Cambria Biosciences LLC

Dow Agrosciences LLC

Scott Chouinard

Leo Liu

James Velema

Gerald Bryan Watson

Gary David Gustafson

Nailah Orr

Chaoxian Geng

James M Hasler

Vincent L Salgado

Kevin R Cook

The present invention is in the field of identification and characterization of novel insecticidal target sites and, in particular, relates to host cells, assays and antibodies thereto.

Assays utilizing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits

The invention includes an expression vector engineered to produce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) within a pest to be controlled. The dsRNA inhibits expression of at least one gene within the pest, wherein inhibition of the gene exerts a deleterious effect upon the pest. For example, inhibition of the gene can lead to cessation of feeding, growth, or development and can cause death of the pest. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the expression vector is a recombinant baculovirus that transcribes sense and antisense RNA under the control of the baculovirus IE-1 promoter and hr5 enhancer. Preferred genes to be inhibited include essential genes, genes involved in neurotransmission, and genes that are targets for conventional pesticides. The invention discloses baculovirus transfer plasmids useful for producing the recombinant baculovirus. The invention further discloses methods and formulations involving the expression vector.

Insect control agent

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Medford, MA, United States of America

Scott Chouinard