Thermo Trilogy Corporation

Herbert Hartman

Pascale Oddou Stock

Martin Geiser

The present invention relates to an antibody which reacts specifically with the binding proteins for Bacillus thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxins and their derivatives. The invention further relates to an anti-idiotype antibody which reacts specifically with the binding proteins for Bacillus thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxins and their derivatives. The invention also provides a test kit which contains a novel antibody. The invention further relates to a method of isolating a novel B. thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin, to said novel B. thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin, to a method of identifying a novel B. thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin which recognises a novel binding protein, to the novel B. thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin, to a method of determining the amount of binding protein present, and to a method of reducing the resistance development potential in pest control. The invention further relates to the use of novel antibodies and test kits for analysing the immunological cross reactivity of toxin binding proteins to determine their degree of relationship and to determine the availability and accessibility of a binding protein for the corresponding toxin in different insects. The invention also relates to the use of the novel antibodies for analysing resistance which is attributable to the lack of the binding protein or of the binding sites.

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Isernhagen, Germany

Herbert Hartman