Characterization of a Bacillus thuringiensis strain which is toxic to the housefly Musca domestica

Abstract A Bacillus thuringiensis isolate has been discovered which is toxic to the common housefly ( Musca domestica ) as well as other Diptera and Lepidoptera . Crystal δ-endotoxins purified from this isolate killed 50% of Musca larvae at a concentration of 10.2 μg/ml, and β-exotoxin was not detected. Sodium dodecyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified crystals revealed three protein species which were related to CryIA(b), CryIB and CryIIA toxins on the basis of immunoreactivity and amino-terminal sequence determination. Southern blot and DNA restriction analyses suggested that the strain has sequences related to one cry IA(b), one cry IIA, and two cry IIB genes.