Genetically Modified Bacillus thuringiensis Biopesticides

Abstract

The reduction in crop production that results from damages of pests and pathogenic microbes has been the major prohibitive factor restricting the further development of agricultural production worldwide. In the long-term practice of controlling agricultural pests, multiple pest management, including biological approaches, are generally recognized as possible solutions to control pest infestation effectively. Bacterial pesticides, which constitute a series of leading biopesticidal products made from various naturally occurring or genetically modified insecticidal bacteria, have attracted increasing attention as a specific means of controlling agricultural and forestry pests.

High-level yielding of insecticidal crystal proteins and field testing of a genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis biopesticide WG-001

“…Bacillus thuringiensis has been widely exploited as a microbial control agent since 1950s (Jouzani et al 2017, Li et al 2017, Melo et al 2016, and in the recent decade, by making combinations of insecticidal genes that did not occur naturally, or introducing these genes into alternative host bacteria, a variety of genetically modified (GM) derivatives were created for extending the uses of the insecticidal bacteria (Federici 2005, Li and Yu 2012, Palma et al 2014. However, while the applications of B. thuringiensis have proved to be successful in terms of target pest control and reduction of the use of chemical insecticides, concerns about the safety of B. thuringiensis-derived GM biopesticides have never appeased.…”

Specificity and Combinatorial Effects of Bacillus Thuringiensis Cry Toxins in the Context of GMO Environmental Risk Assessment

“…Under this utilitarian narrative, combinatorial effects are explored also as a means to aid its application in pest control strategies. For example, Li and Yu (2012) are heading a section on combinatorial effects in their chapter with "Utilizing the synergistic effect of helper proteins." Such "helper proteins" are in fact nothing else but substances that exert combinatorial effects with Bt toxins.…”

“…Such "helper proteins" are in fact nothing else but substances that exert combinatorial effects with Bt toxins. For example, "chitinases for enhancing the entomotoxicity of engineered Bt strains" are receiving considerable attention to develop "new strategies" for pest control (see Li and Yu, 2012 for references therein). Or as George and Crickmore (2012) put it "to boost the efficacy of Bt insecticidal toxins and overcome resistance posed by insect pests, the use of other proteins like cadherin fragments have been shown to be a successful strategy" or "also combinations of Cry toxins have proven to be a very useful strategy employed in boosting efficacy and hting resistance."…”