Genotypic characterization of B. thuringiensis enterotoxins

Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram-positive bacterium commonly used to control vectors of tropical diseases and agricultural pests. Despite its use in both agriculture and human health this bacterium can produce enterotoxins that are also present in some strains of Bacillus cereus notably NHE enterotoxin hemolysin BL and enterotoxin T which have been linked to outbreaks of food poisoning reported in the literature. In view of this the objective of this study was to identify and genotypically characterize these enterotoxins in 100 strains of B. thuringiensis isolated in the state of Amazonas.