ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the present status of knowledge on the physiology and biochemistry of Xenorhabdus, focusing on growth and secondary metabolite production of this unique bacterial group. It focuses on several different secondary metabolites or activities, including bioluminescence, antibiotics, pigments, extracellular enzymes, and intracellular crystalline inclusions. The entomopathogenic nematode/bacterial system has attracted much recent interest with regard to its use in the control of insect pests. Antibiotic production appears to be an essential feature of the Xenorhabdus infective process. Xenorhabdus species are notoriously proteolytic, a property to be expected from organisms growing in a protein-rich environment such as insect hemolymph. Genetic approaches may prove particularly valuable for understanding the distribution and role of proteases in Xenorhabdus. Lipase activity is commonly determined by the observation of hydrolysis of Tween 80 on agar plates, and while phase one Xenorhabdus isolates tend to be very lipolytic there are no reports of purification or characterization of any lipases.
