Expression of a Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin gene by Bacillus pumilus

The delta-endotoxin genes from Bacillus thuringiensis were introduced into a rhizosphere-inhabiting Bacillus pumilus isolate to create a delta-endotoxin expression and delivery system for subterranean feeding insects such as the larvae of pale western cutworm (Agrotis orthogonia Morrison (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)). Preliminary experiments indicated that Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki cultures were toxic to pale western cutworm larvae. Three different cry genes from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki were cloned into high and low copy number vectors and mated into Bacillus pumilus RB8. When carried on high copy number vectors, cry genes appeared to inhibit sporulation and delta-endotoxin production in Bacillus pumilus RB8 cultures, since microscopic examination of these cultures revealed that < 0.1% of the cells of late stationary phase cultures had sporulated and produced parasporal inclusions. On low copy number vectors, the cry genes did not inhibit sporulation; however, production of delta-endotoxins was undetectable. Using a heat shock regime for enrichment of sporogenous crystalliferous variants, a Bacillus pumilus isolate, carrying cryIA(c) on a high copy number plasmid, was obtained in which high level delta-endotoxin production occurred concomitant with sporulation. Synthesis of functional delta-endotoxin by this strain was confirmed by Western blot analysis and bioassay with pale western cutworm larvae. These results show that rhizosphere-inhabiting bacilli are indeed a potential route for introduction of delta-endotoxins to the root environment for biocontrol purposes.