摘要:
The subject invention relates in part to the surprising and unexpected discovery that insects that are resistant to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxins have measurably altered alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity as compared to insects that are susceptible to Cry toxins. This and other surprising discoveries reported herein have broad implications in areas such as managing and monitoring the development of insect resistance to B.t. toxins. For example, the subject invention provides a simple and fast assay (enzymatic or otherwise) for detecting ALP activity levels and thereby monitoring the development of resistance by insects to crystal protein insect toxins. There was no prior motivation or suggestion to go about resistance monitoring using this simple and easy approach.
摘要:
The subject invention pertains to the use of peptide fragments of cadherins (including cadherin-like proteins). The subject invention includes a cell (and use thereof) comprising a polynucleotide that expresses the peptide fragment. The subject invention includes methods of feeding the peptides to insects. In preferred embodiments, the peptides are fed to target insects together with one or more insecticidal proteins, preferably (but not limited to) B.t. Cry proteins. When used in this manner, the peptide fragment can not only enhance the apparent toxin activity of the Cry protein against the insect species that was the source of the receptor but also against other insect species. Preferably, the cadherin is a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) insecticidal crystal protein (Cry) toxin receptor. Preferably, the peptide fragment is a binding domain of the receptor. In some preferred embodiments, the peptide is the binding domain nearest to the membrane proximal ectodomain. Corresponding domains are identifiable in a variety of B.t. toxin receptors.