Abstract: New bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic, thermostable peptides which are isolated from hemolymph of immune honeybees and which are distinct from lysozymes, attacins, cecropins, diptericins and magainins. The peptides feature at least the 10 C-terminal amino acids of the following peptide:H.sub.2 N-Gly-Asn-Asn-Arg-Pro-X-Tyr-Ile-Pro-Gln-Pro-Arg-Pro-Pro-His-Pro-Arg-Z-OHin whichX is a valyl or isoleucyl residue andZ is a leucyl or isoleucyl residue.

Abstract: Novel transformation vectors containing novel chimeric genes allow the introduction of exogenous DNA fragments coding for polypeptide toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis or having substantial sequence homology to a gene coding for a polypeptide toxin as described herein and expression of the chimeric gene in plant cells and their progeny after integration into the plant cell genome. Transformed plant cells and their progeny exhibit stably inherited polypeptide toxin expression useful for protecting said plant cells and their progeny against certain insect pests and in controlling said insect pests.

Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure for the transfer and immobilization of proteins onto a free surface formed on a chemically inert support, preferably porous glass, from a medium likely to contain them which is brought into contact with this surface. The said surface is composed of a film of a vinylpyridine polymer in which the nitrogen atom of the pyridyl moiety is substituted by an alkyl group, in particular by a methyl group; the proteins and/or the nucleic acids are brought into contact with the said surface in solution in the presence of a detergent bearing a negative charge, in particular SDS. The invention also relates more particularly to the supports coated with the said films, in particular as a monomolecular layer.