- Photorhabdus luminescens
Taxobox | color = lightgrey
name = "P. luminescens"
image_caption =
regnum =Bacteria
divisio =Proteobacteria
classis =Gammaproteobacteria
ordo =Enterobacteriales
familia =Enterobacteriaceae
genus =Photorhabdus
species =
binomial = "Photorhabdus luminescens"
binomial_authority ="Photorhabdus luminescens" (formally "Xenorhabdus luminescens") is a
Gammaproteobacteria , belonging to the family "Enterobacteriaceae ", and is a symbioticpathogen ofinsect s.It lives in the
gut of anentomopathogenic nematode of the family "Heterorhabditidae ". When the nematode infects an insect, "P. luminescens" is released into the blood stream and rapidly kills the insect host (within 48 hours) by producing toxins such as TcA [http://www.insectscience.org/5.32/] . It also secretesenzyme s which break down the body of the infected insect and bioconvert it intonutrient s which can be utilised by both nematode and bacteria. In this way, both organisms gain enough nutrients to replicate (orreproduce in the case of the nematode) several times. The bacteria enter the nematode progeny as they develop. "P. luminescens" also secretesantibiotic s to protect against competition from other bacteria."P. luminescens" is bioluminescent, however the purpose of this is not yet properly understood. Infection by this bacteria of the wounds of soldiers in the
American Civil War caused thewound s to ; this aided the survival of thesoldier s due to the production of antibiotics by "P. luminescens".References
* Blackburn MB, Domek JM, Gelman DB, Hu JS. 2005. The broadly insecticidal "Photorhabdus luminescens" toxin complex a (Tca): Activity against the Colorado potato beetle, "Leptinotarsa decemlineata", and sweet potato whitefly, "Bemisia tabaci". 11pp. [http://www.insectscience.org/5.32/ Journal of Insect Science 5:32] .
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=9605 NCBI genome project] Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. laumondii TTO1 project at Institut Pasteur
*
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