Abstract: The methods and compositions of the present invention find use in impacting microbial pathogens and in enhancing disease resistance to pathogens, particularly by plants. The compositions of the invention include polypeptides that possess antimicrobial properties, particularly fungicidal properties, and the encoding nucleic acid molecules. The polypeptides of the invention are isolated from the hemolymph and fat bodies of insect larvae induced by injection of plant pathogenic fungi. Further provided are plant cells, plants, and seed thereof, transformed with the nucleic acid molecules of the invention so as to confer disease resistance on the plant.

Abstract: The methods and compositions of the present invention find use in impacting microbial pathogens and in enhancing disease resistance to pathogens, particularly by plants. The compositions of the invention include polypeptides that possess antimicrobial properties, particularly fungicidal properties, and the encoding nucleic acid molecules. The polypeptides of the invention are isolated from the hemolymph and fat bodies of insect larvae induced by injection of plant pathogenic fungi. Further provided are plant cells, plants, and seed thereof, transformed with the nucleic acid molecules of the invention so as to confer disease resistance on the plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a root-preferred promoter for the gene encoding CRWAQ81. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the root-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: This invention relates to plant defensin polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding them, and methods of use thereof. The invention also relates to a chimeric protein containing all or a portion of the plant defensin.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding scorpion toxins that are K-channel agonists. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the K-channel agonists, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the K-channel agonists in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. The invention provides mutagenized nucleic acids that have been engineered to encode pesticidal polypeptides having increased resistance to proteolytic degradation by a plant protease. In particular, nucleic acid sequences encoding pesticidal polypeptides modified to comprise a proteolytic protection site that confers resistance to degradation or proteolytic inactivation by a plant protease are provided. Particular embodiments of the invention provide pesticidal polypeptide compositions and formulations, expression cassettes, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests. Novel plant proteases, sequences encoding these proteases, and methods for their use are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scanning device. The scanning device comprises a document plate for placing a document, at least a sliding guide placed at one side of the document plate, a scanning module which is in front of the document plate for scanning the document along the direction of the sliding guide, a first light source assembled in the scanning module for providing light to scan documents, and a driving module electrically connected to the scanning module for driving the scanning module to perform scanning procedure to the document.

Abstract: A scanning system capable of conducting black calibration with a fixed mask has a shell, a conveying module for driving an image capture module to a parallel movement, an image capture module for capturing image therefore transferred to digital signals, and a fixed mask for obstructing the light path in order to conduct the black calibration. The image capture module is driven by the conveying module and moved to a predetermined mask position. At the predetermined mask position, the mask may obstruct the light path. In this case, the scanning device is able to conduct the black calibration, provided a black calibration signal for adjustment purposes.

Abstract: Before assembling a scanning module, the type of the scanning module is predetermined. When the scanning module is predetermined, the shape of MTF-DF curve is therefore fixed. The scanning module includes a glass plate, lens and an image generating means. During the assembly, the image generating means and the glass plate are mounted. A correction document is placed on the glass plate. The position of the lens is adjusted in order to reflect a point at the lowest point of the tolerant range of the depth of scanning field in the MTF-DF curve. The position of the lens is then fixed. An increased depth of scanning field in a scanning device is thusly obtained.

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.