Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki

Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Bacillota
Class:	Bacilli
Order:	Bacillales
Family:	Bacillaceae
Genus:	Bacillus
Species:	B. thuringiensis
Subspecies:	B. t. kurstaki
Trinomial name
	Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki; Bulla et al. 1979

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk) is a group of bacteria used as biological control agents against lepidopterans (moths and butterflies). Btk, along with other B. thuringiensis products, is one of the most widely used biological pesticides due to its high specificity; it is effective against lepidopterans, and it has little to no effect on nontarget species. During sporulation, Btk produces a crystal protein that is lethal to lepidopteran larvae.^[2] Once ingested by the insect, the dissolution of the crystal allows the protoxin to be released. The toxin is then activated by the insect gut juice, and it begins to break down the gut.^[3]

Btk is available commercially and is commonly known as "Garden Dust" or "Caterpillar Killer", both of which are produced by Safer Brand. Other Btk-producing companies include Bonide and Monterey.

^ Bulla LAJ, Davidson LI, Kramer KJ, Jones BL. (1979). "Purification of the insecticidal toxin from the parasporal crystal of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki". Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 91 (3): 1123–1130. doi:10.1016/0006-291x(79)91997-1. PMID 526269.
^ Adang, MJ; Staver, MJ; Rocheleau, TA; Leighton, J; Barker, RF; Thompson, DV (1985). "Characterized full-length and truncated plasmid clones of the crystal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73 and their toxicity to Manduca sexta". Gene. 36 (3): 289–300. doi:10.1016/0378-1119(85)90184-2. PMID 3000881.
^ Choma, Christin; Surewicz, Witold; Carey, Paul; Pozsgay, Marianne; Kaplan, Harvey (February 1990). "Secondary structure of the entomocidal toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73". Journal of Protein Chemistry. 9 (1): 87–94. doi:10.1007/BF01024989. PMID 2340079. S2CID 24749422.

[1] Bulla LAJ, Davidson LI, Kramer KJ, Jones BL. (1979). "Purification of the insecticidal toxin from the parasporal crystal of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki". Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 91 (3): 1123–1130. doi:10.1016/0006-291x(79)91997-1. PMID 526269.

[2] Adang, MJ; Staver, MJ; Rocheleau, TA; Leighton, J; Barker, RF; Thompson, DV (1985). "Characterized full-length and truncated plasmid clones of the crystal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73 and their toxicity to Manduca sexta". Gene. 36 (3): 289–300. doi:10.1016/0378-1119(85)90184-2. PMID 3000881.

[3] Choma, Christin; Surewicz, Witold; Carey, Paul; Pozsgay, Marianne; Kaplan, Harvey (February 1990). "Secondary structure of the entomocidal toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73". Journal of Protein Chemistry. 9 (1): 87–94. doi:10.1007/BF01024989. PMID 2340079. S2CID 24749422.

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