Diversity of cry genes and genetic characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from Brazil

Two hundred and eighteen Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from Brazil were characterized by the presence of crystal protein genes by PCR with primers specific to different cry and cyt genes. Among these isolates, 95 were selected according to their geographic origin for genetic characterization with the 16S rRNA gene, RAPD, and plasmid profile. Isolates containing cryl genes were the most abundant (48%) followed by the cry11 and cyt (7%) and cry8 genes (2%). Finally, 40.3% of the isolates did not produce any PCR product. The plasmid profile and RAPD analysis showed a remarkable diversity among the isolates of B. thuringiensis not observed in the 16S rRNA gene. These results suggest that the genetic diversity of B. thuringiensis species results from the influence of different ecological factors and spatial separation between strains generated by the conquest of different habitats.

Keywords

16S rRNA gene, Bacillus thuringiensis, Cry genes, Ecology, Genetic diversity, Plasmid profile, RAPD, Biodiversity, Crystal structure, Genes, Proteins, RNA, Genetic characterization, Spatial separation, Bacteria, ribosome RNA, RNA 16S, bacterium, genetic variation, plasmid, polymerase chain reaction, bacterial gene, bacterium isolate, Brazil, cry gene, cyt gene, genetic variability, geographic distribution, habitat structure, nonhuman, priority journal, random amplified polymorphic DNA, RNA gene, Bacterial Proteins, Bacterial Toxins, DNA, Ribosomal, Endotoxins, Hemolysin Proteins, Molecular Sequence Data, Plasmids, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Variation (Genetics), South America, Western Hemisphere, World, Bacteria (microorganisms), Posibacteria