The insect pest protection protein called Bt deployed in many genetically manipulated crops is hitting the news again.
Since Marcel Kuntz’ posting on the alleged detection of this protein Bt (variety Cry1Ab) in tissues of women, including pregnant women, as claimed by Aziz Aris and Samuel Leblanc, discussion of the Aris-Leblanc scientific paper making this claim has been gaining much print-media and Internet blogger attention.
Besides doubts about whether there is any validity in the Bt detection method used to claim presence of this protein in women’s blood and umbilical tissues, as well discussed by Marcel Kuntz, the Aris-Leblanc paper raises a largely unanswered question of what are the sources of exposure to Bt proteins in the human diet?
It turns out that there are plenty of other sources of dietary Bt protein in addition to genetically modified crops modified to contain the protein. It is present in biopesticides used by organic farmers.
One view about this is that the Bt bacteria as a bioinsecticide by organic farmers couldn’t be a realistic source of exposure of humans to Bt protein because the protein is unstable.
The Bt protein may in fact be unstable, but the naturally occurring bacteria that manufacture it and which are alive in the biopesticides sprayed by organic farmers are definitely not unstable. They exist as long lasting highly persistent spores in addition being able to proliferate vegetatively. Effectively they can persist hundreds of years. And in contrast to plant material containing GM-Bt, they can actively proliferate in food. Very often human diets contain these bacteria or their close relatives, and presence of Bt proteins in human bodily tissues might well be caused by exposure to these widespread non-GM sources of bacterial insecticide protein.
For example these bacteria have been found in milk samples, ice-cream, peach-juice and green-tea beverages.
Thanks to correspondent Stefan Rauschen of Aachen for reminding the Pundit of these facts of life about dietary Bt exposure. Some selected scientific literature documenting this, kindly provided by Stefan, are appended below.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 May;72(5):3435-40. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16672488)
Occurrence of natural Bacillus thuringiensis contaminants and residues of Bacillus thuringiensis-based insecticides on fresh fruits and vegetables.
Frederiksen K, Rosenquist H, Jørgensen K, Wilcks A.
A total of 128 Bacillus cereus-like strains isolated from fresh fruits and vegetables for sale in retail shops in Denmark were characterized. Of these strains, 39% (50/128) were classified as Bacillus thuringiensis on the basis of their content of cry genes determined by PCR or crystal proteins visualized by microscopy. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and plasmid profiling indicated that 23 of the 50 B. thuringiensis strains were of the same subtype as B. thuringiensis strains used as commercial bioinsecticides. Fourteen isolates were indistinguishable from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD1 present in the products Dipel, Biobit, and Foray, and nine isolates grouped with B. thuringiensis subsp. aizawai present in Turex. The commercial strains were primarily isolated from samples of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. A multiplex PCR method was developed to simultaneously detect all three genes in the enterotoxin hemolysin BL (HBL) and the nonhemolytic enterotoxin (NHE), respectively. This revealed that the frequency of these enterotoxin genes was higher among the strains indistinguishable from the commercial strains than among the other B. thuringiensis and B. cereus-like strains isolated from fruits and vegetables. The same was seen for a third enterotoxin, CytK. In conclusion, the present study strongly indicates that residues of B. thuringiensis-based insecticides can be found on fresh fruits and vegetables and that these are potentially enterotoxigenic.
Int J Food Microbiol. 2008 Sep 30;127(1-2):68-72. Epub 2008 Jun 12. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18620771)
The residual occurrences of Bacillus thuringiensis biopesticides in food and beverages.
Zhou G, Yan J, Dasheng Z, Zhou X, Yuan Z.
In 2006, 54 pasteurized full fat milk samples, 40 ice-cream samples, and two green-tea beverage samples were analyzed and a total of 19 Bacillus thuringiensis-like strains were isolated, nine from seven pasteurized milks, one from an ice-cream with peach pulp and juice, and nine from two green-tea beverages. These strains were classified as B. thuringiensis, contained the cry1A gene and produced crystal inclusions during sporulation. All strains were characterized by a serotyping test, SDS-PAGE, random amplified polymorphic DNA, and enterotoxic gene PCR analysis. Most isolates produced bipyramidal crystals and belonged to serotypes H3a3b, H5a5b, or H7. Furthermore, two strains from pasteurized full fat milks and three strains from green-tea beverages were indistinguishable from the B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strains isolated from commercial biopesticides (Kaiyan, Qiangdi, Lvpuan and Sutai), suggesting the residual occurrences of B. thuringiensis from biopesticides in food and beverages.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2001 Mar;67(3):1035-43. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11229889)
Identification of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain HD1-Like bacteria from environmental and human samples after aerial spraying of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, with Foray 48B.
Valadares De Amorim G, Whittome B, Shore B, Levin DB.
Aerial applications of Foray 48B, which contains Bacillus thuringiensis strain HD1, were carried out on 9 to 10 May, 19 to 21 May, and 8 to 9 June 1999 to control European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) populations in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. A major assessment of the health impact of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki was conducted by the Office of the Medical Health Officer of the Capital Health Region during this period. Environmental (air and water) and human (nasal swab) samples, collected before and after aerial applications of Foray 48B, both in the spray zone and outside of the spray zone, were analyzed for the presence of strain HD1-like bacteria. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, cry gene-specific PCR, and dot blot DNA hybridization techniques were used to screen over 11,000 isolates of bacteria. We identified bacteria with genetic patterns consistent with those of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD1 in 9,102 of 10,659 (85.4%) isolates obtained from the air samples, 13 of 440 (2.9%) isolates obtained from the water samples, and 131 of 171 (76.6%) isolates from the nasal swab samples. These analyses suggest that B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD1-like bacteria were present both in the environment and in the human population of Victoria prior to aerial applications of Foray 48B. The presence of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD1-like bacteria in human nasal passages increased significantly after the application of Foray 48B, both inside and outside the spray zone.
Biofortified 
It is the matter of a serious concern if such enterotoxigenic residues are being reported on to the edibles. We want to know more on the level of residues and how much harmful is to the consumers. if the toxicity is almost alike to those of chemical Pesticides then how “ORGANIC FARMING” is optionally good for healthy food and lives, where so many entomopathogenic fungi are being applied to control various insects and pests. In this situation almost all the Organic Agriculture Produces Must have some residues of these so called bio-pesticides on the eatables.
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It really isn’t.
Which is sort of the point.
Bt proteins aren’t scary. Unless you’re a lepidopteran or coleopteran (or a target species of one of the various Bt proteins – given that humans ain’t) – the message here shouldn’t be “ooh look, Organics are bad, don’t eat ’em” but more “oh look, the arguement that Bt toxins in food is a bad thing is facile and stupid”
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The perception issue is a good point. It sounds really scary to many people to hear that vegetables (and sea water and about everything else) is completely filled with viruses – but the viruses in question are irrelevant to human health. We just normally only hear about viruses when they’re human infecting ones – so the idea that there are “viruses” in our food and environment sounds a lot scarier than it is.
All our food is grown in the real world where there are bacteria, hence all food is filled with bacteria and bacterial toxins.
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One thing to be concerned about is that organic farmers spray living Bt bacteria. Bacillus thuringiensis is related to B. anthracis (anthrax).
Bt crops express only the protein.
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All the chemical pesticides available into the market are also manufactured to target the Insects and Pests (Including lepidopteran & Coleopteran)only but, they are killing other living organisms including human being!! in various ways. Is Bt toxin has been tested on Man/Animal/Birds/even other friendly insects for its toxicity? if no then how one can assure that it will have no any toxic effects on the living organisms other that lepidopteran and coleopteran!! moreover the bacterial residues on the eatable if ingested is there no any possibility of further colonization in anywhere in the elementary canal?? these points must be answered before being bias to advocating use of all these biologicals!!
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Target specificity for chemical (or manufactured I guess, although even that’s a bad way of putting it (as Bt for organic spray is manufactured by any definition that isn’t silly) – I’ll assume folk know what I mean!) pesticides is, I believe, less optimal than the target specificity that has been described in the literature for Bt toxins.
Extensively.
Why does it matter? The bacterium is not harmful to humans, neither in its full form nor simply the toxins it produces.
Also given that your ‘nym links directly to a website which quite clearly advocates the use of biologicals one wonders why you’ve decided to shoot yourself in the foot on this one?
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Hundreds of billions of meals worldwide made from GM crops and eaten, and not a rash or a sniffle. Developing a test more comprehensive than that would be difficult to implement.
And assuming the test results of Bt in pregnant women and babies are real, there’s a take-home message: no indication that these persons were in any way unhealthy.
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—so the idea that there are “viruses” in our food and environment sounds a lot scarier than it is.
Ofcourse the microbes are target specific for its pathogenicity and there are numbers of microbe in our body parts but all are not harmful but few are beneficial. But here the issue is (1) The produce of Bt crops where the residue of Toxic Protein exist in significant quantity (?) shall harm the consumer or not? Is there any Tolerant Limit for this Enterotoxin? In my opinion it will be it is the matter of concern and no statement should come in hurried way!!
(2). Likewise If entomopathogenic microbes are available on the food materials, at what extent they are safe to ingest with edibles?
Here we must not Guess!! only on the serious issue but should present with facts only.
“wonders why you’ve decided to shoot yourself in the foot on this one?”
Although we are in the business of Biological! and promote for Healthy Environment & Healthy Foods but at the same time we must be aware and discuss on the all possible pros and cons instead of being a Blind Supporter for any concept.
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Shukla,
The answer to (1): The Bt protein is thoroughly tested for safety as far as human risks are concerned.
The answer to (2): No human harm has been associated with B. thuringiensis bacteria, even though they occur in foods.
The interesting issue here is that users of the biological pest control based on living Bt bacteria biopesticide are speculating about harm caused by presence of the Bt protein in GM crops. They are shooting themselves in the foot by speculating about harm from a product they use themselves, and release in the environment as a persistent proliferating organism that cannot be recalled. It is very odd to do this.
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