Open AccessMosquito larvicidal activity of transgenic Anabaena PCC 7120 expressing toxin genes from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis
Author(s) -
Khasdan Vadim,
BenDov Eitan,
Manasherob Robert,
Boussiba Sammy,
Zaritsky Arieh
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00679-7
Subject(s) - bacillus thuringiensis , toxin , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , anabaena , bacillales , gene , bacillaceae , microbial toxins , bacteria , cyanobacteria , genetics , bacillus subtilis
Genes encoding the mosquito larvicidal toxins Cry4Aa, Cry11Aa, Cyt1Aa and the regulatory P20 from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis were introduced into the nitrogen‐fixing, filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120 for expression under control of two strong promoters P psbA and P A1 . The clone pRVE4‐ADRC displayed toxicity against fourth‐instar larvae of Aedes aegypti , the highest ever achieved in cyanobacteria. It was about 2.5‐fold more toxic than the respective clone without cyt1Aa [Wu et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63 (1997) 4971–4975]. Cyt1Aa synergized the combination of Crys by about five‐fold. Consistently, the lethal times exerted by pRVE4‐ADRC were also reduced (it killed exposed larvae more quickly). This clone may become a useful biological control agent which reduces the probability of resistance development in the target organisms [Wirth et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94 (1997) 10536–10540].