Summary:
Researchers at The Ohio State University developed a way to modify Bt Cry4Ba proteins, or mutant toxins, which have toxicity-enhancing sequence modifications at one or more positions within the amino acid sequence of the protein. The invention generally relates to modified Bt insecticidal crystal proteins, also referred to as mutant toxins, with enhanced toxicity against a variety of insect genera, particularly mosquitoes. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding modified Cry4Ba and proteins. Another capability of this invention is the insecticidal compositions comprising mutant toxins with a new or broadened insecticidal spectrum, and insecticidal compositions comprising polynucleotides encoding the modified Cry4Ba proteins. The use of protein engineering and site-directed mutagenesis has generated several-fold improvement of insecticidal crystal protein from Bacillus Thuringiensis. Moreover, since this family of proteins is expressed from a natural enemy of insects, they serve as excellent biological insecticides.
Potential Applications:
- Biological insecticide development
- Human disease management
- Insect genetics
Advantages:
- Efficient control of mosquito vectors carrying the west Nile Virus and malaria.
- Improvement of the insecticidal crystal protein from Bacillus Thuringiensis.
- Toxicity-enhancing sequence modfications at one or more positions within the amino acid sequence of protein.
- Insecticidal compositions comprising mutant toxins with a new insecticidal spectrum.
- Polynucleotides encoding modified Cry4Ba and proteins