Biological insect control agents expressing insect-specific toxin genes, methods and compositions
US6235278A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 1, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12N2799/026
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Provided herein are genetically engineered baculoviruses which express insect-specific toxins, preferably paralytic neurotoxins, under the regulatory control of strong promoters expressed early after infection and in a wide variety of insect cells. Particularly preferred insect-specific paralytic neurotoxins are those of insect-predacious mites, including Pyemotes. The genetically engineered baculoviruses of the present invention are improved over prior art viruses in that they produce efficacious insect-toxic levels of the neurotoxin at earlier times after infection, particularly in comparison to baculoviruses in which the toxin is expressed under the control of a polyhedrin or granulin promoter. Insect-toxic compositions are also provided and methods of insect control using these compositions are described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.