[Objectives]To determine the biological safety of BT protein from Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)fermentation broth to mammals at high doses.[Methods]Healthy mice were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 mice in each group.The experimental groups were fed with Bt fermentation supernatant at 0.2,0.6 and 1.0 mL/kg,respectively,once a day for 7 consecutive days.The blank control group was fed normally without intragastric administration.[Results]There was no significant difference in blood routine and blood biochemical analysis between the experimental group and the control group.After intragastric administration,the mice were dissected,and no obvious pathological changes were found;the heart,liver,spleen,lung and kidney were taken to make tissue sections,and no pathological changes were found by microscopic observation.[Conclusions]Mice can tolerate high doses of BT protein from B.thuringiensis fermentation broth.
Weimeng NINGDingkuo LIUFang LIUYuan LIXiaowei YANGZhenguo GUANGuijun YANGBo ZHANGPengcheng HU
For a broader understanding of uranium migration affected by microorganisms in natural anaerobic environment,the bioreduction of uranium(Ⅵ)(U(Ⅵ))was revealed in Bacillus thuringiensis,a dominant bacterium strain with potential of uranium-tolerant isolated from uranium contaminated soil.The reduction behavior was systematically investigated by the quantitative analysis of U(Ⅳ)in bacteria,and mechanism was inferred from the pathway of electron transmission.Under anaerobic conditions,appropriate biomass and sodium lactate as electron donor,reduction behavior of U(Ⅵ)induced by B.thuringiensis was restricted by the activity of lactate dehydrogenase,which was directly affected by the initial pH,temperature and initial U(Ⅵ)concentration of bioreduction system.Bioreduction of U(Ⅵ)was driven by the generation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NADH)from enzymatic reaction of sodium lactate with various dehydrogenase.The transmission of the electrons from bacteria to U(Ⅵ)was mainly supported by the intracellular NADH dehydrogenase-ubiquinone system,this process could maintain the biological activity of cells.
It has been reported that C-type lectins(CTLs),which are pattern recognition receptors of the insect innate immunity response,may compete with Cry toxin for the receptor alkaline phosphatase to decrease its toxicity in insects.However,to date,which CTLs affect larval susceptibility to Bt in Spodoptera exigua is not clear.In this study,33 CTL genes were identified from S.exigua.Based on the number of carbohydrate-recognition domains(CRDs)and the domain architectures,they were classified into three groups:(1)nineteen CTL-S(single-CRD),(2)eight immulectin(dual-CRD)and(3)six CTL-X(CRD with other domains).RT-qPCR analysis revealed that expression levels of SeCTL-S15,IML-4 and CTL-X6 were upregulated after challenge with Bt and Cry1Ab.Tissue and developmental stage expression analysis showed that only SeCTL-S15 was mainly expressed in the midgut and larva,respectively.Knockdown of SeCTL-S15 significantly increased Bt susceptibility,as indicated by reduced survival and larval weight.These results suggest that CTL-S15 might play a vital role in the low susceptibility of larvae to Bt in S.exigua.Our results provide new insights into CTL function in insects.
Jianqiang BaoYuxuan ChenSuwan JiangRui LiuXi ZhangFangzheng ZhangZhiwei ChenChen LuoHailong Kong
During the boll formation stage,cotton bolls exhibit the lowest expression of Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)insecticidal proteins.Resistance to insects varies notably among different organs,which poses challenges for controlling cotton bollworms.Consequently,an experimental strategy was designed in the 2020-2021 cotton growing season to coordinate the enhancement of protein synthesis and the attenuation of degradation.Two Bt cultivars of Gossypium hirsutum,namely the hybrid Sikang 3 and the conventional Sikang 1,were used as test materials.Three treatments were applied at the peak flowering period:CK(the control),T1(amino acids),and T2(amino acids and EDTA).The results show that,in comparison to the CK group,the Bt protein contents were significantly increased in both cotton bolls and their subtending leaves under the T1 and T2 treatments.The maximum levels of increase observed were 67.5%in cotton bolls and 21.7%in leaves.Moreover,the disparity in Bt protein content between cotton bolls and their subtending leaves notably decreased by 31.2%.Correlation analysis suggested that the primary physiological mechanisms for augmenting Bt protein content involve increased protein synthesis and reduced protein catabolism,which are independent of Bt gene expression levels.Stepwise regression and path analysis revealed that elevating the soluble protein content and transaminase activity,while reducing the catabolic enzyme activities,are instrumental in enhancing the Bt protein content.Consequently,the coordinated application of amino acids and EDTA emerges as a strategy that can improve the overall resistance of Bt cotton and mitigate the spatiotemporal variations in Bt toxin concentrations in both cotton bolls and leaves.
