Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a natural pathogen of different invertebrates, primarily insects, is widely used as a biological control agent. While Bt-based preparations are claimed to be safe for non-target organisms due to the immense host specificity of the bacterium, the growing evidence witnesses the distant consequences of their application for natural communities. For instance, upon introduction to soil habitats, Bt strains can affect indigenous microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, and further establish complex relationships with local plants, ranging from a mostly beneficial demeanor, to pathogenesis-like plant colonization. By exerting a direct effect on target insects, Bt can indirectly affect other organisms in the food chain. Furthermore, they can also exert an off-target activity on various soil and terrestrial invertebrates, and the frequent acquisition of virulence factors unrelated to major insecticidal toxins can extend the Bt host range to vertebrates, including humans. Even in the absence of direct detrimental effects, the exposure to Bt treatment may affect non-target organisms by reducing prey base and its nutritional value, resulting in delayed alleviation of their viability. The immense phenotypic plasticity of Bt strains, coupled with the complexity of ecological relationships they can engage in, indicates that further assessment of future Bt-based pesticides’ safety should consider multiple levels of ecosystem organization and extend to a wide variety of their inhabitants.
Highlights
Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) is a Gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming, and endotoxin-producing bacterium [1], firstly mentioned by Shigetane Ishiwata back in 1902 and described as Bacillus sotto [2]
Key Contribution: This review describes the network of complex relationships of the bacterium
The possible side effects and the ecosystems, on the whole, are articulated infrequently. Because they are comcaused by the introduction of Bt on the non-target organisms and the ecosystems, on plex systems comprising hundreds of different species, ecosystems can be studied at difthe whole, are articulated infrequently
Summary
Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) is a Gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming, and endotoxin-producing bacterium [1], firstly mentioned by Shigetane Ishiwata back in 1902 and described as Bacillus sotto [2]. Smaller moieties comprise nucleosidemimicking β-exotoxins, which inhibit RNA polymerase activity [29], trans-aconitic acid, a potent inhibitor of the tricarboxylic acid cycle [30], and zwittermycin A, an aminopolyol antibiotic [31] The latter ameliorates Bt pathogenicity by debilitating the host’s gut microflora [32], giving way to the thought that other antimicrobial moieties produced by Bt may impact its virulent features [33]. The general safety of the Bt spores and crystals usage, compared with chemical the possible side effects caused by the introduction of Bt on the non-target organisms insecticides, are reviewed in previous papers [51,52]. The possible side effects and the ecosystems, on the whole, are articulated infrequently Because they are comcaused by the introduction of Bt on the non-target organisms and the ecosystems, on plex systems comprising hundreds of different species, ecosystems can be studied at difthe whole, are articulated infrequently.
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