Molecular Methods to Improve the Insecticidal Action of Bacillus thuringiensis in Biotechnology Arena

Abstract

Abstract

Bacillus thuringiensis (or Bt) is a Gram-positive, soil-dwelling bacterium, frequently used as an organic pesticide. B. thuringiensis also arises naturally in the gut of caterpillars of several kinds of moths and butterflies, as well on foliage surfaces, marine environments, animal feces, insect-rich surroundings, and flour mills and grain-storage facilities. All through sporulation, various Bt strains harvest crystal proteins (proteinaceous inclusions), termed δ-endotoxins, that have insecticidal action. This has led to their use as pesticides, and more recently to genetically improved crops using Bt genes, such as Bt corn. Numerous crystal-producing Bt strains, however, do not have insecticidal properties. We define natural and in vitro growth of Cry toxins, as well as their significance in the mechanism of action for insect control. Furthermore, the use of DNA shuffling to develop two Bt toxins will be conversed together with in silico analyses of the generated mutations to evaluate their possible effect on protein structure and cytotoxicity.

Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis, Cry toxins, genes, pest

Cite this Article

Vishakha Singhal. Molecular Methods to Improve the Insecticidal Action of Bacillus thuringiensis in Biotechnology Arena. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Bioinformatics. 2017; 4(1): 31–35p.