Using a DNA Microarray To Investigate the Distribution of Insect Virulence Factors in Strains of <i>Photorhabdus</i> Bacteria

Abstract

Photorhabdus is an insect-pathogenic bacterium in which oral toxicity to insects is found in two distinct taxonomic groups. Using a DNA microarray and comparative genomics, we show that oral toxicity is associated with toxin complex genes tcaABC and that this locus can be mobilized or deleted within different strains.