Recombinant Neurotoxin: A More Effective Insecticide

University of California researchers have developed a new recombinant viral insecticide that kills host insects 50% more quickly than the wild type virus. Baculoviruses are a class of pathogens selective for insects. The viruses have recently been proven to be efficient vectors for the expression of foreign genes as well. This has led to the development of recombinant viruses which selectively kill their hosts by expressing the foreign gene. Previous attempts using inserted insect diuretic hormone and juvenile hormone esterase genes have met with some success, but showed little increase in potency over control viruses. Scientists at the University of California have now developed a new recombinant virus which expresses a neurotoxin that selectively targets and blocks the insect's sodium channels. This mode of action is similar to that of many widely used chemical insecticides. This new virus shows 25% greater efficacy over previously engineered viruses. These results suggest that such a recombinant insect-specific virus could be used as a safe and effective insecticide, and be of great commercial value to agriculture.

Patent Number: US6689356B1
Application Number: US1995472053A
Inventor: Zlotkin, Eliahu | Maeda, Susumu | McCutchen, Billy Fred | Hammock, Bruce D. | Fowler, Elizabeth | Belagaje, Rama M.
Priority Date: 19 Dec 1988
Priority Number: US6689356B1
Application Date: 6 Jun 1995
Publication Date: 10 Feb 2004
IPC Current: A01N006300 | A01N006302 | C07K0014435 | C07K001618 | C12N001562 | C12N001582 | C12N0015866
US Class: 4240932 | 4240931 | 4240936 | 435005 | 4350061 | 4350691 | 4350911 | 4350914 | 43509141 | 4353201 | 435325 | 435348 | 435455 | 435456 | 435006
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the Unviersity of California,Oakland | BASF Aktiengesellschaft,Ludwigshafen
Title: Recombinant baculoviruses producing insect toxins
Usefulness: Recombinant baculoviruses producing insect toxins
Summary: The recombinant baculovirus is useful for producing a foreign protein that is toxic to insects, such as the scorpion insect toxin AaIT.
Novelty: New recombinant Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus useful for producing a foreign protein that is toxic to insects, such as the scorpion insect toxin AaIT

Agriculture

Pest/Insect

6689356

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Tech ID/UC Case

11252/1990-279-0

Related Cases

1990-279-0

USA

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