Transfer and expression of the cryIVB and cryIVD genes of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis in Bacillus sphaericus 2297

Abstract

The genes encoding the CryIVB and CryIVD crystal polypeptides of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis were cloned indepently on a stable shuttle vector, and transfered into B. sphaericus 2297. Recombinant cells expressed the B. thuringiensis toxins during sporulation and were shown to be toxic to Aedes aegypti fourth instar larvae, whereas the parental strain was not.