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A New Strain of Bacillus thuringiensis with Activity Against Coleopteran Insects

Abstract

An isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis has been identified with toxic activity against coleopteran insects but not against lepidopteran or dipteran species. Toxin crystals from this strain contain a polypeptide of approximately 64,000 molecular weight possessing insecticidal activity. This toxin differs in polypeptide composition from other reported Bacillus thuringiensis toxins and does not appear to be processed from a larger precursor form. Insecticidal activity against the Colorado potato beetle and the boll weevil suggests the possibility of commercial applications of this strain.

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Herrnstadt, C., Soares, G., Wilcox, E. et al. A New Strain of Bacillus thuringiensis with Activity Against Coleopteran Insects. Nat Biotechnol 4, 305–308 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0486-305

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