Plasmid transfer among several members of the family Enterobacteriaceae increases the number of species capable of causing experimental amber disease in grass grub |
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Authors: | Travis R Glare Mark RH Hurst Steve Grkovic |
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Institution: | Environmental Pest Management, AgResearch, PO Box 60, Lincoln, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | Abstract Ability to cause amber disease in the New Zealand grass grub, Costleytra zealandica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), by Serratia entomophila and S. proteamaculans (Enterobacteriaceae), is dependent on the presence of a large plasmid in bacterial strains. Transfer of the plasmid alone to several other Enterobacteriaceae resulted in the ability to cause the disease in grass grub larvae. No species other than S . entomophila or S . proteamaculans has previously been recorded causing amber disease. |
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Keywords: | Enterobacteriaceae Entomopathogenic bacteria Costelytra zealandica Plasmid mobilization Amber disease |
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