Query: NC_009848:1542978 Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032, complete genome
Lineage: Bacillus pumilus; Bacillus; Bacillaceae; Bacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 was isolated from the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA and produces spores highly resistant to UV radiation. A ubiquitous soil organism. Bacillus pumilus is a naturally occurring, ubiquitous soil microorganism. Commonly found in a variety of food commodities, some strains have developed an increased tolerance to gamma irradiation. This bacterium colonizes the root zone of some plants, where it inhibits soil-borne fungal diseases and nematodes. It is also undergoing evaluation for commercial production of cellulase, an enzyme used for conversion of cellulolytic materials to soluble sugars or solvents.
Subject: NC_008600:3686135 Bacillus thuringiensis str. Al Hakam, complete genome
Lineage: Bacillus thuringiensis; Bacillus; Bacillaceae; Bacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: Produces insect toxin. This organism, also known as BT, is famous for the production of an insecticidal toxin. The bacterium was initially discovered as a pathogen of various insects and was first used as an insecticidal agent in the early part of this century. This organism, like many other Bacilli, is found in the soil, where it leads a saprophytic existence, but becomes an opportunistic pathogen of insects when ingested. The specific activity of the toxin towards insects and its lack of toxicity to animals has made this organism a useful biocontrol agent. The delta-endotoxin, which is produced during the sporulation part of the life cycle, causes midgut paralysis and disruption of feeding by the infected insect host. The delta-endotoxin, which is produced during the sporulation part of the life cycle, causes midgut paralysis and disruption of feeding by the infected insect host. The delta-endotoxin, which is produced during the sporulation part of the life cycle, causes midgut paralysis and disruption of feeding by the infected insect host. The presence of a parasporal crystal, which is outside the exosporium of the endospore, is indicative of production of the toxin, and serves as a marker for this species.Activation of the toxin typically requires a high pH environment such as the alkaline environments in insect midguts followed by proteolysis. Various toxin genes specific for a variety of insects have been studied, and many are now being used in genetically modified plants which have been engineered to produce the toxin themselves, eliminating the need to produce sufficient amounts of B. thuringiensis spores.