Alkaline extraction of toxin from spores of the mosquito pathogen, Bacillus sphaericus strain 1593

Abstract

Toxin was extracted from spores of the mosquito pathogen Bacillus sphaericus strain 1593 using 0.05 M NaOH. The molecular weight of this toxin was 35 000–54 000. Toxic activity of this extract was resistant to a variety of enzymes including subtilisin, but was degraded by pronase. Antiserum produced to 1593 spore toxin neutralized spore toxin and cytoplasmic toxin activity, but did not react with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis crystal toxin, nor did var. israelensis toxin antiserum react with B. sphaericus toxin. Crystallike parasporal inclusions accompanying the B. sphaericus 1593 spores were removed by NaOH extraction.