PCR-based prediction of type I β-exotoxin production in Bacillus thuringiensis strains

Some Bacillus thuringiensis strains secrete type I β-exotoxin, which is a non-specific insecticidal and thermostable adenine nucleoside oligosaccharide. Toxicity bioassays and HPLC are traditional methods for detecting β-exotoxin. With the aim of establish a first rapid approach for prediction of type I β-exotoxin production, two PCR-based methods were successfully evaluated in B. thuringiensis strains and native isolates. In order to validate a reliable technology, results obtained by this method were correlated with that obtained from Musca domestica bioassays.