Variant Cry1B Polypeptides for Broader Insect Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing genetically engineered crops provide resistance to only a narrow range of economically important insect pests, and there is a need for biopesticides with improved insecticidal activity against insects from the orders Lepidoptera and Coleoptera.
Innovation Solution
Development of recombinant nucleic acids encoding variant Cry1B polypeptides with enhanced pesticidal activity, including chimeric and mutagenized forms, for use in transformed plants and microorganisms to target a broader spectrum of insect pests.
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 spectrum of resistance is narrow and limited to specific insect pests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by engineering crops to produce multiple different pesticidal proteins from various Bacillus strains simultaneously. This allows a single crop variety to provide resistance against multiple insect orders (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Homoptera) rather than targeting a single pest species, thereby expanding the spectrum of resistance while maintaining reliability through diversified protection mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining multiple pesticidal proteins with different modes of action and target specificities within the same crop plant. This composite approach creates a synergistic effect where the combination of proteins provides broader spectrum control compared to individual proteins, addressing the limitation of narrow resistance spectrum while preserving effectiveness against diverse pest populations
2Adaptability or versatility
If broad-spectrum chemical insecticides are applied, then a wide range of insect pests are controlled, but environmental hazards and pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing chemical insecticide applications with biologically-based pesticidal proteins produced within the crop plant itself. This substitution eliminates the need for external chemical applications while maintaining broad-spectrum pest control, thereby reducing environmental hazards and pollution associated with synthetic pesticides
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the crop plant to autonomously produce and secrete pesticidal proteins in response to pest presence. The plant's own biological systems are harnessed to generate protective compounds, eliminating reliance on external chemical inputs and reducing environmental contamination while providing effective pest control across multiple insect orders
Data Source
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.