Open AccessClostridium bifermentans serovar malaysia : Characterization of putative mosquito larvicidal proteins
Author(s) -
Nicolas Luc,
Charles JeanFrançois,
Barjac Huguette
Publication year - 1993
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 - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1993.tb06482.x
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , serotype , clostridium botulinum , biology , toxin , molecular mass , toxicity , chemistry , biochemistry , enzyme , organic chemistry
The toxicity of Clostridium bifermentans serovar malaysia to mosquito larvae is due to protein toxins, belonging to a novel class of insecticidal toxins. Toxic extracts contains three major proteins of 66, 18 and 16 kDa. The 18‐kDa and 16‐kDa proteins are probably involved in toxicity. They are synthesised during sporulation, concomitant with activity. They are absent from non‐toxic strains of C. bifermentans and are present at very low levels in non‐toxic C. bifermentans serovar malaysia cultures produced at 42°C. The 66‐kDa protein is present throughout the growth phases of C.bifermentans serovar malaysia , and an immunologically related 66‐kDa protein is present in non‐toxic C. bifermentans strains.