CHARACTERIZATION OF A BACILLUS-THURINGIENSIS STRAIN WHICH IS TOXIC TOTHE HOUSEFLY MUSCA-DOMESTICA

A Bacillus thuringiensis isolate has been discovered which is toxic to the common housefly (Musca domestica) as well as other Diptera and Le pidoptera. Crystal delta-endotoxins purified from this isolate killed 50% of Musca larvae at a concentration of 10.2 mu g/ml, and beta-exoto xin was not detected. Sodium dodecyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresi s of the purified crystals revealed three protein species which were r elated to CryIA(b), CryIB and CryIIA toxins on the basis of immunoreac tivity and amino-terminal sequence determination. Southern blot and DN A restriction analyses suggested that the strain has sequences related to one cyvIA(b), one cryIIA, and two cryIIB genes.