Characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains from Jordan and their toxicity to the Lepidoptera, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller

Abstract

Bacillus thuringiensis was investigated in four different habitats (grain dust, olive-cultivated soils, 
waste and industrial-byproducts contaminated soils, and animal byproducts-contaminated soils). The 
bacterium was highly abundant in soils contaminated with animal byproducts. Eight serotypes with 
Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis being the most common. Out of the twenty-six isolated strains, five 
strains (serotype: kenyae, kurstaki, kurstaki HD1 and thuringiensis) that produced bipyramid crystal 
proteins were toxic to the lepidoptera larvae of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. The SDS-PAGE protein 
profile analysis showed a relationship between the crystal protein shape and the toxicity to the larvae of 
the tested insect.