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REVIEW article

Front. Trop. Dis
Sec. Tropical Disease Epidemiology and Ecology
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fitd.2024.1416187
This article is part of the Research Topic One Health in Action: Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vector and Pest Management View all 4 articles

Plasmid vector(s) in Bacillus thuringiensis harboring genes for Insect Control pests and for Neglected Infectious Disease in humans

Provisionally accepted
Gloria G. Guerrero-Manriquez Gloria G. Guerrero-Manriquez 1*Juan M. Favela-Hernandez Juan M. Favela-Hernandez 2,3Isaias Balderas-Renteria Isaias Balderas-Renteria 4
  • 1 Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico
  • 2 Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologia Vegetal (IMBIV), Córdoba, Argentina
  • 3 Juárez University of the State of Durango, Durango, Mexico
  • 4 Autonomous University of Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León4, Mexico

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes and eukaryotic cells. Plasmids harbored in bacteria are responsible for the spread of traits such as antibiotic resistance, virulence factors, and the machinery for the horizontal gene transfer e.,g. type IV secretion systems. Remarkably Bt, cryptic plasmids encode and carry genes that, under the host environment, replicate and concomitate with sporulation, producing parasporal crystalline proteins of two major types, Crystalline (Cry) and Cytolytic (Cyt) toxic against different orders of insects such as Lepidopterans, Coleopterans, and Dipterans (Cry proteins, MW 50-130 KDa); Cyt proteins, produced by B. thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti)(MW 27-kDa) are toxic against Dipterans, i.e. Mosquitoes and black flies. The X-ray is tridimensional for both types of toxins was elucidated, formed by three domains, mostly of beta sheets antiparallel (Domain II and Domain III) linked through loops of different lengths. Domain I is a bundle of alpha helices. This structure is characterized by five conserved blocks, implying a conservation in the mode of action. Cyt proteins possess two alpha helices and some beta sheets with a structure similar to the antimicrobial peptides. Indeed, the mode of action proposed is mediated by the toxin-lipid interaction that hypothetically could result in transmembrane ionic channel formation. Several pieces of evidence support the action of both toxins in insects and mammals. The question is to what extent these Bt/Btiplasmid-encoded Cry or Cyt genes can be applied as bioinsecticides individually or in combination with Lysinibacillus sphaericus. The feasibility of being considered a promising and safe biological strategy fo pest crops and vectors borne Neglected Infectious Disease, is an issue pinpointed in the present review.

    Keywords: Plasmids, Cry endotoxins, Cyt2A toxins, Dipterans, mammals cells, Bio insecticides, adjuvants

    Received: 11 Apr 2024; Accepted: 27 Jun 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Guerrero-Manriquez, Favela-Hernandez and Balderas-Renteria. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Gloria G. Guerrero-Manriquez, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Zacatecas, 98000, Zacatecas, Mexico

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