Possible new weapon for insect control
Strauss, E.
Science 280(5372): 2050
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-8075 PMID: 9669960 Document Number: 484946
In this issue, insect toxicologist Richard ffrench-Constant and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, describe a new group of toxins that may be used to genetically engineer insect-resistant plants. The proteins are produced by Photorhabdus luminescens, a bacterium that resides in insect-killing nematodes. The researchers have isolated the bacterial toxins and identified the toxin genes. In order to avoid resistance development, the new toxins may be used instead of or in combination with other bacterial toxins that are already incorporated into engineered plants. A number of problems will have to be solved before the new proteins may be used in crops, however. In addition, the safety of the toxin to humans and wildlife remains to be proven.