title: Relevance of Bt toxin interaction studies for environmental risk assessment of genetically modified crops.
abstract: In recent years, different Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin-encoding genes have been combined or 'stacked' in genetically modified (GM) crops. Synergism between Bt proteins may occur and thereby increase the impact of the stacked GM event on nontarget invertebrates compared to plants expressing a single Bt gene. On the basis of bioassay data available for Bt toxins alone or in combination, we argue that the current knowledge of Bt protein interactions is of limited relevance in environmental risk assessment (ERA).
authors.affiliation: Biosafety and Biotechnology Unit, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adinda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Schrijver
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.affiliation: Plant Research International, BU Bioscience and Wageningen University, Chair Group Bioinformatics, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ruud A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7049-2029
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Maagd
authors.affiliation: Entomica, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A P4, Canada.
authors.forename: Kees
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Frankenhuyzen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics*; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004777:Environment; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis
keywords: Bt protein; genetically modified plants; interaction; nontarget effects; risk assessment; specificity