DIG-10 Cry Toxins for Resistant Western Corn Rootworm Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Cry proteins used in transgenic corn for Western corn rootworm control are not fully effective in preventing adult emergence and are threatened by the development of resistant insect populations, necessitating the discovery of new high-potency Cry proteins to maintain long-term durability and efficacy.
Innovation Solution
Development of the DIG-10 toxin and its variants, which can be used alone or in combination with other Cry toxins, expressed in transgenic plants or used with RNAi methodologies to control resistant Coleopteran insect populations, including the Western corn rootworm, by targeting specific genes essential for insect development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If currently deployed Cry proteins are used in transgenic corn, then robust protection against WCR root damage is achieved, but complete larval insect control is not attained and adult emergence occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple Cry proteins (Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1) with different modes of action into a single transgenic corn variety. This merging approach ensures that larvae exposed to the toxin mixture are less likely to develop resistance, while maintaining robust protection against root damage and achieving more complete larval control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite toxin formulations containing multiple Cry proteins with distinct mechanisms of action. These composite materials target different receptor classes in the insect midgut, providing enhanced efficacy and preventing resistance development while maintaining reliable protection against root damage.
2Reliability
If currently deployed Cry proteins are used in transgenic corn, then grain yield is protected, but resistant insect populations develop threatening long-term durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic toxin combinations where multiple Cry proteins with different modes of action are expressed simultaneously in transgenic corn. This dynamic approach adapts to resistance development by providing multiple targeting mechanisms, ensuring long-term durability and continued grain yield protection even as insect populations evolve.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of toxin diversity by introducing multiple Cry proteins with different receptor specificities and modes of action. This parameter change prevents resistance development by making it genetically improbable for insects to develop simultaneous resistance to multiple distinct toxin mechanisms, thereby extending long-term durability.
3Reliability
If multiple Cry proteins with different modes of action are produced in combination, then development of WCR insect resistance is prevented, but toxin production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses universal promoter elements and standardized genetic constructs that can drive the expression of multiple different Cry proteins in transgenic corn. This multi-functional approach allows the same genetic machinery to produce diverse toxins with different modes of action, simplifying the overall production system while maintaining resistance prevention capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
DIG-10 Cry toxins, polynucleotides encoding such toxins, use of such toxins to control pests, and transgenic plants that produce such toxins are disclosed.