Phylogenetic analysis of Bacillus sphaericus and development of an oligonucleotide probe specific for mosquito-pathogenic strains.

The 16S rRNA gene sequences for six strains of Bacillus sphaericus representing five distinct DNA homology groups and one strain of Bacillus fusiformis have been determined. An-oligonucleotide probe based on the area approximately between position 186 and 198 (Escherichia coli numbering) of the 16S rRNA gene of the mosquito pathogen, strain 2362, hybridised to DNA from strains of DNA homology group IIA which contains all known mosquito pathogens and not to any of ten other Bacillus species. It can be used to identify potential mosquito-pathogenic strains of B. sphaericus in screening programmes.