title: Short-term evaluation in growing rats of diet containing Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ia12 entomotoxin: nutritional responses and some safety aspects.
abstract: The Cry1Ia12 entomotoxin from a Brazilian Bacillus thuringiensis strain is currently being expressed in cotton cultivars to confer resistance to insect-pests. The present study aimed to assess the effects of a diet containing Cry1Ia12 protein on growing rats. A test diet containing egg white and Cry1Ia12 (0.1% of total protein) as a protein source was offered to rats for ten days. In addition, an acute toxicity bioassay was performed in rats with a single oral dose of the entomotoxin (12 mg/animal). No adverse effects were observed in the animals receiving the test diet when compared to those receiving a control diet (egg white). The analysed parameters included relative dry weight of internal organs, duodenum histology, blood biochemistry, and nutritional parameters. The results of the acute toxicity test showed no mortality or behaviour alteration. Thus, Cry1Ia12 toxin at the tested concentration does not cause deleterious effects on growing rats when incorporated in the diet for 10 days.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnologia, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, DF 70.770-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciane Mourão
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Davi Felipe
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Relinda Campos Carvalho
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Muchagata
authors.forename: Mariana Quezado
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: de Magalhães
authors.forename: Cláudio Cabral
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Campello
authors.forename: Thales Lima
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Ilka Maria
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Ana Fontenele Urano
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mulinari
authors.forename: Maria Fátima
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Grossi-de-Sa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004032:Diet; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D051381:Rats; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins