An Alcaligenes strain emulates Bacillus thuringiensis producing a binary protein that kills corn rootworm through a mechanism similar to Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1.

ABSTRACT: Crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-derived insecticidal protein genes have been commercially available for over 15 years and are providing significant value to growers. However, there remains the need for alternative insecticidal actives due to emerging insect resistance to certain Bt proteins. A screen of bacterial strains led to the discovery of a two-component insecticidal protein named AfIP-1A/1B from an Alcaligenes faecalis strain. This protein shows selectivity against coleopteran insects including western corn rootworm (WCR). Transgenic maize plants expressing AfIP-1A/1B demonstrate strong protection from rootworm injury. Surprisingly, although little sequence similarity exists to known insecticidal proteins, efficacy tests using WCR populations resistant to two different

SUBMITTER: Yalpani N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5465095 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature