Total soluble protein profiles of Beauveria bassiana and their relationship with virulence against Helicoverpa armigera

Abstract

Intracellular total soluble proteins of Beauveria bassiana are believed to play an important role in virulence against insect hosts. Thirty B. bassiana isolates collected from different geographical regions and host ranges were characterised by total soluble proteins present in cells, using the SDS–PAGE technique to differentiate the isolates based on virulence and host insect origin. In vitro analysis of total soluble protein profiles of 30 isolates was studied to understand the relationship of isolates with their host of origin and virulence against Helicoverpa armigera. There was a positive relationship between virulence and host origin. All the non-virulent isolates are grouped together. Similarly, highly virulent isolates against H. armigera were grouped together. The relationship between total soluble proteins and pathogenicity was positively correlated. Thirty isolates shared only 22% similarity in their protein profiles.

Keywords:

• Beauveria bassiana
• total soluble proteins profile
• step gradient SDS-PAGE
• Helicoverpa armigera

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Dr R.A. Humber, Curator, ARSEF collection, Ithaca, NY; Dr Kerry O'Donnell, Microbiology Division, Preoria, Illinois, and Indian type culture collection, New Delhi, for providing the cultures of B. bassiana. The authors Ch. Murali Mohan and S. Santosh Kumar are thankful to the management of GITAM University for their support.