Bacillus thur ingiensis ssp. kurstaki HD-I(BT 37669) with insecticidal crystal. 2. The auxotropic mutants of BS 101 and BT 37669 were derived after mutagenesis using N-methyl-N'nitro- Nitrosoguanidine(NTG) to give amino acid requirement marker. n e s e auxotropic mutants of BS 101 and BT 37669 were named BS 1013(his-) and BT 69(asp-), respectively. 3. The best protoplast requirement was obtained using DM 3 medium, containing 5% casamino acid, 1 M $MgCI_2$ and 2% bovine semm albumin, to give Fusant 3, 7 and 8. BT toxin gene was not identified with fusants by Southern blotting. However, SDS-PAGE analysis of strains showed various protein patterns among fusants. 4. From the dark culture experiment, growth of forage in inoculated soil with antagonistic bacteria was delayed than that of non-inoculated soil with antagonistic bacteria in each continuous cropping soil and in each sterilized soil. On the other hand, growth duration of forage was different between continuous cropping soil and sterilized soil. 5. Seed germination of Alfalfa, Italian ryegrass and Orchardgrass were significantly improved by inoculation of antagonistic bacteria(p< 0.05).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2004

The over-expression in E. coli of the pHLN1-SO(＋) and pHLN2-80(－) plasmids cloned an insecticidal crystal protein (ICP) gene (crylAal type) from Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD 1 was investigated through in part, the deletion of -80 bp promoter and an alternative change of cloning vector system. Two recombinant plasmids were constructed in an attempt to analyze the over-expression of the ICP in relations to its gene structure possessing only -14 bp ［Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence of -80 bp promoter］. Also, anther two recombinant plasmids similarly cloned the icp gene in a different vector system. The amounts of ICP produced from the recombinants were measured by SDS-PAGE and confirmed by Western blot analysis. One clone, pHLRBS1-14 clone in which only the SD sequence in the inverted orientation icp gene appeared, was more evident than the pHLRBS2-14 clone in which only the -14 bp SD sequence of the right orientated icp gene was shown to exist. The pHLN2-80(－) clone produced more ICP proteins than the pHLRBS1-14 clone. In the two clones, pHLNUC1-80 right-oriented icp gene and the pHLNUC2-80 clone inverted-orientation icp gene in a new different vector, the pHLNUC2-80 produced more ICP proteins in E. coli system. These results indicate that the P/ac promoter, the inverted icp gene insertion and -80 bp promoter (-66 bp part of the icp gene promoters), were concerned with the expression of the icp gene in the recombinant plasmids. In addition, the expression mechanism might result from the disruption of the transcription-suppressing regions in the promoter regions.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 1979

For the purpose of developing a microbial insecticide utilizing Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, research was done and the following results were obtained. 1) As the freeze-dried matter of the cocoon-cooked water discarded from the filature contains much crude protein(51.825%) and a lot of inorganic salts, it can make a good nutrition source for the culture cf B. thuringiensis Berliner. 2) Based on the suspensibility, formula F-5 turned out to be the most suitable for insecticidal use. Its composition includes 0.2 g of the cell-spore-crystal mixture, 25 g of 200-mesh kaolin, 2.5 g of New Kalgen-NX-150, and 2.5 g of glycerine admixed with 8 ml of distilled water and granulated in 80-mesh size. 3) All the components of F-5, F-6 and F-7 are identical except that the amounts of cell-spore-crystal mixture of F-5, F-6, and F-7 are 0.2 g, 0.4 g, and 0.6 g, respectively. Accordingly, their physical properties are almost all the same. 4) Formulas F-5, F-6, and F-7 exhibited an excellent toxicity to Anomis mesogona Walker, Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler, and Margaronia perspectalis Walker at the concentration of 5%. 5) Formulas F-8 and F-9 which contain $NaHCO_3$ as one of their components showed a remarkably reduced toxicity to Anomis mesogona Walker and Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler than F-6 which does not contain $NaHCO_3$. 6) A maximum of $2.97{\times}10^9$ spores per ml was obtained by incubating B. thuringiensis in M-3 which has a pH of 7.05 and comprises 0.2% of ammonium sulphate and 0.8% of glucose dissolved in the cocoon-cooked water, with aeration for 96 hours. 7) Formula F-6 exhibited a somewhat reduced toxicity to Anomis mesogona Walker and Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler, when stored at room temperature for 70 days after formulation and it is desirable to keep it in a dark and cold place. 8) In held applications, formula F-6 showed a good activity in controlling Monema flavescens Walker. Margaronia perspectalis Walker, and Macrosiphum ibarae Matsumura.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.497-506
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• 1998

The expression in Escherichia coli of a cloned insecticidal protein (ICP) gene from Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD1 in pHLN1-80 (+) and pHLN2-80(-) plasmids was investigated through deletions in promoters, transcription start point, and termination region. Six recombinant plasmids were constructed in an attempt to analyze the overexpression of the ICP in relations to its gene structure. The amounts of ICP produced from the recombinants were measured by SDS-PAGE and confirmed by Western blot analysis. One clone was not overexpressed which having only -80 bp (contained BtI promoter) part of the ICP gene promoter (without Plac promoter), the right-oriented ICP gene and the termination region. Removal of 350 bp from upstream region of the Plac of the clone pHLN2-80 (-) resulted in overexpression of the ICP. One clone was not overexpressed in which the clone consisted of -72 bp part of the ICP promoter without the transcription start point and the transcriptional termination region, and having the right-oriented ICP gene sequence. One clone consisting of the inverted ICP gene sequence, the -72 bp ICP gene promoter, and without the termination region caused overexpression. One clone which consisted of the inverted ICP gene, the -72 bp ICP gene promoter and the termination sequence was overexpressed. These results indicated that the Plac promoter, transcription termination region, the inverted ICP gene insertion, and the -80 bp or -72 bp part of the ICP gene promoters were concerned in the overexpression of the ICP gene in the recombinant plasmid, and also the overexpression mechanism might result from the disruption of the transcription-suppressing regions in the promoter regions.