Phenotypic and Morphometric Characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis Parasporin-1 Producers: A Comparison with Insecticidal Cry-rotein Producers

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This study determined phenotypic and morphometric characteristics of the 8 Bacillus thuringiensis strains producing parasporin-1 (PS1), anti-cancer Cry proteins, for comparison with B. thuringiensis insecticidal Cry-protein producers. Aspect ratios of the spores of PS1 producers were significantly smaller than those of the insecticidal Cry-protein producers. Motility was not associated with the PS1 producers. The API tests revealed that all of the eight PS1 producers fall into the Bacillus cereus group. They proved hemolysis-negative on sheep blood agar, and resistant to ampicillin but susceptible to bacitracin. The gene atxA encoding the anthrax toxin was not detected in PS1 producers and insecticidal Cry-protein producers. All of the PS1 producers contained the SG-749 fragment, a DNA marker specific for the B. cereus group. Overall results showed that the eight PS1 producers can be allocated to the B. cereus group. However, they differed in several classic key characters from the known subgroups existing in the B. cereus group, including Bacillus anthracis.