Mycogen Corporation

Edward R Wilcox

Corinna Herrnstadt

David L Edwards

George E Schwab

Mark Thompson

Paul Culver

Thomas E Gilroy

Siu-Yin Wong

The invention concerns an in vitro process for altering the insect host range (spectrum) or increasing the toxicity of lepidopteran active B.t. crystal protein toxins. The process comprises recombining in vitro the variable region(s) (non-homologous) of two or more genes encoding lepidopteran active B.t. crystal protein toxins. Specifically exemplified is the recombining of the variable regions of two genes obtained from well-known strains of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki. The resulting products are chimeric toxins which are shown to have an expanded and/or amplified lepidopteran insect host range as compared to the parent toxins.

Process for altering the host range or increasing the toxicity of

The invention concerns novel hybrid pesticidal toxins. These toxins are expressed as the fusion protein of a chimeric gene. Specifically exemplified is a novel B.t. hybrid toxin. These novel toxins have increased toxicity against target pests. The invention also concerns a process for preparing a hybrid virus having an altered insect host range.

Hybrid pesticidal toxins

Hybrid diphtheria-B.t. pesticidal toxins

The invention is a process for controlling the expression of heterologous genes from lac-operated promoters by removing the CAP binding site and lac promoter from the lac operon. Illustrated is the fusion of the lacZ, Y, and A genes of the lac operon to the 3' end of the lacI structural gene. This elimination of the natural regulatory elements of the lac operon results, advantageously, in the production of lac operon gene products in a constitutive mode from the lacI promoter.

Method, vectors, and host cells for the control of expression of

A novel hybrid B.t. toxin gene toxic to lepidopteran insects has been cloned. The DNA encoding the B.t. toxin can be used to transform various prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes to express the B.t. toxin. These recombinant microbes can be used to control lepidopteran insects in various environments.

Hybrid Bacillus thuringiensis gene, plasmid and transformed Pseudomonas

The toxin gene encoding a protein toxic to beetles of the order Coleoptera, named M-7, has been cloned and expressed. M-7 is a novel Bacillus thuringiensis strain which has been deposited with a recognized culture repository.

Cloning and expression of bacillus thuringiensis gene toxic to beetles

The toxin gene encoding a protein toxic to beetles of the order Coleoptera, named M-7, has been cloned and expressed. M-7 is a novel Bacillus thuringiensis strain which has been deposited with a recognized culture repository. The microbe is now known as B. thuringiensis strain san diego.

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Escondido, CA, United States of America

Edward R Wilcox