Isolation and Characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis From Various Habitats in Five Locations in the Sudan

Abstract

In a study aiming at the isolation and characterization of
Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) strains from five localities in the Sudan,
biochemical characterization revealed that nine of the 33 isolates
exhibited typical B.t. biochemical characteristics, eleven showed
deviation in only one biochemical trait and 13 showed deviation in two or
more characteristics. Serological characterization of the isolates against
three imported reference B.t. subspecies by agglutination tests showed
that eight of the isolates were positively agglutinated by the anti-kurstaki
serum, three by the anti-israelensis serum and two by the anti-tenebrionis
serum. The remaining 20 isolates were untypable by any of the three
antisera that were used. The use of these isolates as biocontrol agents
against insect pests is discussed.