High larvicidal activity of intact recombinant cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 expressing Gene 51 and Gene 42 of Bacillus sphaericus sp. 2297

Abstract Gene 51 and Gene 42 of Bacillus sphaericus 2297 were expressed in the nitrogen-fixing filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. 7120 on a shuttle vector. Intact recombinant cells showed high toxicity against larvae of Culex pipiens in laboratory and field tests, and lower toxicity against larvae of Anopheles sinensis . Although unselective culture could decrease the mosquitocidal activity, the genetically engineered Anabaena open up new possibilities for the use of cyanobacteria for mosquito control.