Summary The entomopathogen B acillus thuringiensis is equipped with multiple virulent factors. The genome sequence of B . thuringiensis YBT 1520 revealed the presence of a two‐domain protein named Nel which is composed of a necrosis‐inducing phytophthora protein 1‐like domain found in phytopathogens and a ricin B ‐like lectin domain. The merging of two distantly related domains is relatively rare. Nel induced necrosis and path...