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Insecticidal proteins produced by bacteria pathogenic to agricultural pests

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Entomopathogenic Bacteria: from Laboratory to Field Application

Abstract

Numerous bacteria pathogenic to insects have been characterised. Some of those are known for the production of insecticidal proteins. The insecticidal protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis has been studied extensively partly due to its commercial value. A large number of B. thuringiensis strains have been isolated. Each B. thuringiensis isolate has a narrow insect specificity, but the specificity is diversified amongst different isolates. Insects susceptible to B. thuringiensis include those in Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera as well as some nematode species. From these isolates, over 100 insecticidal protein genes have been cloned and sequenced. There are several other Bacillus species known to synthesise insecticidal proteins. Bacillus popilliae produces a proteinaceous inclusion in sporulated cells. The inclusion protein is involved in the pathogenicity of B. popilliae. A gene encoding for this inclusion has been cloned. In this chapter, we shall make a brief introduction to insecticidal proteins found in B. thuringiensis and B. popilliae followed by analysis on the structure and function of B. thuringiensis insecticidal proteins.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maxygen, Inc, Redwood City, CA, 94063, USA

    Takashi Yamamoto

  2. Department of Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Donald H. Dean

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  1. Takashi Yamamoto
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  2. Donald H. Dean
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

    Jean-François Charles , Armelle Delécluse  & Christina Nielsen-Le Roux ,  & 

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Yamamoto, T., Dean, D.H. (2000). Insecticidal proteins produced by bacteria pathogenic to agricultural pests. In: Charles, JF., Delécluse, A., Roux, C.NL. (eds) Entomopathogenic Bacteria: from Laboratory to Field Application. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1429-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1429-7_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5542-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1429-7

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