The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences from Xenorhabdus and, in particular, to genomic DNA sequences, and to the insecticidal Xenorhabdus strain Xs85816. The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules present in non-coding regions as well as nucleic acid molecules that encode proteins, fragments of proteins, tRNA's, fragments of tRNA's, rRNA's and fragments of rRNA's. In addition, proteins and fragments of proteins so encoded and antibodies capable of binding the proteins are encompassed by the present invention. The invention also relates to methods of using the disclosed nucleic acid molecules, proteins, fragments of proteins, RNA's, and antibodies, for example, for gene identification and analysis, and preparation of constructs.