Investigating Why Luminescence Genes Have Been Evolutionarily Preserved in Photorhabdus luminescens

Authors

Dana Blackburn, Brigham Young University
Dr. Byron J. Adams, Brigham Young University

Keywords

luminescence genes, photohabdus luminescens, Heterorhabditis bacteriophera

College

Life Sciences

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Abstract

Photorhabdus luminescens is a gram-negative bacterial endosymbiont of the insect pathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophera. After the nematode infects an insect it releases bacteria from its gut into the insect. The bacteria then produce a toxin that kills the insect providing a nutrient rich environment for the nematode to grow and reproduce. When all of the nutrients are gone the nematode reassociates itself with the bacteria and moves on to the next insect.

Recommended Citation

Blackburn, Dana and Adams, Dr. Byron J. (2013) "Investigating Why Luminescence Genes Have Been Evolutionarily Preserved in Photorhabdus luminescens," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1250.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1250