Transgenic Plants with Multi-Protein Constructs for Broad Pest Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current genetically engineered crops provide limited resistance to insect pests, particularly those in the orders Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, and there is a need for biopesticides with improved insecticidal activity and broader spectrum efficacy.

Innovation Solution

Development of DNA constructs encoding Cry1B, PtIP-50, and PtIP-65 polypeptides for use in transgenic plants to enhance insect resistance, involving nucleotide sequences with at least 95% identity to specific SEQ ID NOs, and their combination for improved pesticidal activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If broad-spectrum chemical insecticides are used to control insect pests, then pest control efficacy is improved, but environmental hazards and pollution increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepest control efficacyVSAvoidenvironmental hazards
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical insecticide application with genetically engineered plants that produce pesticidal proteins internally. The plants are transformed with DNA constructs encoding Cry1B, PtIP-50, and PtIP-65 polypeptides from Bacillus species, enabling the plants to autonomously produce insecticidal proteins that protect against pests without external chemical applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If single pesticidal protein is expressed in transgenic plants, then insect resistance to specific pests is improved, but spectrum of pest control remains narrow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect resistanceVSAvoidspectrum of pest control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple pesticidal protein-encoding genes (Cry1B, PtIP-50, and PtIP-65) into a single DNA construct that is transformed into plants. This creates transgenic plants that simultaneously express multiple different pesticidal proteins, each targeting different insect orders (Lepidoptera and Coleoptera), thereby expanding the spectrum of pest control while maintaining genetic transformation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple pesticidal proteins are combined in single DNA construct, then spectrum of insecticidal activity is improved, but construct complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsecticidal activity spectrumVSAvoidDNA construct complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The DNA construct serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains promoter regions for gene expression, coding sequences for multiple pesticidal proteins (Cry1B, PtIP-50, PtIP-65), and necessary regulatory elements. This multi-functional design enables a single construct to provide broad-spectrum pest protection against both Lepidoptera and Coleoptera orders while streamlining the transformation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3445861B1Insecticidal combinations of polypeptides having improved activity spectrum and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3445861B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3445861B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3445861B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

The disclosure provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, derived from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding variant polypeptides having increased pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera 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.