Abstract: The present invention discloses a polynucleotide sequence for an insect salivary glucose oxidase enzyme and the amino acid sequence of the enzyme itself. It also provides recombinant polynucleotide vector systems designed to express the enzyme in a variety of host organisms. The invention also discloses a method for creating transgenic plants having increased resistance to insect predation resulting from the expression of the foreign glucose oxidase protein. The presence of the insect glucose oxidase enzyme triggers a plant's defensive mechanisms and results in increased resistance to insects.

Abstract: The present invention includes the characterization of the major salivary protein or enzyme of the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea for triggering resistance to bacterial blight and frogeye leafspot in soybeans and for triggering resistance to insects in tomatoes. The invention includes an enzyme or a novel protein secreted from the salivary glands of certain insects including the saliva of species belonging to the order Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. The regurgitant of Helocoverpa zea obtained from the functional salivary glands contains a protein that possesses glucose oxidase activity. The amino acid sequence of the protein is unique and when the protein is applied to plants, it triggers disease and insect resistance systematically. The physical and kinetic attributes of the enzyme are a pH of 7.0, a pI of 4.4 and a molecular weight of 88 kd. The km and Vmax of the enzyme for glucose is 26.9 mmol and 26.7 &mgr;mol min−1 mg−1, respectively.

Abstract: A method of treating vegetation by application of a microbial insecticide in which a quinone has been covalently bonded to the viral occlusion body surface of the microbial insecticide in order to improve the UV stability of the microbial insecticide by forming a protective shield around the pathogen.