Genetic Diversity of Clostridium bifennentans Strains by Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis and Their Toxicity to Mosquito Larvae

Abstract

The genus of Clostndium is phylogenetically closely related to Bacillus, the only genus that generated commercially available bioinsecticides, known as Bt-toxin. The purpose of this study is to examine the presence Bt-like toxin in a number of isolates of Clostndium bifermentans, a clostridial species that has been used for many kind of industrial fermentation. One hundred fifty one clostridial isolates were screened out from various habitats such as : cow's intestine, rumen contents of water buffalo, rumen contents of sheep, river sediments, swamp sediments, lake sediments, mangrove forest floor and milk processing waste. Sixteen isolate were identified as Clostridium bifermentans based on its physiology and biochemical characteristics. These isolates were further characterized employing flourescein antibody technique. Ten isolates out of 16 showed positive flourescence appearance. These C. bfirmentans isolates shows the phenotiic diversity, due to the intensity of it capacity in gelatine hydrolyze.