Biosafety Analysis Of Bacillus Thuringiensis Toxin Using Immunopathological Approach In Balb/C Mice

ABSTRACT

For over 18 years, there has been an increased use of genetically modified foods for both human and livestock and for this reason, there has been a large number of scientific feeding studies carried out to try to find out how safe the GM foods are. The evidence, however, is still far from proving whether long-term consumption of genetically modified foods possess negative effects for human or animal health. This present study was carried out to analyze the safety of Bacillus thuriengiensis (BT) toxin fed to mice. Bacillus thuriengiensis is one of the organisms that has been widely used in transfection. BALB/c mice were used to determine the effect of the toxin on mice growth, weights of internal organs, differential count of white blood cells, plasma proteins concentration, and histopathology of internal organs. Double imunodiffusion test was used to test for immune sensitization to toxin. Weaning male and female mice were fed separately in 4 groups of 10 mice each (n=40).There was one control and three experimental groups. The control group was fed on normal ratio of mice pellets and water adlibitum daily for 90 days. Groups A, B and C mice were fed on 10mg/kg, 30mg/kg and 50mg/kg of Bacillus thuriengiensis (BT) toxin as well as mice pellets and water adlibitum for the same 90 day experimental period. Body weights were recorded for individual mice on weekly basis. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture into EDTA BD vacutainer blood collection tubes. Tissue samples of internal organs were oBtained for histopathological examinations. There were no significant differences on mice body weights (p>0.05) between the Bacillus thuriengiensis (BT) fed and controls, there was a significant difference in the mean weight of spleen (p