Abstract: Modified proteinase inhibitors having enhanced inhibition efficacy when compared to the naturally occurring counterparts. Also provided are polynucleotide molecules encoding the modified proteinase inhibitors, vectors and other recombinant nucleic acid constructs, transgenic cells, and transgenic organisms that comprise the polynucleotide molecules. Further disclosed are methods for producing the modified proteinase inhibitors, and methods and compositions for increasing the resistance of a cell or an organism to proteolytic damages, particularly the damages caused by a pest or a pathogen.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for improving resistance or tolerance of a plant to a pathogen, wherein the method comprises integrating a DNA molecule encoding a fusion protein comprising at least two anti-pathogenic proteins or protein domains joined by at least one linker peptide, wherein the first anti-pathogenic protein or protein domain comprises Oc-I&Dgr;D86 or Oc-I and the second anti-pathogenic protein or protein domain comprises CpTI.

Abstract: The invention relates to proteinase inhibitors and in particular cystatins which have been modified so as to enhance the effectiveness of synthetically manufactured counterparts. The modifications include either site-directed alterations in the structure of the protein and/or the production of hybrid molecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to proteinase inhibitors and in particular cystatins which have been modified so as to enhance their effective or synthetically manufactured counterparts. The modification including either site-directed alterations in the structure of the protein and/or the production of hybrid molecules.