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Related Experiment Videos

Midgut bacteria required for Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal activity.

Nichole A Broderick1, Kenneth F Raffa, Jo Handelsman

  • 1Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|September 29, 2006
PubMed
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Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal activity against gypsy moth larvae requires the presence of gut bacteria. Without these microbes, Bt fails to kill the insects, highlighting the crucial role of the gut microbiome in Bt efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Insect Pathology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a widely used biological insecticide in agriculture and forestry.
  • Bt kills insect larvae via insecticidal crystal proteins, with engineered crops expressing these genes.
  • The established mechanism of Bt toxicity involves toxin-mediated lysis of gut epithelial cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of indigenous gut bacteria in the insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis.
  • To determine if the presence of gut microbiota is essential for Bt-induced mortality in gypsy moth larvae.

Main Methods:

  • Elimination of gypsy moth larval gut microbiota using oral antibiotics.
  • Reintroduction of specific Enterobacter species to assess restoration of Bt activity.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparison of Bt toxicity with engineered E. coli producing Bt toxin, with and without indigenous bacteria.

    • Main Results:

    • Bacillus thuringiensis failed to kill gypsy moth larvae when indigenous midgut bacteria were absent.
    • Restoration of a native Enterobacter sp. re-established Bt-mediated killing.
    • Engineered E. coli producing Bt toxin killed larvae regardless of other bacteria, but heat-killed E. coli did not, indicating live bacteria are necessary.

    Conclusions:

    • Bacillus thuringiensis-induced mortality in gypsy moth larvae is dependent on the presence and activity of enteric bacteria.
    • The gut microbiome plays a critical role in the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis as a biological insecticide.
    • Live enteric bacteria, not just the Bt toxin, are essential for Bt-mediated insecticidal effects.