Athiya Ebrahim
Meet Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), the ultimate insect assassin and my adopted bacterium! π¦
This incredible bacterium is Mother Natureβs very own pesticide.
I chose this bacterium because even though it may be tiny, it is extremely powerful! πͺ
Enjoy this little biography of my small superhero.
Mini-but-Mighty! π
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is found in many environments, including soil, plant surfaces and insect habitats. Bt plays a crucial role in regulating insect populations and maintaining the ecological balance in these areas.
Scientific Name: Bacillus thuringiensis
Common Name: Bt
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Bacillota
Class: Bacilli
Order: Caryophanales
Family: Bacillaceae
Genus: Bacillus
Species: thuringiensis
https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/798570/view/bacillus-thuringiensis-soil-bacterium-sem
Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium. It is approximately 1.0β1.2 ΞΌm in width and 3.0β5.0 ΞΌm in length. Bt is motile due to its flagella and it is capable of forming endospores. This allows them to thrive in a variety of habitats. In nature, Bt has been reported being present in all continents!
The metabolism of Bacillus thuringiensis includes carbon metabolism, amino acid metabolism and energy production. These metabolic processes are involved in the formation of spores and insecticidal crystals.
Bacillus thuringiensis plays an important role in controlling insect populations by producing Ξ΄-endotoxins, particularly Cry proteins. These proteins, in the form of spores, are toxic to specific insect larvae. The spores damage the gut of insect larvae after the larvae eat them. This insecticidal property of Bt makes it an important agent in reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides.
This video explains the ecological importance of using Bacillus thuringiensis as a biopesticide.
Bacillus thuringiensis is used globally as a biopesticide in organic farming. It allows for pests to be managed without harming beneficial insects, or the environment. Bt is applied to crops to control pests like caterpillars, beetles and mosquitoes. This is beneficial to both environmental health and human health since the need to use chemicals as pesticides is reduced.
The genes that produce Bacillus thuringiensis toxins have been incorporated into crops, such as corn and cotton, to allow the crops to become resistant to pests. This genetic modification reduces crop damage caused by pests and decreases the need for chemical pesticides.
The process of creating genetically modified crops is explained in the video.
If target insect populations are continuously exposed to Bacillus thuringiensis toxins, it could possibly lead to the insects developing resistance. Pest management strategies should be put in place in order to minimise the risk of this resistance developing within pest populations.
