Current Microbiology (2009) 58, 389-392

Changlong Shu, Hong Yu, Rongyan Wang, Shuliang Fen, Xudong Su, Dafang Huang, Jie Zhang and Fuping Song (2009)
Characterization of two novel cry8 genes from Bacillus thuringiensis strain BT185
Current Microbiology 58 (4), 389-392
Abstract: Two novel cry8-type genes, cry8Ea1 and cry8Fa1, obtained from a Holotrichia parallela-specific Bacillus thuringiensis strain, BT185, were characterized. Findings showed that cry8Ea1 and cry8Fa1 encoded polypeptides of 1164 and 1174 amino acid residues, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of both Cry8Ea1 and Cry8Fa1 polypeptides are the most similar to that of Cry8Ba1. Eight conserved blocks (blocks 1-8) exist in Cry8Ea1 and Cry8Fa1 polypeptides compared with known Cry proteins. Cry8Ea1 and the Cry8Fa1 toxins could form spheric crystals when they were expressed in the acrystalliferous mutant strain HD73⁻. The spores and crystals from the recombinant strain containing cry8Ea1 were toxic to Holotrichia parallela, with an LC₅₀ of 0.0875 × 10⁸ colony-forming units (CFU)/g. However, Cry8Fa1 expressed in the recombinant strain was not toxic to H. parallela, Anomala corpulenta, or H. oblita.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jie Zhang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
molecular biology - genes

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Holotrichia parallela
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry8E-toxin (entomopathogen)	Holotrichia parallela
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry8F-toxin (entomopathogen)	Holotrichia parallela