Genomic characterization and pathogenic mechanisms of 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 WGPSB-2 from the Himalayan region. To gain insights into the genetic characteristics and potential mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of WGPSB-2, we performed genomic analysis of 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 , a total of 37 genes predicted to encode peptide synthetases. Among these, five core biosynthetic gene clusters including , , , , and 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 .