球形芽孢杆菌Mtx1蛋白和苏云金杆菌Cyt1Aa晶体蛋白的协同作用

采用常规的生物测定方法确定了纯化的球形芽孢杆菌(Bacillus sphaericus)的缺失信号肽的97kDa营养期杀蚊毒素(Mosquitocidal toxin 1,Mtx1)蛋白和苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)27.3kDa的Cyt1Aa晶体蛋白对致倦库蚊(Culex quinquefasciatus)幼虫的杀虫活性。结果表明Mtx1和Cyt1Aa不同比例的混合物对致倦库蚊的毒力比单独毒素蛋白高,经统计分析表明两毒素蛋白对目标蚊幼虫具有明显的协同作用。在LC98处理浓度下,Mtx1和Cyt1Aa按3∶1混合的混合物LT50值比单独Mtx1的提前了6.36h。表明Cyt1Aa和Mtx1对致倦库蚊具有协同毒杀作用,提高对目标蚊虫的毒力、缩短半致死时间。该结果为深入研究Mtx1和Cyt1Aa的杀蚊作用方式奠定了基础,同时为其在蚊虫防治中的应用提供了新的思路和方法。     

Efficient Expression of the Mosquito Larvicidal Binary Toxin Gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus sphaericus</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

The binary toxin gene encoding BinA (42 kDa) and BinB (51 kDa) from Bacillus sphaericus strain 2297 was cloned and expressed in E. coli. Low expression level was found when both proteins were expressed from a single operon. High expression was observed when the gene encoding an individual protein was placed downstream of the T7 promoter. The expression level of BinB was not different when expressed alone (non-fusion) or as a fusion form with T7 peptide (T7-BinB). Both forms of BinB were equally stable. Unlike BinB, the non-fusion form of BinA was less stable than T7-BinA. The mosquito larvicidal test showed that BinA or BinB alone was not toxic to mosquito larvae, but high toxicity was found when both BinA and BinB were applied. The results suggest that a short peptide of T7 linked to the N-terminus of either BinA or BinB does not affect their toxicity, but may make the toxin, especially BinA, more stable.     

Cloning of the gene for the larvicidal toxin of Bacillus sphaericus 2362: evidence for a family of related sequences.

During sporulation, Bacillus sphaericus 2362 produces a parasporal crystalline protein which is toxic for the larvae of a number of mosquito species. Using the Escherichia coli cloning vector lambda gt11, in which gene products of the inserts may be fused to beta-galactosidase, we isolated 29 bacteriophages which produced peptides-reacting with antiserum to crystal protein. On the basis of restriction enzyme analyses of the recombinants and Ouchterlony immunodiffusion experiments with induced lysogens as a source of antigens, the recombinants were assigned to three groups, designated A, B, and C. Group A consisted of three clones which appeared to express all or part of the B. sphaericus toxin gene from their own promoters and one clone producing a beta-galactosidase-toxin fusion protein. The host cells of two induced recombinant lysogens of this group were toxic to larvae of Culex pipiens. A cell suspension containing 174 ng (dry weight) of the more toxic recombinant per ml killed 50% of the larvae. Both recombinants formed peptides with molecular sizes of 27, 43, and 63 kilodaltons (kDa). The antigenically related 27- and 43-kDa peptides were distinct from the 63-kDa peptide, which resembled crystals from sporulating cells of B. sphaericus in which antigenically distinct 43- and 63-kDa proteins are derived from a 125-kDa precursor. A 3.5-kilobase HindIII fragment from recombinants having toxic activity against larvae was subcloned into pGEM-3-blue. E. coli cells harboring this fragment were toxic to mosquito larvae and produced peptides of 27, 43, and 63 kDa. The distribution of the A gene among strains of B. sphaericus of different toxicities suggested that it is the sole or principal gene encoding the larvicidal crystal protein. The two recombinants of group B and the 23 of group C were all beta-galactosidase fusion proteins, suggesting that in E. coli these genes were not readily expressed from their own promoters. The distribution of these two genes in different strains of B. sphaericus suggested that they do not have a role in the toxicity of this species to mosquito larvae.     

Construction by site-directed mutagenesis of a 39-kilodalton mosquitocidal protein similar to the larva-processed toxin of Bacillus sphaericus 2362.

After ingestion of the parasporal crystals of Bacillus sphaericus, mosquito larvae process the 42-kilodalton (kDa) toxin to a protein of 39 kDa, which has an increased toxicity (A. H. Broadwell and P. Baumann, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53:1333-1337, 1987). A similar activation is performed by trypsin and chymotrypsin. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have constructed derivatives of the 42-kDa toxin with a deletion of 10 amino acids at the N terminus and deletions of 7, 17, or 20 amino acids at the C terminus. Toxicity for mosquito larvae was retained upon deletion of 7 or 17 amino acids but was lost upon deletion of 20 amino acids. Evidence is presented indicating that the protein containing deletions of 10 amino acids at the N terminus and 17 amino acids at the C terminus (corresponding to potential chymotrypsin cleavage sites) is similar to the 39-kDa protein produced in mosquito larvae or by digestion with chymotrypsin. Digestion with trypsin appears to generate a protein lacking 16 or 19 amino acids from the N terminus and 7 amino acids from the C terminus. As is the case with the recombinant-made 42-kDa protein, toxicity of its derivatives is dependent on the presence of a 51-kDa protein which is a component of the parasporal crystal of B. sphaericus 2362.     

Effects of components of theBacillus sphaericus toxin on mosquito larvae and mosquito-derived tissue culture-grown cells

Bacillus sphaericus 2362 produces a parasporal crystal containing 42 and 51 kilodalton (kDa) proteins. Both of these proteins are required for toxicity to mosquito larvae; neither is toxic alone. When overexpressed inB. subtilis, these two proteins accumulate as amorphous inclusions (AIs). Bioassays involving larvae ofCulex pipiens and different ratios of these AIs indicated that maximal toxicity was observed at a ratio of approximately one 42-kDa protein to one 51-kDa protein. Purified preparations of these proteins, as well as derivatives similar to those which accumulate in the gut of mosquito larvae, were also toxic when combined, but not toxic singly. Different results were obtained when the toxicity of these preparations was tested for tissue culture-grown cells ofC. quinquefasciatus. Under these conditions, the 39-kDa derivative of the 42-kDa protein was alone sufficient for toxicity, which was not increased by the addition of the 51-kDa protein or its derivatives. These results indicate that theB. sphaericus larvicide acts as a binary toxin in mosquitos, whereas only the 39-kDa protein is required for full toxicity to tissue culture-grown cells.     

Purification of the larvicidal toxin of Bacillus sphaericus and evidence for high-molecular-weight precursors

Crystals were purified from spore-crystal complexes of Bacillus sphaericus 2362 by disruption in a French pressure cell followed by centrifugation through 48% (wt/vol) NaBr. Crystals from such preparations had a 50% lethal concentration of 6 ng of protein per ml for the larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens. When subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, the proteins in B. sphaericus crystals migrated in positions corresponding to 43, 63, 98, 110, and 125 kilodaltons (kDa); solubilization of the crystal at pH 12 with NaOH eliminated all but the bands at 43 and 63 kDa. Since NaOH-solubilized preparations were toxic to mosquito larvae, these proteins were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity and antiserum was obtained to each. Analysis of the two purified proteins indicated that the 43-kDa protein was toxic to mosquito larvae (50% lethal concentration, 35 ng of protein per ml), whereas the 63-kDa protein was not. Further differences between them were their amino acid compositions, their lack of immunological cross-reactivity, their opposite net charges at pH 7.5, and their susceptibility to digestion by larval midgut proteases (the 63-kDa protein was highly susceptible, whereas the 43-kDa protein was not). The sequence of the 40 N-terminal residues of the 43-kDa protein was determined and found to contain a high percentage of hydrophobic amino acids. The sequence of the 63-kDa protein could not be determined, since it had multiple N termini. By electrophoretically separating the crystal proteins and then electroblotting onto nitrocellulose paper and visualizing the bands with antisera to the 43- and 63-kDa proteins in conjunction with an immunoblot assay, it was found that the high-molecular-mass crystal proteins (98 to 125 kDa) contained antigenic determinants of both proteins. These results suggested that the lower-molecular-weight crystal proteins detected in polyacrylamide gels after electrophoresis under denaturing conditions were derivatives of one or more of the higher-molecular-weight crystal proteins. In vivo studies of the products of crystal degradation by larvae of Culex pipiens indicated that the high-molecular-weight proteins and the 63-kDa antigenic determinants were rapidly degraded and that a 40-kDa protein related to the 43-kDa toxin persisted for the duration of the experiment (4 h). Some of the studies performed with B.sphaericus 2362 were extended to strains 1593, 1691, and 2297 of this species with results which indicated a high degree of similarity between the crystal proteins of all these larvicidal strains.     

球形芽孢杆菌LP1-G的发酵特性及杀蚊活性

球形芽孢杆菌（Ｂａｃｉｌｌｕｓ ｓｐｈａｅｒｉｃｕｓ）ＬＰ１－Ｇ菌株在ＭＢＳ培养基上能正常生长、发育,产生位于芽孢孢外膜外的伴孢晶体。其产生的４１．９和５１．２ｋＤ二元毒素蛋白合成于芽孢形成期,另一分子量约为４９ｋＤ蛋白和二元毒素同期合成,并随着芽孢的释放而被降解。生物测定结果表明该菌株在营养体生长阶段对致倦库蚊幼虫无毒,孢子囊初期毒力较高,并在整个芽孢形成期都维持较高的毒力水平。其全发酵液对敏感和抗性库蚊幼虫都具有中等的毒杀作用,对３～４龄幼虫４８ｈ的ＬＣ_５０。值分别为０．１１３和０．１３７ｍｇ／ｍＬ。该菌株对敏感和抗性致倦库蚊幼虫的毒杀作用可能同其产生４９ｋＤ蛋白相关。     

Characterization of the genes encoding the haemolytic toxin and the mosquitocidal delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis

Summary The crystalline parasporal inclusions (crystals) of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), which are specifically toxic to mosquito and black fly larvae, contain three main polypeptides of 28 kDa, 68 kDa and 130 kDa. The genes encoding the 28 kDa protein and the 130 kDa protein have been cloned from a large plasmid of Bti. Escherichiacoli recombinant clones containing the 130 kDa protein gene were highly active against larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens, while B. subtilis recombinant cells containing the 28 kDa protein gene were haemolytic for sheep red blood cells. A fragment of the Bti plasmid which is partially homologous to the 130 kDa protein gene was also isolated; it probably corresponds to part of a second type of mosquitocidal toxin gene. Furthermore, restriction enzyme analysis suggested that the 130 kDa protein gene is located on the same Bti EcoRI fragment as another kind of Bti mosquitocidal protein gene cloned by Thorne et al. (1986). Hybridization experiments conducted with the 28 kDa protein gene and the 230 kDa protein gene showed that these two Bti genes are probably present in the plasmid DNA of B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni (PG14), which is also highly active against mosquito larvae.     

Expression of the mosquitocidal-protein genes ofBacillus thuringiensis subsp.israelensis and the herbicide-resistance genebar inSynechocystis PCC6803

CyanobacteriumSynechocystis PCC6803 was used as a model system for a prolonged delivery of insecticidal crystal proteins ofBacillus thuringiensis subsp.israelensis in the water surface. Thebt8 gene, encoding a 128 kDa (Bt8) mosquitocidal protein, and the28kd gene, encoding a 28 kDa cytotoxic protein, were integrated into the cyanobacterial chromosome. The genes were expressed under the control of thepsbA promoter, derived from the tobacco chloroplast genome. The Bt8 protein produced by the cyanobacterium was toxic to mosquito larvae. The28kd gene expression in the cyanobacterium was very low, partly owing to the low level of steady state mRNA. With the same system, it was demonstrated that the herbicide-resistance genebar could be used as a new selectable marker in cyanobacterial transformation experiments.     

Bacillus sphaericus as a mosquito pathogen: properties of the organism and its toxins.

In the course of sporulation, Bacillus sphaericus produces an inclusion body which is toxic to a variety of mosquito larvae. In this review we discuss the general biology of this species and concentrate on the genetics and physiology of toxin production and its processing in the midgut of the larval host. The larvicide of B. sphaericus is unique in that it consists of two proteins of 51 and 42 kDa, both of which are required for toxicity to mosquito larvae. There is a low level of sequence similarity between these two proteins, which differ in their sequences from all the other known insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis. Within the midgut the 51- and 42-kDa proteins are processed to proteins of 43 and 39 kDa, respectively. The conversion of the 42-kDa protein to a 39-kDa protein results in a major increase in toxicity; the significance of the processing of the 51-kDa protein is not known. In contrast to the results with mosquito larvae, the 39-kDa protein is alone toxic for mosquito-derived tissue culture-grown cells, and this toxicity is not affected by the 51-kDa protein or its derivative, the 43-kDa protein. Comparisons of larvae from species which differ in their susceptibility to the B. sphaericus toxin indicate that the probable difference resides in the nature of the target sites of the epithelial midgut cells and not in uptake or processing of the toxin. A similar conclusion is derived from experiments involving tissue culture-grown cells from mosquito species which differ in their susceptibility to the B. sphaericus toxin.     

Proteolysis in the gut of mosquito larvae results in further activation of the Bacillus sphaericus toxin

Gut proteases from the larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens convert the 43-kilodalton (kDa) toxin from Bacillus sphaericus 2362 to a 40-kDa peptide. The 50% lethal concentration of this peptide for tissue culture-grown cells of Culex quinquefasciatus was 1.0 microgram/ml (as determined by the intracellular ATP assay), 54-fold less than that of the 43-kDa peptide. Gut proteases from Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti, as well as bovine pancreatic trypsin, also converted the 43-kDa protein to a 40-kDa peptide which was indistinguishable from the peptide formed by the proteases from C. pipiens with respect to its toxicity to tissue culture-grown cells of C. quinquefasciatus. Evidence for the in vivo conversion of the 43-kDa protein to the 40-kDa peptide was also obtained from experiments in which larvae of C. pipiens, Anopheles gambiae, and Aedes aegypti were fed crystals from B. sphaericus 2362. By using the exclusion of trypan blue as an indication of cell viability, it was shown that chitobiose, chitotriose, N-acetylmuramic acid, and N-acetylneuraminic acid decreased the toxicity of the 40-kDa peptide (from 100 to 50% mortality at about 10 mM concentrations of these sugars). Muramic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylglucosamine were less effective, while several sugars had no effect, suggesting that the 40-kDa toxin binds to specific receptors on the cell membrane. The 40-kDa protein was less toxic to tissue culture-grown cells of Anopheles gambiae and Aedes dorsalis, and the same sugars which reduced the toxicity for cells of C. quinquefasciatus were also effective in reduction of toxicity for these cell lines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Proteolysis in the gut of mosquito larvae results in further activation of the Bacillus sphaericus toxin.

Gut proteases from the larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens convert the 43-kilodalton (kDa) toxin from Bacillus sphaericus 2362 to a 40-kDa peptide. The 50% lethal concentration of this peptide for tissue culture-grown cells of Culex quinquefasciatus was 1.0 microgram/ml (as determined by the intracellular ATP assay), 54-fold less than that of the 43-kDa peptide. Gut proteases from Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti, as well as bovine pancreatic trypsin, also converted the 43-kDa protein to a 40-kDa peptide which was indistinguishable from the peptide formed by the proteases from C. pipiens with respect to its toxicity to tissue culture-grown cells of C. quinquefasciatus. Evidence for the in vivo conversion of the 43-kDa protein to the 40-kDa peptide was also obtained from experiments in which larvae of C. pipiens, Anopheles gambiae, and Aedes aegypti were fed crystals from B. sphaericus 2362. By using the exclusion of trypan blue as an indication of cell viability, it was shown that chitobiose, chitotriose, N-acetylmuramic acid, and N-acetylneuraminic acid decreased the toxicity of the 40-kDa peptide (from 100 to 50% mortality at about 10 mM concentrations of these sugars). Muramic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylglucosamine were less effective, while several sugars had no effect, suggesting that the 40-kDa toxin binds to specific receptors on the cell membrane. The 40-kDa protein was less toxic to tissue culture-grown cells of Anopheles gambiae and Aedes dorsalis, and the same sugars which reduced the toxicity for cells of C. quinquefasciatus were also effective in reduction of toxicity for these cell lines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Two types of entomocidal toxins in the parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki

Two types of entomocidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki were isolated from the parasporal bodies (crystals), and their structures were compared with each other in relation to the toxic activity. When the crystals were dissociated in 2% 2-mercaptoethanol at pH 10, a protein of Mr = 135,000, called delta-endotoxin, was liberated. The crystals of a strain of B. thuringiensis kurstaki, the HD-1 strain, also released another protein in small quantities. This minor component of HD-1, which had been discovered and named mosquito factor by Yamamoto and McLaughlin (T. Yamamoto and R. E. McLaughlin (1981) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 103, 414-421) because of its toxicity to mosquito larvae, could be liberated selectively from the crystals by alkali treatment without any thiol reagent at pH 11. Electron microscopic observation suggested that the bipyramidal crystal is composed of a homogeneous component, presumably the delta-endotoxin, and the mosquito factor is not within the crystal matrix. The liberated toxins, including the mosquito factor, were purified by Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography and activated by proteinases obtained from gut juice of the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni). The activated toxins were characterized by peptide mapping using techniques of HPLC and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Peptide mapping revealed that the mosquito factor is a protein distinctly different from the delta-endotoxin. Furthermore, a comparison between two strains of B. thuringiensis kurstaki indicated that minor differences in the structure of the delta-endotoxins, in particular the differences in their proteinase-resistant region, caused significant variations in their toxicity to susceptible insects.     

Synergism in mosquitocidal activity of 26 and 65 kDa proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis crystal

Three major protein components, 130, 65 and 26 kDa of solubilized Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis crystal were separated by gel filtration. The isolated 26 kDa protein is inactive against mosquito larvae at 6.4 μg/ml protein. The 65 kDa protein is also inactive towards mosquito larvae at low concentrations and shows but weak activity at higher concentrations. However, 26 and 65 kDa proteins simultaneously present at low concentrations exhibit high mosquitocidal activity. Similar synergistic effects are observed between 26 and 130 kDa proteins. These results differ from the findings of other investigators who have reported that a single protein component is sufficient for mosquitocidal activity [(1984) FEBS Lett. 175, 377-382; (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 126, 961-965]. Our data suggest that the simultaneous presence of at least two proteins is required for activity.

Synergism Mosquitocidal activity Crystal protein     

Characterization of a Novel Strain of Bacillus thuringiensis

Bacillus thuringiensis is a well-known species of entomopathogenic bacteria that is widely used as a biopesticide against many insect pests. Insecticidal proteins, coded for by genes located in plasmids, form typical parasporal, crystalline inclusions during sporulation. In this report, an unusual strain of B. thuringiensis subserovar oyamensis (LBIT-113), isolated from living larvae of Anopheles pseudopunctipennis in Mexico, was characterized by its ultrastructure, the protein composition of its parasporal crystal, plasmid pattern, and toxicological properties against several insect and noninsect targets. The parasporal crystal is enclosed within the spore's outermost envelope (exosporium), as determined by transmission electron microscopy, and exhibits a square, flat shape. Its main components are two proteins with sizes of 88 and 54 kDa. Despite some crystal morphology resemblance, both proteins are immunologically unrelated to the Cry IIIA protein, as shown by immunoblot analysis, when probed with antisera raised against the 88-kDa protein and the Cry IIIA protein. Partial N-terminal sequence of the 88-kDa protein revealed a unique amino acid arrangement among the Cry proteins. Solubilization of the crystal proteins was achieved at 3.3 M NaBr, and its digestion with trypsin showed only one ca. 60-kDa peptide, as observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The patterns of three plasmids of strain LBIT-113 were considerably different from those of B. thuringiensis subspp. kurstaki, tenebrionis, and israelensis. Parasporal crystals showed no toxicity to larvae of four species of caterpillar, three species of mosquito, two species of beetle, one species of cricket, one species of ant, one species of aphid, one species of nematode, one species of ostracod, one species of ameba, and one species of rotifer.     

Comparative toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis crystal proteins in vivo and in vitro

Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis crystal proteins were purified by FPLC on a Mono Q column to yield 130, 65, 28, 53, 30-35 and 25 kDa proteins. All the purified proteins killed Aedes aegypti larvae after citrate precipitation, but the 65 kDa protein was the most toxic. A precipitated mixture of 27 and 130 kDa proteins was almost as toxic as solubilized crystals. In assays against a range of insect cell lines, the activated form (25 kDa) of the 27 kDa protein was generally cytotoxic with the lowest LC50 values in vitro. By contrast, the activated forms of the 130 kDa and 65 kDa protoxins (53 kDa and 30-35 kDa proteins, respectively) were much more specific than the 25 kDa protein in their action on dipteran cells, and each showed a unique toxicity profile which, in the case of the 130 kDa preparation, was restricted to Anopheles and Culex cell lines.     

Deletion analysis of the 51-kilodalton protein of the Bacillus sphaericus 2362 binary mosquitocidal toxin: construction of derivatives equivalent to the larva-processed toxin.

Bacillus sphaericus 2362 produces a binary toxin consisting of 51- and 42-kDa proteins, both of which are required for toxicity to mosquito larvae. Upon ingestion by larvae, these proteins are processed to 43 and 39 kDa, respectively. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have obtained N- and C-terminal deletions of the 51-kDa protein and expressed them in B. subtilis by using the subtilisin promoter. Removal of 21 amino acids from the N terminus and 53 amino acids from the C terminus resulted in a protein with the same electrophoretic properties as the 43-kDa degradation product which accumulates in the guts of mosquito larvae. This protein was toxic only in the presence of the 42-kDa protein. A deletion of 32 amino acids at the N terminus combined with a 53-amino-acid deletion at the C terminus resulted in a protein which retained toxicity. Toxicity was lost upon a further deletion of amino acids at potential chymotrypsin sites (41 at the N terminus, 61 at the C terminus). Comparison of the processing of the 51- and the 42-kDa proteins indicated that in spite of their sequence similarity proteolysis occurred at different sites.     

Mosquito larvae proteins modulate luteinizing hormone and prolactin release in pituitary cells of normal and estrogenized rats

Whilst looking for vertebrate growth factor homologues in insects, we found that a soluble fraction of a 12-80 kDa molecular weight band peaking at 25 kDa, isolated from mosquito larvae extracts by gel permeation chromatography, had a modulatory effect on mouse hepatocytes and adult human mononuclear cell proliferation. The effect disappeared after heating the extract at 90 degrees C for 30 min, suggesting that the active factor may be a protein. In order to determine the activity of the extract on cell function, we assessed the effect of the extract on pituitary hormone secretion in vitro. We assayed a dialyzed fraction (MW greater than 12 kDa) of mosquito larvae for its effect on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) from dispersed rat pituitary cells. In normal anterior pituitary (AP) cells we found that the extract had a stimulatory effect on LH release but an inhibitory action on prolactin secretion. In AP cells obtained from estrogen-induced hyperplasia, the extract had an inhibitory effect on prolactin secretion. In all cases the effects were time- and dose-dependent. Interference of the mosquito proteins with the radioimmunoassay was checked and found to be negligible. After a 60 min incubation, cell viability was comparable in control and treated cells. Furthermore, the biological effect of the extract was thermally unstable. Our results suggest that mosquito larvae may share common factors with mammals, probably peptidic in nature, which are able to modulate cell function.     

Micro-lipid-droplet encapsulation of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis delta-endotoxin for control of mosquito larvae

The crystal delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis is less toxic to larvae of Anopheles freeborni than to larvae of Aedes aegypti. However, when solubilized crystal was used, larvae from both species showed similar sensitivities. This effect presumably was due to the differences in feeding behavior between the two mosquito larvae when crystal preparations are used. A procedure is described whereby both crystal and solubilized B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis toxin were emulsified with Freund incomplete adjuvant, with retention of toxicity. The use of Freund incomplete adjuvant also allowed one to assay the solubilized toxin at a low nanogram level. Furthermore, coating the toxin with lipophilic material altered the buoyancy of the toxin and reversed the sensitivities of the two mosquito larvae toward the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis toxin. This difference in buoyancy was determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that was specific for the toxic peptides. These data indicate that economically feasible buoyant formulations for the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis crystal can be developed.     

Micro-lipid-droplet encapsulation of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis delta-endotoxin for control of mosquito larvae.

The crystal delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis is less toxic to larvae of Anopheles freeborni than to larvae of Aedes aegypti. However, when solubilized crystal was used, larvae from both species showed similar sensitivities. This effect presumably was due to the differences in feeding behavior between the two mosquito larvae when crystal preparations are used. A procedure is described whereby both crystal and solubilized B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis toxin were emulsified with Freund incomplete adjuvant, with retention of toxicity. The use of Freund incomplete adjuvant also allowed one to assay the solubilized toxin at a low nanogram level. Furthermore, coating the toxin with lipophilic material altered the buoyancy of the toxin and reversed the sensitivities of the two mosquito larvae toward the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis toxin. This difference in buoyancy was determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that was specific for the toxic peptides. These data indicate that economically feasible buoyant formulations for the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis crystal can be developed.