Novel sBin-IP Insecticidal Proteins for Corn Rootworm Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling corn rootworms, such as chemical pesticides, face challenges including environmental impact, development of resistant insect populations, and difficulty in applying treatments to underground-feeding larvae.
Innovation Solution
Development of novel insecticidal proteins, sBin-IPs, encoded by nucleotide sequences from bacteria in the Orders Shingobacteriales and Rhodobacterales, which are used to create transgenic plants or microorganisms to control coleopteran insect pests like corn rootworms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical pesticides are applied intensively to control corn rootworms, then insect control effectiveness is improved, but environmental burden increases and resistant insect populations develop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of insecticidal compounds by developing novel chemical entities with different molecular architectures from traditional pesticides. This structural parameter change enables effective corn rootworm control while reducing environmental burden and resistance development, as the new chemical parameters differ sufficiently from existing pesticides to avoid cross-resistance and reduce ecological impact.
2Reliability
If chemical pesticides are applied to control underground-feeding larvae, then insect control effectiveness is improved, but application difficulty increases due to larvae feeding location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs seed treatment applications where the novel insecticidal compounds are applied to corn seeds before planting. This preliminary action ensures that the insecticidal activity is present in the soil environment before corn rootworm larvae hatch and begin feeding on roots, effectively controlling underground-feeding larvae without requiring difficult post-emergence applications.
3Reliability
If transgenic plants expressing Cry proteins are used to control corn rootworms, then insect control effectiveness is improved, but coleopteran specific activity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of insecticidal compounds by developing entirely new chemical structures that are not based on Cry proteins. These novel chemical entities exhibit specific activity against coleopteran pests including corn rootworms, thereby expanding adaptability beyond the lepidopteran-specific activity of traditional Cry proteins while maintaining effective insect control.
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions and methods for controlling insect pests are disclosed. In particular, novel insect inhibitory proteins comprising two different components, both of which are required for biological activity against at least coleopteran insect pests are provided. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel insecticidal proteins are also provided. Methods of making the insecticidal proteins and methods of using the insecticidal proteins and nucleic acids encoding the insecticidal proteins of the invention, for example in transgenic plants to confer protection from insect damage, are also disclosed.