Mosquito larvicidal activity of transgenic Anabaena PCC 7120 expressing toxin genes from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2003 Oct 24;227(2):189-95. doi: 10.1016/S0378-1097(03)00679-7.

Abstract

Genes encoding the mosquito larvicidal toxins Cry4Aa, Cry11Aa, Cyt1Aa and the regulatory P20 from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis were introduced into the nitrogen-fixing, filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120 for expression under control of two strong promoters P(psbA) and P(A1). The clone pRVE4-ADRC displayed toxicity against fourth-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, the highest ever achieved in cyanobacteria. It was about 2.5-fold more toxic than the respective clone without cyt1Aa [Wu et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63 (1997) 4971-4975]. Cyt1Aa synergized the combination of Crys by about five-fold. Consistently, the lethal times exerted by pRVE4-ADRC were also reduced (it killed exposed larvae more quickly). This clone may become a useful biological control agent which reduces the probability of resistance development in the target organisms [Wirth et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94 (1997) 10536-10540].

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / microbiology
  • Anabaena / genetics*
  • Anabaena / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Bacillus thuringiensis / genetics*
  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Toxins*
  • Endotoxins / genetics
  • Endotoxins / metabolism*
  • Endotoxins / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Larva / physiology
  • Organisms, Genetically Modified
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Endotoxins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis