Sterilizing Nudivirus Transmission for Resistant Heliothine Pest Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Insect pests, particularly those in the Heliothine complex, have developed resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins, threatening the sustainability of Bt crops, and there is a need for effective pest management methods that do not rely on conventional pesticides or transgenic technologies, especially in organic cropping systems.

Innovation Solution

Development of genetically modified nudiviruses, such as Helicoverpa zea nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2), Heliothis virescens nudivirus (HvNV), and Helicoverpa armigera nudivirus (HaNV), which are sexually transmitted and cause sterility in target insect populations, reducing pest numbers by infecting eggs that are applied to crops and spread through mating, thereby protecting crops from damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If Bt toxins are used to control lepidopteran pests, then pest control effectiveness is improved, but insect resistance develops reducing long-term efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest control effectivenessVSAvoidinsect resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of killing pests directly with Bt toxins, the invention uses sterilizing viruses to prevent pest reproduction. The virus infects the pest and causes sterility, thereby inverting the control mechanism from direct mortality to reproductive prevention, which addresses resistance by using a different mode of action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a viral intermediary (nudivirus or baculovirus) that acts as a mediator between the crop and the pest. The virus is transmitted through the food chain or direct infection, serving as an intermediate agent that controls the pest population without requiring direct application of toxins to the crop

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If conventional pesticides are used to control resistant pests, then pest numbers are reduced, but environmental harm and pesticide resistance increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop protectionVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harm of pest resistance into a benefit by using a virus that specifically targets and sterilizes the resistant pest population. The sterilizing effect transforms the persistent resistant pest problem into a self-limiting population that cannot reproduce, eliminating the need for continuous pesticide applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The viral control agent acts as a temporary, self-limiting intervention rather than a persistent chemical residue. The virus infects and sterilizes the pest population, then its role is complete, leaving no long-term environmental contamination from synthetic pesticides

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If transgenic Bt crops are deployed to control pests, then pest damage is reduced, but resistance to Bt toxins increases over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop damageVSAvoidBt toxin efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the control parameter from toxin mortality to viral sterilization. Instead of relying on Bt toxin lethality which pests can resist, the system uses viral infection parameters that cause sterility, fundamentally changing the mode of action to bypass resistance mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250361493A1Mutant nudivirus insect control

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

AI summary

Disclosed are the H. zea nudivirus sequence, two additional related sequences from H. virescens and H. armigera nudiviruses for development of genetically modified nudiviruses capable of being sexually transmitted by an insect useful for controlling pest populations, methods for preparing egg populations for controlling pest populations and methods for controlling pest populations utilizing such egg populations. Such genetically modified nudiviruses are capable of causing sterility in a target population of insects. Previously disclosed were insects infected with the previously disclosed genetically modified H. zea nudivirus, methods of making genetically modified nudiviruses, and methods of using genetically modified nudiviruses to control an insect pest population.