title: Functional expression of lepidopteran-selective neurotoxin in baculovirus: potential for effective pest management.
abstract: Recombinant baculovirus expressing insect-selective neurotoxins derived from venomous animals are considered as an attractive alternative to chemical insecticides for efficient insect control agents. Recently we identified and characterized a novel lepidopteran-selective toxin, Buthus tamulus insect-selective toxin (ButaIT), having 37 amino acids and eight half cysteine residues from the venom of the South Indian red scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus. The synthetic toxin gene containing the ButaIT sequence in frame to the bombyxin signal sequence was engineered into a polyhedrin positive Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) genome under the control of the p10 promoter. Toxin expression in the haemolymph of infected larvae of Heliothis virescens and also in an insect cell culture system was confirmed by western blot analysis using antibody raised against the GST-ButaIT fusion protein. The recombinant NPV (ButaIT-NPV) showed enhanced insecticidal activity on the larvae of Heliothis virescens as evidenced by a significant reduction in median survival time (ST50) and also a greater reduction in feeding damage as compared to the wild-type AcMNPV.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati-517 502, India. rajendraw2k@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Wudayagiri
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rajendra
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hammock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000378:metabolism*; D001681:Biological Assay; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000187:drug effects; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C469905:Buthus tamulus insect toxin; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms