2021/02/24 by Florence Postollec, Postollec, Florence, Sabine Herbin +13
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Insect Resistance and Genetics #Identification and Quantification in Food #Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
paper · doi:10.15454/5kqe-4413
Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt is an ubiquitous bacteria used in agriculture for crop protection exploiting its insecticidal properties since the 1950s. At a taxonomic level, Bt belongs to the Bacillus cereus group (sensu lato) which also contains strains that may be involved in food quality and safety. While the use of commercial phytosanitary products based on Bt strains is an effective, easy-to-use and low cost treatment for crop protection, the persistence of spores on treated vegetables is not always compatible with food microbiological criteria. The BtID project carried out (1) experimental characterizations on the diversity of B. thuringiensis and the positioning of commercial strains within the B. cereus Group; (2) a review of agricultural practices for the protection of Bt-based plants as well as (3) the development of methodologies and decision-making tools to identify, distinguish and trace the Bt strains authorized at the European level, from field to fork. This collection of commercial strains made it possible to sequence the genome of three distinct strains, which represent the majority of strains used in Bt biopesticides, and to achieve a detailed characterization of the behavior of these highly specialized strains, as well as their occurrence on raw materials (vegetables) and processed food.