Molecular characterization of bmyC gene of the mosquito pupicidal bacteria, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (VCRC B483) and in silico analysis of bacillomycin D synthetase C protein.

A strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (VCRC B483) exhibiting mosquito pupicidal, keratinase and antimicrobial activities was isolated from mangrove forest ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Molecular characterization of the strain showed the presence of lipopeptide encoding bmyC gene. Phylogenetic tree based on protein sequence of this gene exhibited homology with mycosubtilin synthetase of Bacilus atropheus and Iturin synthetase of Bacillus subtilis and B.

Fly ash-based water dispersible powder formulation of var. : Development & laboratory evaluation against mosquito immatures.

Background & Objectives: Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) formulations are presently being used for insect control. In this study, a water dispersible powder (WDP) formulation using fly ash (FA) as a carrier material was developed and studied for its activity against the larval stages of major mosquito vector species.

Evaluation of the mtDNA-COII Region Based Species Specific Assay for Identifying Members of the Anopheles culicifacies Species Complex.

Background: Anopheles culicifacies, a major malarial vector has been recognized as a complex of five sibling species, A, B, C, D and E. These sibling species exhibit varied vectorial capacity, host specificity and susceptibility to malarial parasites/ insecticides. In this study, a PCR assay developed earlier for distinguishing the five individual species was validated on samples of An.