The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding δ-endotoxins having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, expression cassettes, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the invention. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.
1. An isolated polypeptide that has pesticidal activity against at least one pest belonging to the order Lepidoptera, wherein said polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4, 27, or 31;
(b) a polypeptide characterized by at least 90% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence of (a); and
(c) a polypeptide characterized by at least 95% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence of (a).
2. A pesticidal composition comprising at least one polypeptide according to claim 1 in combination with a carrier.
3. The pesticidal composition of claim 2 , further comprising an additional Bacillus thuringiensis toxin.
4. A method for impacting an insect pest comprising applying the pesticidal composition of claim 3 to the environment of the insect pest by a procedure selected from the group consisting of spraying, dusting, broadcasting, and seed coating.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said insect pest is selected from the group consisting of European corn borer, diamond-back moth, and fall armyworm.