title: Transgenic organisms expressing genes from Bacillus thuringiensis to combat insect pests.
abstract: Various subspecies (ssp.) of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are considered the best agents known so far to control insects, being highly specific and safe, easily mass produced and with long shelf life.1 The para-crystalline body that is produced during sporulation in the exosporium includes polypeptides named δ-endotoxins, each killing a specific set of insects. The different entomopathogenic toxins of various Bt ssp. can be manipulated genetically in an educated way to construct more efficient transgenic bacteria or plants that express combinations of toxin genes to control pests.2 Joint research projects in our respective laboratories during the last decade demonstrate what can be done by implementing certain ideas using molecular biology with Bt ssp. israelensis (Bti) as a model system. Here, we describe our progress achieved with Gram-negative bacterial species, including cyanobacteria, and some preliminary experiments to form transgenic plants, mainly to control mosquitoes (Diptera), but also a particular Lepidopteran and Coleopteran pest species. In addition, a system is described by which environment-damaging genes can be removed from the recombinants thus alleviating procedures for obtaining permits to release them in nature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion Universiy of the Negev at Be'er-Sheva, S'de-Boker, Israel. ariehz@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Arieh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaritsky
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Dov
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Borovsky
authors.forename: Sammy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boussiba
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Einav
authors.forename: Galina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gindin
authors.forename: A Rami
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolot
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Melnikov
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mendel
authors.forename: Ezra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yagil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009033:Culicidae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis