Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensis

Autores
Sauka, Diego Hernan; Palma, Leopoldo
Año de publicación
2026
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
For over a century, Bacillus thuringiensis has been regarded as the primary microbial source of pesticidal proteins used in agriculture and vector control. Its defining phenotype, the production of parasporal crystals composed mainly of Cry and Cyt proteins, has shaped both scientific understanding and regulatory frameworks. However, advances in whole genome sequencing reveal that pesticidal traits are not restricted to a single species but are distributed across members of the Bacillus cereus group. This distribution is largely driven by the mobility of toxin-associated genetic elements across closely related genomic backgrounds. Here, we propose that this observation reflects a broader, dynamic, and largely unexplored functional diversity. Using the emerging case of Bacillus toyonensis biovar Thuringiensis, we argue that the current species centered paradigm may be limiting the discovery of novel pesticidal diversity and propose a shift toward a function centered framework in microbial biocontrol. We suggest that embracing this perspective will not only refine our understanding of microbial evolution but also open new avenues for the development of sustainable, next generation biopesticides. Furthermore, it may facilitate the systematic discovery of previously overlooked pesticidal diversity hidden within historical microbial collections.
Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMYZA)
Fil: Sauka, Diego Herman. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMyZA); Argentina
Fil: Sauka, Diego Herman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Palma, Leopoldo. Universitat de València. Departamento de Genética. Instituto BIOTECMED. Laboratorio de Control Biotecnológico de Plagas; España
Fuente
Sustainable Microbiology 3 (3) : qvag029n (Julio 2026)
Materia
Biological Control
Microbiology
Pest Control
Biotechnology
Food Production
Control Biológico
Microbiología
Control de Plagas
Producción Alimentaria
Biotecnología
Bacillus cereus
Bacillus thuringiensis
Bacillus toyonensis
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27782
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oai_identifier_str oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27782
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spelling Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensisSauka, Diego HernanPalma, LeopoldoBiological ControlMicrobiologyPest ControlBiotechnologyFood ProductionControl BiológicoMicrobiologíaControl de PlagasProducción AlimentariaBiotecnologíaBacillus cereusBacillus thuringiensisBacillus toyonensisFor over a century, Bacillus thuringiensis has been regarded as the primary microbial source of pesticidal proteins used in agriculture and vector control. Its defining phenotype, the production of parasporal crystals composed mainly of Cry and Cyt proteins, has shaped both scientific understanding and regulatory frameworks. However, advances in whole genome sequencing reveal that pesticidal traits are not restricted to a single species but are distributed across members of the Bacillus cereus group. This distribution is largely driven by the mobility of toxin-associated genetic elements across closely related genomic backgrounds. Here, we propose that this observation reflects a broader, dynamic, and largely unexplored functional diversity. Using the emerging case of Bacillus toyonensis biovar Thuringiensis, we argue that the current species centered paradigm may be limiting the discovery of novel pesticidal diversity and propose a shift toward a function centered framework in microbial biocontrol. We suggest that embracing this perspective will not only refine our understanding of microbial evolution but also open new avenues for the development of sustainable, next generation biopesticides. Furthermore, it may facilitate the systematic discovery of previously overlooked pesticidal diversity hidden within historical microbial collections.Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMYZA)Fil: Sauka, Diego Herman. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMyZA); ArgentinaFil: Sauka, Diego Herman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Palma, Leopoldo. Universitat de València. Departamento de Genética. Instituto BIOTECMED. Laboratorio de Control Biotecnológico de Plagas; EspañaOxford University Press2026-09-14T15:18:38Z2026-09-14T15:18:38Z2026-07-22info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27782https://academic.oup.com/sumbio/article/3/3/qvag029/87398092755-1970https://doi.org/10.1093/sumbio/qvag029Sustainable Microbiology 3 (3) : qvag029n (Julio 2026)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PE-L04-I073, Desarrollo de bioinsumos y su integración en estrategias de manejo de adversidades bióticas y abióticas en cultivos agrícolas y forestalesinfo:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PD-L01-I087, Caracterización de la diversidad genética de plantas, animales y microorganismos mediante herramientas de genómica aplicada.info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PD-L06-I116, Implementación de tecnologías y nuevas estrategias preventivas y terapéuticas para el desarrollo sustentable y eficiente de la producción animal en el marco de Una Saludinfo:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2019-RIST-E6-I112-001, Red de Recursos Genéticos info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2026-09-24T11:43:47Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/27782instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2026-09-24 11:43:48.249INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensis
title Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensis
spellingShingle Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensis
Sauka, Diego Hernan
Biological Control
Microbiology
Pest Control
Biotechnology
Food Production
Control Biológico
Microbiología
Control de Plagas
Producción Alimentaria
Biotecnología
Bacillus cereus
Bacillus thuringiensis
Bacillus toyonensis
title_short Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensis
title_full Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensis
title_fullStr Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensis
title_full_unstemmed Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensis
title_sort Hidden pesticidal diversity within the Bacillus cereus group: expanding the concept beyond Bacillus thuringiensis
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Sauka, Diego Hernan
Palma, Leopoldo
author Sauka, Diego Hernan
author_facet Sauka, Diego Hernan
Palma, Leopoldo
author_role author
author2 Palma, Leopoldo
author2_role author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Biological Control
Microbiology
Pest Control
Biotechnology
Food Production
Control Biológico
Microbiología
Control de Plagas
Producción Alimentaria
Biotecnología
Bacillus cereus
Bacillus thuringiensis
Bacillus toyonensis
topic Biological Control
Microbiology
Pest Control
Biotechnology
Food Production
Control Biológico
Microbiología
Control de Plagas
Producción Alimentaria
Biotecnología
Bacillus cereus
Bacillus thuringiensis
Bacillus toyonensis
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv For over a century, Bacillus thuringiensis has been regarded as the primary microbial source of pesticidal proteins used in agriculture and vector control. Its defining phenotype, the production of parasporal crystals composed mainly of Cry and Cyt proteins, has shaped both scientific understanding and regulatory frameworks. However, advances in whole genome sequencing reveal that pesticidal traits are not restricted to a single species but are distributed across members of the Bacillus cereus group. This distribution is largely driven by the mobility of toxin-associated genetic elements across closely related genomic backgrounds. Here, we propose that this observation reflects a broader, dynamic, and largely unexplored functional diversity. Using the emerging case of Bacillus toyonensis biovar Thuringiensis, we argue that the current species centered paradigm may be limiting the discovery of novel pesticidal diversity and propose a shift toward a function centered framework in microbial biocontrol. We suggest that embracing this perspective will not only refine our understanding of microbial evolution but also open new avenues for the development of sustainable, next generation biopesticides. Furthermore, it may facilitate the systematic discovery of previously overlooked pesticidal diversity hidden within historical microbial collections.
Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMYZA)
Fil: Sauka, Diego Herman. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola (IMyZA); Argentina
Fil: Sauka, Diego Herman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Palma, Leopoldo. Universitat de València. Departamento de Genética. Instituto BIOTECMED. Laboratorio de Control Biotecnológico de Plagas; España
description For over a century, Bacillus thuringiensis has been regarded as the primary microbial source of pesticidal proteins used in agriculture and vector control. Its defining phenotype, the production of parasporal crystals composed mainly of Cry and Cyt proteins, has shaped both scientific understanding and regulatory frameworks. However, advances in whole genome sequencing reveal that pesticidal traits are not restricted to a single species but are distributed across members of the Bacillus cereus group. This distribution is largely driven by the mobility of toxin-associated genetic elements across closely related genomic backgrounds. Here, we propose that this observation reflects a broader, dynamic, and largely unexplored functional diversity. Using the emerging case of Bacillus toyonensis biovar Thuringiensis, we argue that the current species centered paradigm may be limiting the discovery of novel pesticidal diversity and propose a shift toward a function centered framework in microbial biocontrol. We suggest that embracing this perspective will not only refine our understanding of microbial evolution but also open new avenues for the development of sustainable, next generation biopesticides. Furthermore, it may facilitate the systematic discovery of previously overlooked pesticidal diversity hidden within historical microbial collections.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-09-14T15:18:38Z
2026-09-14T15:18:38Z
2026-07-22
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27782
https://academic.oup.com/sumbio/article/3/3/qvag029/8739809
2755-1970
https://doi.org/10.1093/sumbio/qvag029
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27782
https://academic.oup.com/sumbio/article/3/3/qvag029/8739809
https://doi.org/10.1093/sumbio/qvag029
identifier_str_mv 2755-1970
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PE-L04-I073, Desarrollo de bioinsumos y su integración en estrategias de manejo de adversidades bióticas y abióticas en cultivos agrícolas y forestales
info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PD-L01-I087, Caracterización de la diversidad genética de plantas, animales y microorganismos mediante herramientas de genómica aplicada.
info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PD-L06-I116, Implementación de tecnologías y nuevas estrategias preventivas y terapéuticas para el desarrollo sustentable y eficiente de la producción animal en el marco de Una Salud
info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2019-RIST-E6-I112-001, Red de Recursos Genéticos 
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Oxford University Press
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Oxford University Press
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Sustainable Microbiology 3 (3) : qvag029n (Julio 2026)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
collection INTA Digital (INTA)
instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
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score 13.265058

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