Ingestion of Bacillus cereus spores dampens the immune response to favor bacterial persistence

Description

Members of the Bacillus cereus group are spore-forming bacteria commonly associated with foodborne outbreaks. The capacity of these bacteria to form highly resistant dormant entities, called spores, enables them to survive under extreme conditions. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) belongs to the group of B. cereus. Thanks to the toxins (named Cry) Bt produces during sporulation, Bt spores are the most used microbial insecticide to specifically kill lepidopteran larvae, a major pest crop. Here, we were interested in the fate and behavior of Bt and Bc in the intestine of Drosophila and mice (two organisms not targeted by Bt Cry toxins) upon ingestion of spores, as well as the innate immune responses mounted by the host.

Abstract

International audience

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