Bacillus thuringiensis Polypeptides for Broad-Spectrum Insect Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current genetically engineered crops provide limited resistance to a narrow range of insect pests, particularly those from the order Lepidoptera, and there is a need for biopesticides with broader insecticidal activity and improved specificity.
Innovation Solution
Development of nucleic acid molecules encoding insecticidal peptides from novel Bacillus thuringiensis genes, which are used to transform microorganisms and plants to produce pesticidal polypeptides with enhanced activity against a wider range of insect pests, including Lepidopterans, by optimizing codons for expression in host plants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If genetically engineered crops produce pesticidal proteins from Bacillus, then insect resistance is provided, but the range of protected insect pests remains narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single genetic engineering system that can produce multiple different pesticidal proteins from various Bacillus strains. The expression cassette is configured to accommodate different coding sequences, allowing one transformed plant to produce a suite of pesticidal proteins with different specificities, thereby protecting against a broad spectrum of insect pests including Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining multiple pesticidal proteins from different Bacillus strains into a single transgenic plant. This creates a composite pesticidal system where proteins with different modes of action and target specificities work together, providing synergistic protection against diverse insect pests while maintaining a unified genetic engineering approach
2Productivity
If broad-spectrum chemical insecticides are used, then insect pest populations are controlled, but environmental hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing chemical insecticide application systems with a biological system. Instead of externally applying synthetic chemicals, the plant itself produces pesticidal proteins through genetic engineering, substituting a chemical control mechanism with a biological one that is inherently more environmentally friendly while maintaining crop protection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the plant to produce its own pesticidal proteins internally through the expressed coding sequences. The transformed plant autonomously synthesizes the pesticidal proteins needed for protection, eliminating the need for external chemical insecticide applications and reducing environmental hazards associated with chemical pesticide production and application
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidopteran and Coleopteran. Particular embodiments of the disclosure 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.