Bacillus thuringiensis Insecticidal Polypeptides for Broad-Spectrum Pest Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling insect pests in agriculture rely heavily on broad-spectrum chemical insecticides, which pose environmental hazards and have limited effectiveness against a broad range of insect pests, particularly those from the order Lepidoptera, necessitating the development of alternative, more targeted and environmentally friendly solutions.
Innovation Solution
The use of nucleic acid molecules encoding insecticidal peptides from novel Bacillus thuringiensis genes to produce transformed microorganisms and plants that express pesticidal polypeptides, providing enhanced insecticidal activity against a wider range of insect pests, including those from the order Lepidoptera, through optimized codon usage and mutagenesis for improved expression and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If broad-spectrum chemical insecticides are used to control insect pests, then insect pest populations are reduced, but environmental hazards increase and target specificity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes specific insecticidal protein genes (Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab, Cry1Ac) from Bacillus thuringiensis to create genetically engineered crops that produce targeted pesticidal proteins. This replaces broad-spectrum chemical insecticides with specific biological agents that control only target pest species, eliminating environmental hazards associated with chemical pesticides while maintaining effective pest control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces Bacillus thuringiensis pesticidal proteins as an intermediary substance between the plant and insect pest. These proteins serve as a selective mediator that specifically targets and kills certain insect species (such as Lepidoptera and Diptera) while leaving other organisms unaffected, thereby providing target-specific pest control without the environmental damage caused by broad-spectrum chemicals
2Object-affected harmful factors
If Bacillus thuringiensis pesticidal proteins are used to provide target specificity, then environmental safety improves, but the range of insect pests controlled remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple Bacillus thuringiensis pesticidal protein genes (Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab, Cry1Ac) into single genetically engineered crop plants. By combining these different toxin variants that target different insect species and life stages, the invention achieves broad-spectrum pest control within the biological pesticide category, maintaining environmental safety while expanding the range of controlled pests to include various Lepidoptera, Diptera, and other insect orders
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universally effective pest control solutions by engineering crops to produce multiple pesticidal protein variants simultaneously. These multi-functional proteins provide protection against diverse insect pests including corn borers, armyworms, cutworms, and other agricultural pests across different taxonomic groups, making the biopesticide approach as versatile as chemical insecticides while maintaining environmental safety
3Productivity
If existing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins are used in genetically engineered crops, then commercial success is achieved, but resistance development by target pests occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pest control function into multiple distinct pesticidal protein variants (Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab, Cry1Ac) with different modes of action and target specificities. By dividing the single-toxin approach into multiple toxin variants, the invention delays resistance development because pests must simultaneously develop resistance to multiple different proteins, thereby maintaining long-term commercial effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite pesticidal systems by combining multiple Bacillus thuringiensis toxin variants within single genetically engineered crops. This composite approach integrates different protein structures and mechanisms of action, making it significantly harder for pest populations to develop resistance compared to single-toxin systems, thus preserving productivity and commercial success over time
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The approach enables the production of transgenic plants and microorganisms that effectively control insect pests with enhanced pesticidal activity, reducing the need for chemical insecticides and offering improved environmental sustainability and economic benefits.
Implementation Method 1
optimized codon usage and mutagenesis for improved expression and stability
Implementation Method 2
optimized codon usage and mutagenesis for improved expression and stability
Implementation Method 3
The protoxin is proteolytically activated in the alkaline environment of the insect midgut to form a toxic pore-forming protein
Implementation Method 4
The protoxin is proteolytically activated in the alkaline environment of the insect midgut to form a toxic pore-forming protein
Implementation Method 5
forming pores in the membrane of midgut epithelial cells of susceptible insects
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.