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Are nematodes a missing link in the confounded ecology of the entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis?

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 20:39 authored by Lifang Ruan, Neil CrickmoreNeil Crickmore, Donghai Peng, Ming Sun
Bacillus thuringiensis, which is well known as an entomopathogen, has been accepted by the public as a safe bioinsecticide. The natural ecology of this bacterium has never been particularly clear, with views ranging from it being an obligate pathogen to an opportunist pathogen that can otherwise exist as a soil saprophyte or a plant endophyte. This confusion has recently led to it being considered as an environmental pathogen that has evolved to occupy a diverse set of environmental niches in which it can thrive without needing a host. A significant driving force behind this classification is the fact that B. thuringiensis is found in high numbers in environments that are not occupied by the insect hosts to which it is pathogenic. It is our opinion that the ubiquitous presence of this bacterium in the environment is the result of a variety of vectoring systems, particularly those that include nematodes.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Trends in Microbiology

ISSN

0966-842X

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

6

Volume

23

Page range

341-346

Department affiliated with

  • Biochemistry Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-04-29

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