Abstract: The disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding variant polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera and Diptera. Particular embodiments provide isolated nucleic acids encoding Cyt1A variant polypeptides, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, particularly Diptera pests.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to obtain DNA constructs that encode 3-domain Cry toxins (also called Cry toxins, Bt toxins, or ?-endotoxins) lacking helix ?-1. These DNA constructs have been modified to encode proteins that kill insects that are resistant to the corresponding unmodified Cry toxins. The DNA constructs encoding the Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins and the encoded Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins are provided together with the molecular vectors and the host cell comprising said constructs and the recombinant methods to produce the Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins. Additionally, compositions comprising the Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins are disclosed. The resistance of the insects to unmodified Cry toxins is due to reduced toxin binding to the insects' midgut receptors. The invention further provides methods to overcome resistance in crop pests.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are transgenic plants comprising heterologous molecular chaperone genes and insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes capable of conferring enhanced Bt insecticidal activity to insects. The disclosure further relates to methods of producing transgenic plants, enhancing efficacy of a Bt toxin and controlling insect populations in areas of cultivation using transgenic plants co-expressing a heterologous molecular chaperone gene and a Bt gene.

Abstract: The disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding variant polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera and Diptera. Particular embodiments provide isolated nucleic acids encoding Cyt1A variant polypeptides, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, particularly Diptera pests.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to obtain DNA constructs that encode 3-domain Cry toxins (also called Cry toxins, Bt toxins, or ?-endotoxins) lacking helix ?-1. These DNA constructs have been modified to encode proteins that kill insects that are resistant to the corresponding unmodified Cry toxins. The DNA constructs encoding the Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins and the encoded Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins are provided together with the molecular vectors and the host cell comprising said constructs and the recombinant methods to produce the Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins. Additionally, compositions comprising the Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins are disclosed. The resistance of the insects to unmodified Cry toxins is due to reduced toxin binding to the insects' midgut receptors. The invention further provides methods to overcome resistance in crop pests.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to obtain DNA constructs that encode 3-domain Cry toxins (also called Cry toxins, Bt toxins, or ?-endotoxins) lacking helix ?-1. These DNA constructs have been modified to encode proteins that kill insects that are resistant to the corresponding unmodified Cry toxins. The DNA constructs encoding the Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins and the encoded Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins are provided together with the molecular vectors and the host cell comprising said constructs and the recombinant methods to produce the Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins. Additionally, compositions comprising the Modified 3-Domain Cry Toxins are disclosed. The resistance of the insects to unmodified Cry toxins is due to reduced toxin binding to the insects' midgut receptors. The invention further provides methods to overcome resistance in crop pests.