[Use of the recombinant bacterial strain to control blood-sucking mosquito larvae]

The recombinant strain of Methylobacillus flagellatum with the cloned synthesis gene Cry 4B of the toxic Bac. thuringiensis var. israelensis protein proved to be effective against larvae of the Anopheles stephensi, An. atroparvus, An. pulcherrimus, An. superpictus, and An. sacharovi cultured in the laboratory. The use of M. flagellatum in combination with T. pyriformis may greatly expand the scope of use of the recombinant strain to control malaria mosquito larvae. Their combined use shows a 6-fold increase in the rate of strain action and a 4-fold decrease in the concentration of the agent. The optimum effects are shown following 24-hour combined intubation of M. flagellatum and Tetrahymena pyriformis.