Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein family Vip3A and mode of action against pest Lepidoptera

Abstract

Vip3A proteins are widely used for controlling pest Lepidoptera. Different binding sites with different receptors in the insect midgut membrane and lack of cross‐resistance with crystal (Cry) proteins enhance their applicability, as both single proteins and proteins pyramided with Cry proteins in transgenic Bt crops. Vip3A proteins are effective but there is relatively little information about their structure, function, activation, specificity, and mode of action. In addition, the mechanism of insect resistance to these proteins is unknown. Phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment showed that Vip3A proteins are genetically distant from Cry proteins. The mode of action and insecticidal activity of Vip3A proteins are discussed in this review. This review also provides detailed information about the Vip3A protein family that may aid in the design of more efficient pest management strategies in response to insect resistance to insecticidal proteins. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Vegetative Insecticidal Protein (Vip): A Potential Contender From Bacillus thuringiensis for Efficient Management of Various Detrimental Agricultural Pests

“…A high-resolution architecture and activation mechanism of Vip3 has been proposed through Cryo-electron microscopy at 2.9 Å (Núñez-Ramírez et al, 2020). The spring-like apex of the N-terminal (four-helix coiled) converts into a long needle by a similar mechanism as proposed for influenza haemagglutinin, which also able to penetrate lipid bilayer (Carr and Kim, 1993;Blijleven et al, 2016). It was proposed by Núñez-Ramírez et al (2020) that after insect ingestion and protease digestion in the midgut, the secreted tetrameric Vip3 protoxin interacts with the receptors present on the epithelial membrane.…”

“…Since this model is based upon experiments with Sf9 cells derived from ovaries, experiments using target insect's midgut cells may provide further insight in respect of endocytosis and apoptosis models.The trigger of the apoptotic process has been observed in response to treatment with Vip3Ca proteins after activation of some caspases . Hence, recently, models related to the insecticidal activity of Vip3A proteins have been illustrated by Chakrabarty et al (2020) and Syed et al (2020).…”

Nutrient conditions determine the localization of Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa protein in the mother cell compartment

“…Vip3Aa insecticidal proteins show high toxicity to multiple lepidopteran insect pests (Chakrabarty et al ., 2020; Shao et al ., 2020). This protein is synthesized during the vegetative growth phase and is secreted into the medium (Estruch et al ., 1996).…”

A Journal of the Plague Year

“…How climate change can affect insecticide resistance and its genetics is reviewed 17 . The structure, function, activation, specificity, and mode of action of the insect‐active proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis in its vegetative stage are discussed 18 . An analysis of the success of biocontrol of invasive stink bugs with egg parasitoids is made by Abram et al 19 .…”

“…17 The structure, function, activation, specificity, and mode of action of the insect-active proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis in its vegetative stage are discussed. 18 An analysis of the success of biocontrol of invasive stink bugs with egg parasitoids is made by Abram et al 19 A thoughtful review on the unintended, potentially harmful consequences and risks of biorational insecticides is provided. 20 A short review on identification and sex pheromones that can be used for management of gall midges is authored by Xu et al 21 And now for something completely different, Stanhope and Weinstein review the arcane topic of insect damage to musical instruments.…”