Current Microbiology (2011) 62, 1287-1293

Fatma Driss, Slim Tounsi and Samir Jaoua (2011)
Relationship between plasmid loss and gene expression in Bacillus thuringiensis
Current Microbiology 62 (4), 1287-1293
Abstract: The large genome of Bacillus thuringiensis was shortened by provoking plasmid loss, and the effect of such loss on the expression of both chromosomal and plasmid-harboured genes was studied. It was evidenced that the genomic material shortening of B. thuringiensis allows for the improvement of the expression of some of the constructive genes. Indeed, it was shown that curing was an efficient tool to obtain mutant strains with better expression of chromosomal genes. In fact, totally cured strains, HD1Cry-B and BNS3Cry, showed higher chitinolytic and/or proteolytic activities than the corresponding wild and/or partially cured ones. Although total curing is drastic for plasmid-harboured gene expression, the authors obtained partially cured strains, Cur255 and CurHD1, with a doubled level of delta-endotoxin production, and a 1.5-fold improvement of the bacteriocin-specific activity, respectively. In addition, the latter strains showed better relative proteolytic activities.
(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): Samir Jaoua, Slim Tounsi

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Bacillus thuringiensis (entomopathogen)