<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium verticillioides</Emphasis> and fumonisin contamination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bt</Emphasis> and non-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bt</Emphasis> maize cultivated in Brazil

Fusarium verticillioides is one of the main pathogens of maize, causing ear and stalk rots. This fungus is also able to produce high levels of fumonisins, which have been linked to various illnesses in humans and animals. Previous studies have shown that maize hybrids genetically modified with the cry genes from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) presented lower incidence of F. verticillioides and fumonisin levels, presumably through the reduction of insects, which could act as vectors of fungi. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of F. verticillioides and the concentration of fumonisins in Bt and isogenic non-Bt hybrids (2B710Hx, 30F35YG, 2B710, and 30F35, respectively). The samples of 2B710Hx and 30F35YG presented lower F. verticillioides frequency than 2B710 and 30F35 samples. However, there was no statistical difference between fumonisin contamination when Bt and non-Bt samples were compared (P > 0.05). The results suggest that other environmental parameters could possibly trigger fumonisin production during plant development in the field; consequently, other management strategies should be applied to aid controlling fumonisin contamination in maize.     

Association between <Emphasis Type="Italic">cagA</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">vacAi</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">dupA</Emphasis> genes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> and gastroduodenal pathologies in Chilean patients

In addition to the already known cagA gene, novel genetic markers have been associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) virulence: the dupA and vacAi genes. These genes might play an important role as specific markers to determine the clinical outcome of the disease, especially the vacAi gene, which has been expected to be a good marker of severe pathologies like gastric adenocarcinoma. In the present study, the association of cagA, dupA, and vacAi genes with gastroduodenal pathologies in Chilean patients was studied. One hundred and thirty-two patients positive for H. pylori were divided into two groups—non-severe and severe gastric pathologies—and investigated for the presence of cagA, dupA, and vacAi H. pylori virulence genes by PCR. The cagA gene was detected in 20/132 patients (15.2%), the vacAi1 gene was detected in 54/132 patients (40.9%), the vacAi2 gene was detected in 26/132 patients (19.7%), and the dupA gene was detected in 50/132 (37.9%) patients. Logistic regression model analysis showed that the vacAi1 isoform gene in the infected strains and the severity of the diseases outcome were highly associated, causing severe gastric damage that may lead to gastric cancer (p < 0.0001; OR = 8.75; 95% CI 3.54–21.64). Conversely, cagA (p = 0.3507; OR = 1.62; 95% CI 0.59–4.45) and vacAi2 (p = 0.0114; OR = 3.09; 95% CI 1.26–7.60) genes were not associated with damage, while the dupA gene was associated significantly with non-severe clinical outcome (p = 0.0032; OR = 0.25; 95% CI 0.09–0.65). In addition, dupA gene exerts protection against severe gastric pathologies induced by vacAi1 by delaying the outcome of the disease by approximately 20 years.     

Molecular evidence for hybridization between invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solidago canadensis</Emphasis> and native <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Italic">virgaurea</Emphasis>

Hybridization between alien and native species is biologically very important and could lead to genetic erosion of native taxa. Solidago × niederederi was discovered over a century ago in Austria and described by Khek as a natural hybrid between the alien (nowadays regarded also as invasive) S. canadensis and native S. virgaurea. Although interspecific hybridization in the genus Solidago is considered to be relatively common, hybrid nature of S. × niederederi has not been independently proven using molecular tools, to date. Because proper identification of the parentage for the hybrid Solidago individuals solely based on morphological features can be misleading, in this paper we report an additive polymorphism pattern expressed in the ITS sequences obtained from individuals representing S. × niederederi, and confirm the previous hypothesis that the parental species of this hybrid are S. canadensis and S. virgaurea. Additionally, based on variability at the cpDNA rpl32-trnL locus, we showed that in natural populations hybridization occurs in both directions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>-acetoin accumulation and dissimilation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella pneumoniae</Emphasis>

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a 2,3-butanediol producer, and R-acetoin is an intermediate of 2,3-butanediol production. R-acetoin accumulation and dissimilation in K. pneumoniae was studied here. A budC mutant, which has lost 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase activity, accumulated high levels of R-acetoin in culture broth. However, after glucose was exhausted, the accumulated R-acetoin could be reused by the cells as a carbon source. Acetoin dehydrogenase enzyme system, encoded by acoABCD, was responsible for R-acetoin dissimilation. acoABCD mutants lost the ability to grow on acetoin as the sole carbon source, and the acetoin accumulated could not be dissimilated. However, in the presence of another carbon source, the acetoin accumulated in broth of acoABCD mutants was converted to 2,3-butanediol. Parameters of R-acetoin production by budC mutants were optimized in batch culture. Aerobic culture and mildly acidic conditions (pH 6–6.5) favored R-acetoin accumulation. At the optimized conditions, in fed-batch fermentation, 62.3 g/L R-acetoin was produced by budC and acoABCD double mutant in 57 h culture, with an optical purity of 98.0 %, and a substrate conversion ratio of 28.7 %.     

Distribution and habitats of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phengaris</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Maculinea</Emphasis>) butterflies and population ecology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phengaris</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">teleius</Emphasis> in China

Many species of the butterfly genus Phengaris are regarded as endangered in many parts of their distribution. Several species are also widely distributed across northern China. Due to land use change and overgrazing, their habitats are declining and many patches have been lost. This paper investigates the distribution and habitats of the Chinese Phengaris species (of the subgenus Maculinea). Shrub-grassland near forests seem the most frequent habitat for Phengaris, while flat open grasslands are mostly over-grazed and thus survival for Phengaris butterflies there seems difficult. Throughout Europe, P. teleius is an endangered species, while there is still no information on its status in China. To improve the knowledge on the population ecology of P. teleius, its population structure, adult behaviour and movement were studied through mark–release–recapture methods in the Qinling Mountains of Taibai County. Eight grassland patches which were potentially suitable were found in the area in 2013. In total, 480 individuals (274 females) were marked, resulting in an overall recapture rate of 16 %. The average daily population size was 44 butterflies (±23 SD) during the adult flight period. Sixty-seven percent of the females and 38 % of the males moved less than 50 m, and 17 % of recaptured females and 38 % of males moved more than 200 m. The mean movement distance was 107 ± 177 m for males and 182 ± 122 m for females. The majority of the recaptures (86 %) were made within the patches, only a few individuals (14 %) moved between patches. Due to human disturbance and destruction, all of the eight potentially suitable patches are becoming smaller and increasingly isolated, thus these populations of P. teleius may face an increasing risk of extinction, which may well be a tip of the iceberg of habitat loss and fragmentation of P. teleius in Taibai County and possibly beyond. Hence we hope our initial study of P. teleius could have positive impacts on the conservation of Phengaris butterflies in China.     

Complete chloroplast genome sequence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">baccatum</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">baccatum</Emphasis>

Molecular markers derived from the complete chloroplast genome can provide effective tools for species identification and phylogenetic resolution. Complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequences of Capsicum species have been reported. We herein report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Capsicum baccatum var. baccatum, a wild Capsicum species. The total length of the chloroplast genome is 157,145 bp with 37.7 % overall GC content. One pair of inverted repeats, 25,910 bp in length, was separated by a small single-copy region (17,974 bp) and large single-copy region (87,351 bp). This region contains 86 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, 4 rRNA genes, and 11 genes contain one or two introns. Pair-wise alignments of chloroplast genome were performed for genome-wide comparison. Analysis revealed a total of 134 simple sequence repeat (SSR) motifs and 282 insertions or deletions variants in the C. baccatum var. baccatum cp genome. The types and abundances of repeat units in Capsicum species were relatively conserved, and these loci could be used in future studies to investigate and conserve the genetic diversity of the Capsicum species.     

The ectomycorrhizae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactarius rimosellus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactarius acatlanensis</Emphasis> with the endangered <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus grandifolia</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mexicana</Emphasis>

Gut bacterium Pantoea sp. is one of the predominant bacterial species in the larval gut of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. The phenotypic characters of Pantoea sp. were investigated with BIOLOG phenotype MicroArray (PM) in this study. Totally 950 different metabolic phenotypes were tested using the PM plates 1–10. Results exhibited that Pantoea sp. was able to metabolize 37.37 % of the tested carbon sources, 91.32 % of nitrogen sources, 100 % of sulfur sources, and 98.31 % of phosphorus sources. Most informative utilization patterns for carbon sources of Pantoea sp. were organic acids and carbohydrates, and for nitrogen were various amino acids. The bacterium had 94 different biosynthetic pathways. It had a wide range of adaptabilities, and could still metabolize in osmolytes with up to 9 % sodium chloride, 6 % potassium chloride, 5 % sodium sulfate, 20 % ethylene glycol, 4 % sodium formate, 4 % urea, 5 % sodium lactate, 200 mmol/L sodium phosphate (pH 7.0), 100 mmol/L ammonium sulfate (pH 8.0), 100 mmol/L sodium nitrate, and 100 mmol/L sodium nitrite, respectively. It also exhibited active metabolism under pH values between 4.5 and 10. Pantoea sp. showed active decarboxylase activities while poor deaminase activities in the presence of various amino acids. The phenotypic characterization of Pantoea sp. increased our knowledge of the bacterium, in particular its interactions with insect hosts and the adaptability in gut environments, and showed us some possible approaches to controlling diamondback moth through decreasing Pantoea sp. density.     

Betulin inhibits cariogenic properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus mutans</Emphasis> by targeting <Emphasis Type="Italic">vicRK</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">gtf</Emphasis> genes

Streptococcus mutans, a multivirulent pathogen is considered the primary etiological agent in dental caries. Development of antibiotic resistance in the pathogen has created a need for novel antagonistic agents which can control the virulence of the organism and reduce resistance development. The present study demonstrates the in vitro anti-virulence potential of betulin (lup-20(29)-ene-3β,28-diol), an abundantly available plant triterpenoid against S. mutans UA159. Betulin exhibited significant dose dependent antibiofilm activity without affecting bacterial viability. At 240 µg/ml (biofilm inhibitory concentration), betulin inhibited biofilm formation and adherence to smooth glass surfaces by 93 and 71 % respectively. It reduced water insoluble glucan synthesis by 89 %, in conjunction with down regulation of gtfBC genes. Microscopic analysis confirmed the disruption in biofilm architecture and decreased exopolysaccharide production. Acidogenicity and aciduricity, key virulence factors responsible for carious lesions, were also notably affected. The induced auto-aggregation of cells upon treatment could be due to the down regulation of vicK. Results of gene expression analysis demonstrated significant down-regulation of virulence genes upon betulin treatment. Furthermore, the nontoxic effect of betulin on peripheral blood mononuclear cells even after 72 h treatment makes it a strong candidate for assessing its suitability to be used as a therapeutic agent.     

Assessing biodegradation of furfuryl alcohol using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas putida</Emphasis> MTCC 1194 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> MTCC 1034 and its kinetics

The biodegradation of furfuryl alcohol (FA) in shake flask experiments using a pure culture of Pseudomonas putida (MTCC 1194) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1034) was studied at 30 °C and pH 7.0. Experiments were performed at different FA concentrations ranging from 50 to 500 mg/l. Before carrying out the biodegradation studies, the bacterial strains were acclimatized to the concentration of 500 mg/l of FA by gradually raising 100 mg/l of FA in each step. The well acclimatized culture of P. putida and P. aeruginosa degraded about 80 and 66% of 50 mg/l FA, respectively. At higher concentration of FA, the percentage of FA degradation decreased. The purpose of this study was to determine the kinetics of biodegradation of FA by measuring biomass growth rates and concentration of FA as a function of time. Substrate inhibition was calculated from experimental growth parameters using the Haldane equation. Data for P. putida were determined as µ _max ?=?0.23 h^?1, K _s ?=?23.93 mg/l and K _i ?=?217.1 mg/l and for P. aeruginosa were determined as µ _max ?=?0.13 h^?1, K _s ?=?21.3 mg/l and K _i ?=?284.9 mg/l. The experimental data were fitted in Haldane, Aiba and Edwards inhibition models.     

Production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-10,<Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-12-conjugated linoleic acid using permeabilized whole-cell biocatalyst of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yarrowia lipolytica</Emphasis>

Objective

To improve the production of trans-10,cis-12-conjugated linoleic acid (t10,c12-CLA) from linoleic acid in recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica.

Results

Cells of the yeast were permeabilized by freeze/thawing. The optimal conditions for t10,c12-CLA production by the permeabilized cells were at 28 °C, pH 7, 200 rpm with 1.5 g sodium acetate l^?1, 100 g wet cells l^?1, and 25 g LA l^?1. Under these conditions, the permeabilized cells produced 15.6 g t10,c12-CLA l^?1 after 40 h, with a conversion yield of 62 %. The permeabilized cells could be used repeatedly for three cycles, with the t10,c12-CLA extracellular production remaining above 10 g l^?1.

Conclusion

Synthesis of t10,c12-CLA was achieved using a novel method, and the production reported in this work is the highest value reported to date.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Braf</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kras</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> epigenetic changes-associated chronic gastritis in Egyptian patients with and without gastric cancer

We aimed to study MLH1 and MGMT methylation status in Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic gastritis in Egyptian patients with and without gastric cancer. 39 patients were included in our study. They were divided into 2 groups; patients without (group I) and with gastric adenocarcinoma (group II). Patients were subjected to clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound and upper endoscopy for gastric biopsy. Biopsies were subjected to urease test, histological examination, and DNA purification. H. pylori, Braf, Kras, MLH1 and MGMT methylation were assessed by quantitative PCR. DNA sequencing was performed to assess Braf and Kras genes mutation. qPCR of H. pylori was significantly higher in patients with adenocarcinoma (group II) than those without adenocarcinoma (group I); with a p < 0.001 as well as in patients with age above 50 years with a p value = 0.008. By applying logistic regression analysis it was reported that the H. pylori qPCR is a significant predictor to the adenocarcinoma with OR = 1.025 (95 % CI: 1. 002–1.048), with sensitivity of 90 % and specificity of 100 %. Adenocarcinoma patients had a significantly higher mean age and levels of H. Pylori, Braf, K-ras, methylated MGMT and methylated MLH1 than those of gastritis patients. DNA sequence analysis of Braf (codon 12) and Kras (codon 600) had genes mutation in gastric adenocarcinoma versus chronic gastritis. Conclusion: H. pylori may cause epigenetic changes predisposing the patients to cancer stomach. Estimation of H. pylori by qPCR can be a good predictor to adenocarcinoma. Braf and Kras genes mutation were reveled in gastritis and adenocarcinoma patients.     

Cloning of <Emphasis Type="Italic">phaCAB</Emphasis> genes from thermophilic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caldimonas manganoxidans</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production

PHB biosynthesis pathway, consisting of three open reading frames (ORFs) that encode for β-ketothiolase (phaA _Cma , 1179 bp), acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (phaB _Cma , 738 bp), and PHA synthase (phaC _Cma , 1694 bp), of Caldimonas manganoxidans was identified. The functions of PhaA, PhaB, and PhaC were demonstrated by successfully reconstructing PHB biosynthesis pathway of C. manganoxidans in Escherichia coli, where PHB production was confirmed by OD₆₀₀, gas chromatography, Nile blue stain, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The protein sequence alignment of PHB synthases revealed that phaC _Cma shares at least 60% identity with those of class I PHB synthase. The effects of PhaA, PhaB, and PhaC expression levels on PHB production were investigated. While the overexpression of PhaB is found to be important in recombinant E. coli, performances of PHB production can be quantified as follows: PHB concentration of 16.8 ± 0.6 g/L, yield of 0.28 g/g glucose, content of 74%, productivity of 0.28 g/L/h, and Mw of 1.41 MDa.     

Activation of stilbene synthesis in cell cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis amurensis</Emphasis> by calcium-dependent protein kinases <Emphasis Type="Italic">VaCPK1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">VaCPK26</Emphasis>

Stilbenes, including trans-resveratrol (3,4′,5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), are known to exert beneficial health effects and contribute to plant biotic stress resistance. Much remains to be discovered about the cell signaling pathways regulating stilbene biosynthesis. It has recently been shown that overexpression of the calcium-dependent protein kinase VaCPK20 gene considerably increased t-resveratrol accumulation in cell cultures of Vitis amurensis. In this study, we analyzed the involvement of other CDPK family members, VaCPK1 and VaCPK26, on stilbene synthesis and biomass production by cell cultures of V. amurensis. We showed that overexpression of the VaCPK1 and 26 genes induced production of stilbenes by 1.7–4.6-fold (for VaCPK1) and by 2.5–6.2-fold (for VaCPK26) in several independently established cell lines compared to the empty vector-transformed control. Using HPLC-UV-MS, we detected five stilbenes in the grape cells: t-resveratrol diglucoside, t-piceid, t-resveratrol, ε- and δ-viniferin. The VaCPK1- and VaCPK26-transformed calli were capable of producing 1.4–3.1 and 1.8–4.9 mg/l of t-resveratrol, respectively (up to 0.4 for and 0.6 mg/g of dry weight for VaCPK26 and VaCPK1, respectively), while the control line synthesized only 0.5 mg/l of t-resveratrol (0.07 mg/g DW). The up-regulation of t-resveratrol production in the VaCPK1- and VaCPK26-overexpressing grape calli correlated with a significant up-regulation of stilbene synthase (STS) gene expression, especially VaSTS7. The data indicate that VaCPK1 and 26 genes, which are close homologues of VaCPK20, are positive regulators of stilbene biosynthesis in grapevine.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plesiomonas</Emphasis> species from scarlet ibis (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eudocimus ruber</Emphasis>) and their environment: monitoring antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence

The present study aimed at evaluating the role of captive scarlet ibises (Eudocimus ruber) and their environment as reservoirs of Aeromonas spp. and Plesiomonas spp., and analyzing the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence of the recovered bacterial isolates. Thus, non-lactose and weak-lactose fermenting, oxidase positive Gram-negative bacilli were recovered from cloacal samples (n = 30) of scarlet ibises kept in a conservational facility and from water samples (n = 30) from their environment. Then, the antimicrobial susceptibility, hemolytic activity and biofilm production of the recovered Aeromonas spp. and Plesiomonas shigelloides strains were assessed. In addition, the virulence-associated genes of Aeromonas spp. were detected. Ten Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria, 2 Aeromonas hydrophila complex and 10 P. shigelloides were recovered. Intermediate susceptibility to piperacillin-tazobactam and cefepime was observed in 2 Aeromonas spp. and 1 P. shigelloides, respectively, and resistance to gentamicin was observed in 4 P. shigelloides. The automated susceptibility analysis revealed resistance to piperacillin-tazobactam and meropenem among Aeromonas spp. and intermediate susceptibility to gentamicin among P. shigelloides. All Aeromonas isolates presented hemolytic activity, while 3 P. shigelloides were non-hemolytic. All Aeromonas spp. and 3/10 P. shigelloides were biofilm-producers, at 28 °C, while 10 Aeromonas spp. and 6/10 P. shigelloides produced biofilms, at 37 °C. The most prevalent virulence genes of Aeromonas spp. were asa1 and ascV. Scarlet ibises and their environment harbour potentially pathogenic bacteria, thus requiring monitoring and measures to prevent contamination of humans and other animals.     

The diversity of rhizobia nodulating the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melilotus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonella</Emphasis> inoculation group in Egypt is marked by the dominance of two genetic types

Twenty four rhizobial strains were isolated from root nodules of Melilotus, Medicago and Trigonella plants growing wild in soils throughout Egypt. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence from each strain showed that 12 strains (50 %) were closely related to the Ensifer meliloti LMG6133^T type strain with identity values higher than 99.0 %, that 9 (37.5 %) strains were more than 99 % identical to the E. medicae WSM419^T type strain, and that 3 (12.5 %) strains showed 100 % identity with the type strain of N. huautlense S02^T. Accordingly, the diversity of rhizobial strains nodulating wild Melilotus, Medicago and Trigonella species in Egypt is marked by predominance of two genetic types, E. meliloti and E. medicae, although the frequency of isolation was slightly higher in E. meliloti. Sequencing of the symbiotic nodC gene from selected Medicago and Melilotus strains revealed that they were all similar to those of the E. meliloti LMG6133^T and E. medicae WSM419^T type strains, respectively. Similarly, nodC sequences of strains identified as members of the genus Neorhizobium were more than 99 % identical to that of N. galegae symbiovar officinalis HAMBI 114.     

Expression and characterization of glutamate decarboxylase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus brevis</Emphasis> HYE1 isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">kimchi</Emphasis>

A putative gene (gadlbhye1) encoding glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) was cloned from Lactobacillus brevis HYE1 isolated from kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented vegetable. The amino acid sequences of GADLbHYE1 showed 48% homology with the GadA family and 99% identity with the GadB family from L. brevis. The cloned GADLbHYE1 was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli using inducible expression vectors. The expressed recombinant GADLbHYE1 was successfully purified by Ni–NTA affinity chromatography, and had a molecular mass of 54 kDa with optimal hydrolysis activity at 55 °C and pH 4.0. Its thermal stability was determined to be higher than that of other GADs from L. brevis, based on its melting temperature (75.18 °C). Kinetic parameters including K_m and V_max values for GADLbHYE1 were 4.99 mmol/L and 0.224 mmol/L/min, respectively. In addition, the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid in E. coli BL21 harboring gadlbhye1/pET28a was increased by adding pyridoxine as a cheaper coenzyme.     

Toxin Gene Contents and Activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> Strains Against Two Sugarcane Borer Species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diatraea saccharalis</Emphasis> (F.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">D. flavipennella</Emphasis> (Box)

Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) bears essential characteristics in the control of insect pests, such as its unique mode of action, which confers specificity and selectivity. This study assessed cry gene contents from Bt strains and their entomotoxicity against Diatraea saccharalis (F.) and Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Bioassays with Bt strains were performed against neonates to evaluate their lethal and sublethal activities and were further analyzed by PCR, using primers to identify toxin genes. For D. saccharalis and D. flavipennella, 16 and 18 strains showed over 30% larval mortality in the 7th day, respectively. The LC₅₀ values of strains for D. saccharalis varied from 0.08 × 10⁵ (LIIT-0105) to 4104 × 10⁵ (LIIT-2707) spores + crystals mL^?1. For D. flavipennella, the LC₅₀ values of strains varied from 0.40 × 10⁵ (LIIT-2707) to 542 × 10⁵ (LIIT-2109) spores + crystals mL^?1. For the LIIT-0105 strain, which was the most toxic to D. saccharalis, the genes cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B, cry1C, cry1D, cry1F, cry1I, cry2Aa, cry2Ab, cry8, and cry9C were detected, whereas for the strain LIIT-2707, which was the most toxic to D. flavipennella, detected genes were cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B, cry1D, cry1F, cry1I, cry2Aa, cry2Ab, and cry9. The toxicity data and toxin gene content in these strains of Bt suggest a great variability of activity with potential to be used in the development of novel biopesticides or as source of resistance genes that can be expressed in plants to control pests.