Genomic Characterization and Pathogenic Mechanisms of Bacillus cereus WGPSB-2 Isolated from the Himalayas

The utilization of microbial agents for the management of white grub has been a long-standing practice in biocontrol. In a previous study, we isolated entomopathogenic bacteria Bacillus cereus WGPSB-2 from the Himalayan region. To gain insights into the genetic characteristics and potential mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of B. cereus WGPSB-2, we performed genomic analysis of B. cereus WGPSB-2. The genome has 9 contigs with a total length of 4.98 megabases, GC content of 35 %, 4506 protein-coding genes, 55 tRNA, and 30 rRNA. In the genome of B. cereus, a total of 37 genes predicted to encode peptide synthetases. Among these, five core biosynthetic gene clusters including bpsA, bpsB, bpsC, bpsD, and dpgA have been predicted. The results revealed that the WGPSB-2 strain possesses several genetic attributes associated with insect pathogenicity, including the presence of toxin-encoding genes and genes involved in entomopathogenicity. Comparative analysis with other entomopathogenic bacterial strain revealed high degree of genetic similarity, suggesting that the WGPSB-2 is closely related to other insect pathogenic strains. The findings may inform the development of novel strategies for pest management and provide a foundation for future studies on the genetic diversity and evolution of insect pathogenicity in B. cereus.