Copyright (c) 2025 Gino Francesco Olivieri , Pedro José Fragoso , Dinary Eloisa Durán Sequeda

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Evaluation of whey as an alternative substrate for Bacillus thuringiensis production
Introduction. Bacillus thuringiensis is a spore-forming Gram-positive bacterium widely studied for its ability to produce protein structures (Cry) with entomopathogenic potential, and is broadly used in sustainable agriculture. Objective. To evaluate the use of whey as an alternative substrate for the production of Bacillus thuringiensis by utilizing agro-industrial residues available at the regional level. Methodology. The physicochemical composition of whey was characterized, and three treatments were formulated: whey without additives (LS), whey with mineral additives (LSA), and deproteinized whey with additives (LSAD). The strain was activated and identified through morphological, biochemical, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analyses. Microbial growth kinetics and the consumption of reducing sugars were determined over a period of 72 hours, in these three treatments. Results. The LS treatment showed the highest cellular yield, reaching 2.78×10⁸ CFU/mL, while the LSA and LSAD treatments exhibited significantly lower growth. Lactose consumption was proportional to biomass increase across treatments. Conclusions. It is concluded that whey without external supplementation constitutes an efficient source of carbon and nitrogen for the growth of B. thuringiensis, supporting its use as a non-conventional, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable culture medium.
