Utilization of Bacillus thuringiensis in Genetically Modified Crops

Introduction

Figure 1. Scanning electron micrograph of a colony of Bacillus thuringiensis cells prior to sporulation. http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/1x3740021/bacillus-thuringiensis-bacteria-scanning-electron-micrograph-sem-of-bacillus-thuringiensis-colony-before-sporulation-microscope-magn-3000x-image-width-w-375-um-b-thuringiensis-is-used-as-biological-control-for.jpg

By Zoë Frazier

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Introduce the topic of your paper. What microorganisms are of interest? Habitat? Applications for medicine and/or environment?

Structure and Phylogeny

Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.

History

Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.

Life Cycle

Figure 2. Transition electron micrograph of Bacillus thuringiensis at the final stage of sporulation. The parasporal crystals are indicated using white arrows. These crystals are produced in the fourth through sixth stages of sporulation and are toxic to insects if consumed [9].

Figure 2.

Bt Toxins

Figure 3. Electron micrograph of the crystalline protein toxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis. The insecticidal properties of these proteins were first discovered by Christopher Hannay in 1955. Micrography by Jim Buckman (2006) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis#/media/File:Bt-toxin-crystals.jpg.

Figure 3.

Bt Crops

Figure 4. The overall process of the production and binding of the Cry proteins. The Cry proteins are directly produced by Bt crops that have the Cry gene integrated into its genome. The toxins produced by the Cry proteins bind to the gut receptors of the target organism, resulting in the organism's death [10].

Figure 4.

Ethical Issues Surrounding Bt Crops

Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.

Evolved Resistance and Secondary Pests

Figure 5. The survival of western corn rootworm larvae when exposed to (A) Cry3Bb1 corn, (B) mCry3A corn, and Cry34/35Ab1 corn. The black bars indicate populations of western rootworm larvae that had been collected from cornfields in 2011. The white bars indicate the control group of western rootworm larvae that had been isolated in the NCARL since before 2003 [7].

Figure 5.

Conclusion

Include conclusion

References

[1] Aeschbacher, K., Messikommer, R., Meile, L. & Wenk, C. (2005). Bt176 Corn in Poultry Nutrition: Physiological Characteristics and Fate of Recombinant Plant DNA in Chickens. Poultry Science Association, 84, 385 – 394.

[2] Catarino, R., G. Ceddia, F.J. Areal, and J. Park. (2015). The impact of secondary pests on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 1-12.

[3] Cheeke, T.E., U.M. Schütte, C.M. Hemmerich, M.B. Cruzan, T.N. Rosenstiel, and J.D. Bever. (2015). Spatial soil heterogeneity has a greater effect on symbiotic aburscular mycorrhizal fungal communities and plant growth than genetic modification with Bacillus thuringiensis toxin genes. Molecular Ecology, 1-33.

[4] Cranshaw, W.S. Bacillus thuringiensis: Fact Sheet No. 5.556. Insect Series, Home and Garden. Colorado State Univserity.

[5] de Maagd, R.A. 2015. Chapter 20: Bacillus thuringiensis- Based Products for Insect Pest Control. Principles of Plant-Microbe Interactions. Springer International Switzerland, 2015. 185-192.

[6] Finucane, M.L. & J.L. Holup. (2005). Psychosocial and cultural factors affecting the perceived risk of genetically modified food: an overview of the literature. Social Science & Medicine, 60, 1603 – 1612.

[7] Gassmann, A.J. J.L., Petzold-Maxwell, E.H. Clifton, M.W. Dunbar, A.M. Hoffmann, D.A. Ingber, and R.S. Keweshan. (2014). Field-evolved resistance by western corn rootworm to multiple Bacillus thuringiensis toxins in transgenic maize. PNAS, 111(14), 5141-5146.

[8]Hansen Jesse, L.C. & J.J. Obrlycki. (2000). Field deposition of Bt transgenic corn pollen: lethal effects on the monarch butterfly. Oecologia, 125, 241 – 248.

[9] Ibrahim, M.A., N. Griko, M. Junker, and L.A. Bulla. 2010. Bacillus thuringiensis: A genomic and proteomics perspective. Bioengineered Bugs 1:1, 31-50.

[10] Jurat-Fuentes, J.L. "What Is Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt)?" Bt Mode of Action. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. Web. <http://web.utk.edu/~jurat/Btresearchtable.html>.

[11] Petras, S.F. and L.E. Casida. (1985). Survival of Bacillus thuringiensis Spores in Soil. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 59, 1496 – 1501.

[12] Uzogara, S.G. (2000). The impact of genetic modification of human foods in the 21st century: A review. Biotechnology Advances, 18, 179 – 206.