Pseudomonas entomophila L48

P. entomophila is a bacterial strain isolated from a fruit fly from Guadeloupe. Upon ingestion it kills Drosophila melanogaster larvae and adults, as well as insects from other orders. Its persistence in the insect gut triggers a local and systemic immune response in the insect, making it a useful model for insect pathogenesis; indeed it is the first natural pathogen of D.melanogaster known. P. entomophila is unusual in that it does not have a type III or type IV secretion system, one of which is usually found in pathogens. The mode by which it kills is not clear, although the genome encodes several insecticidal toxins, a diffusible haemolytic activity, several lipases, a number of extracellular proteases and potential adhesions which cluster with type I or II secretion system proteins. It may also be able to produce hydrogen cyanide and novel secondary metabolites which could contribute to its lethality. (EBI Integr8)