Which microbial larvicide is known for binding to receptor cells present in insects but not mammals?

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) is a microbial larvicide that is specifically effective against the larvae of certain mosquito species and other aquatic insect pests. BTI produces a toxin that binds to specific receptors in the gut cells of these insects. This binding leads to the disruption of the gut lining, causing paralysis and eventually death of the larvae.

One of the key features of BTI is its selectivity; it targets receptors that are present in insect cells but not in mammalian cells. This makes it a highly effective biopesticide for controlling pest populations while posing minimal risk to non-target organisms, such as humans and other mammals. The safety profile of BTI is a significant advantage over chemical pesticides, as it does not persist in the environment and breaks down quickly.

The other options, though they may have their own roles in pest control or other biological processes, do not possess the same specificity or mode of action as BTI when it comes to targeting larval pests. For instance, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus sphaericus are beneficial microbes but are not as widely recognized for their larvicidal properties as BTI. Escherichia coli, while a commonly studied bacterium, does not have