Abstract: A chimeric protein comprising a cytolytic ?-endotoxin portion and a heterologous polypeptide portion is provided. Nucleic acids encoding the chimeric protein are also provided. In some cases, the chimeric protein can be expressed in parasporal inclusions of Bacillus thuringiensis. In certain cases, the cytolytic ?-endotoxin portion can include Cyt1Aa, and the heterologous portion can include an insecticidal polypeptide. The chimeric protein can be expressed in a suitable B. thuringiensi cell and purified as parasporal inclusions. Also provided is a method of controlling insects by exposing an insect to a chimerical insecticidal protein.

Abstract: A chimeric protein comprising a cytolytic ?-endotoxin portion and a heterologous polypeptide portion is provided. Nucleic acids encoding the chimeric protein are also provided. In some cases, the chimeric protein can be expressed in parasporal inclusions of Bacillus thuringiensis. In certain cases, the cytolytic ?-endotoxin portion can include Cyt1Aa, and the heterologous portion can include an insecticidal polypeptide. The chimeric protein can be expressed in a suitable B. thuringiensi cell and purified as parasporal inclusions. Also provided is a method of controlling insects by exposing an insect to a chimerical insecticidal protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery that nucleic acid sequences comprising a BtI or BtII promoter, or a combination of a BtI and a BtII promoter, a bacterial STAB-SD sequence, and a sequence encoding proteins of the B. sphaericus (“Bs”) binary toxin and expressed in B. thuringiensis (“Bt”) or Bs cells results in production of Bs binary toxin at least 10 times that of untransformed Bs cells. The invention provides nucleic acid sequences, expression vectors, host cells, and methods of increasing the toxicity of an insecticidal bacterium by transforming the bacterium with a nucleic acid sequence of the invention. Further, the invention relates to the discovery that the Cyt1Aa1 protein of Bt subspecies israelensis (“Bti”) reverses resistance to Bs binary toxin in Bs-resistant mosquitoes. The invention provides Bs cells expressing Bti Cyt1Aa1 protein, and methods of reversing resistance to Bs binary toxin by co-administering the Cyt1Aa1 protein with Bs binary toxin.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery that nucleic acid sequences comprising a BtI or BtII promoter, or a combination of a BtI and a BtII promoter, a bacterial STAB-SD sequence, and a sequence encoding proteins of the B. sphaericus (“Bs”) binary toxin and expressed in B. thuringiensis (“Bt”) or Bs cells results in production of Bs binary toxin at least 10 times that of untransformed Bs cells. The invention provides nucleic acid sequences, expression vectors, host cells, and methods of increasing the toxicity of an insecticidal bacterium by transforming the bacterium with a nucleic acid sequence of the invention. Further, the invention relates to the discovery that the Cyt1Aa1 protein of Bt subspecies israelensis (“Bti”) reverses resistance to Bs binary toxin in Bs-resistant mosquitoes. The invention provides Bs cells expressing Bti Cyt1Aa1 protein, and methods of reversing resistance to Bs binary toxin by co-administering the Cyt1Aa1 protein with Bs binary toxin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the host range or toxicity of an insecticidal protein exerting its activity via interaction with the gut epithelium of insects within its host range, by delivering the insecticidal protein to the gut epithelium of a target insect with the aid of an other, targeting protein capable of binding to the gut epithelium of the target insect. The targeting protein may, for example, be of viral origin or, alternatively, may be a bacterical protein or protein domain having high affinity for the lipid components of membranes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the host range or toxicity of an insecticidal protein exerting its activity via interaction with the gut epithelium of insects within its host range, by delivering the insecticidal protein to the gut epithelium of a target insect with the aid of an other, targeting protein capable of binding to the gut epithelium of the target insect. The targeting protein may, for example, be of viral origin or, alternatively, may be a bacterial protein or protein domain having high affinity for the lipid components of membranes.