Flagellin as a Biomarker for Bacillus subtilis Strains; Application to the DB9011 Strain and the Study of Interspecific Diversity in Amino-acid Sequences

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the flagellin central domain coding region (FCD-PCR) was applied to the detection and discrimination of Bacillus subtilis DB9011, a strain with useful functions in agriculture. Cross-reactions were observed in 4 B. subtilis strains with similar flagellin genes (hag). Alignment of partial amino-acid sequences of flagellin and the results of PCR for the 16S/23S rRNA spacer in 11 B. subtilis strains suggested the presence of a group including strains with antifungal activity (DB9011 and others).