Characterization of Cellular and Molecular Interaction during the Intraspecific Interaction between two sibling colonies of Bacillus thuringeinsis KPW.P1

Saha, Titli (2018) Characterization of Cellular and Molecular Interaction during the Intraspecific Interaction between two sibling colonies of Bacillus thuringeinsis KPW.P1. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

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Abstract

Bacillus thuringeinsis is the widely used as pesticide in agricultural process. Presence of different toxins in Bacillus thuringeinsis make them as a widely recognized bio-insecticide against caterpillars, beetles and flies including mosquitoes and blackflies. It is therefore important to study the survival strategies in Bacillus thuringiensis under different environmental conditions. The present study aims at deciphering the cellular and molecular networks involved in controlling growth and movement of colonies of Bacillus thuringiensis under different environmental conditions. For that, B. thuringiensis KPW.P1 colonies were allowed to grow under different NaCl and Agar concentrations in presence or absence of competing sibling colonies. It was observed that the expression and secretion of Cry proteins (d-endotoxin) is a general survival strategy in KPW.P1 under adverse conditions as higher expression of cry gene and secretion of Cry protein were observed with increased concentrations of NaCl and Agar in semi-solid growth media. Interestingly, higher expression of cry gene was observed in KPW.P1 cells when they were competing (intraspecific competition) as sibling colonies on semi-solid surface. Differential expressions of genes involved in sporulation, chemotaxis, motility and cell division were also observed in KPW.P1 when grown under different conditions. Studies are underway to delineate the roles of the differentially expressed genes for general survival of Bacillus thuringiensis KPW.P1 cells under adverse conditions including interspecific competition between sibling colonies.

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