PESTICIDAL ACTX PEPTIDE VARIANTS

1 . A Kappa Peptide Variant (KPV), having pesticidal activity against one or more pests, said KPV comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence according to Formula (I): X 1 —X 2 —X 3 —X 4 —X 5 —X 6 —X 7 —X 8 —X 9 —X 10 —X 11 —X 12 —X 13 —X 14 —X 15 —X 16 —X 17 —C—X 18 —P—X 19 —X 20 —X 21 —X 22 —X 23 —X 24 —X 25 —X 26 —X 27 —X 28 -G-X 29 —X 30 —X 31 —X 32 —X 33 —X 34 —X 35 —X 36 —X 37 ; wherein the KPV comprises at least one amino acid substitution relative to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; wherein X 1 is G, E, N, or absent; X 2 is N, S, A, G, or absent; X 3 is A, T, S, Q, G, L, W, V, D, or P; X 4 is I, Y, V, A, or L; X 5 is C, H, or Y; X 6 is T, S, E, or R; X 7 is G, E, K, D, or P; X 8 is A, G, I, or E; X 9 is D, N, or G; X 10 is R, G, S, K, H, Y, L, or M; X 11 is P or A; X 12 is C, R, N, S, A, G, Y, or K; X 13 is A, H, G, or S; X 14 is A, G, or I; X 15 is C, G, I, E, or F; X 16 is C or N; X 17 is P or M; X 18 is C or Y; X 19 is G, R, or P; X 20 is T, G, H, S, E, N, I, or Q; X 21 is S, T, K, or R; X 22 is C or S; X 23 is G, Q, T, A, K, N, H, I, or absent; X 24 is K, E, G, T, P, Q, S, D, V, Y, R, N, M, L, I, A, F, or W; X 25 is A, D, P, R, S, E, I, F, Q, Y, T, or W; X 26 is E, R, D, T, G, W, A, F, H, M, or S; X 27 is S, V, H, G, Q, I, D, P, A, W, T, or K; X 28 is N, A, W, E, G, L, R, or V; X 29 is V, L, I, A, P, S, or G; X 30 is S, F, G, K, P, A, Y, T, R, C, or W; X 31 is Y, N, L, R, W, H, or F; X 32 is C or G; X 33 is R or Q; X 34 is K, N, A, R, V, G, L, M, E, D, H, I, P, Q, S, or T; X 35 is D, A, M, N, E, G, H, I, K, Q, R, S, V, Y, or absent; X 36 is E, K, F, V, or absent; X 37 is P, S, Q, or absent; or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof, with the proviso that the KPV does not comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 253.

2 . The KPV of claim 1 , wherein the KPV comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of, an amino sequence that is at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to a sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2-7, 10-13, 16-19, 23, 25, 30-31, 35, 39-40, 45-46, 48, 50, 54-57, 60, 66, 68, 70-71, 73-74, 76-79, 85, 102, 110, 114, 124, 126, 140, 146-147, 149, 151-152, 157-158, 160-162, 164, 167-168, 170, 173, 176, 178, 180, 183-186, 189, 191-192, 195, 199, 204-206, 209-212, 215-218, 220-233, 235-240, 243-260, 263-265, 269-270, 274-280, 282-292, 294, 296-297, 299-300, 302-306, 308, 312-313, 315-323, 325, 327-329, 331-332, 334, 343-344, 346-348, 350, 354-355, or 358; or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof.

3 . A combination comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of, two or more KPVs of claim 1 .

4 . A composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of, one or more KPVs of claim 1 , and an agriculturally acceptable excipient.

5 . A polynucleotide operable to encode an Kappa Peptide Variant (KPV), said KPV comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence according to Formula (I): X 1 —X 2 —X 3 —X 4 —X 5 —X 6 —X 7 —X 8 —X 9 —X 10 —X 11 —X 12 —X 13 —X 14 —X 15 —X 16 —X 17 —C—X 18 —P—X 19 —X 20 —X 21 —X 22 —X 23 —X 24 —X 25 —X 26 —X 27 —X 28 -G-X 29 —X 30 —X 31 —X 32 —X 33 —X 34 —X 35 —X 36 —X 37 ; wherein the KPV comprises at least one amino acid substitution relative to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; wherein X 1 is G, E, N, or absent; X 2 is N, S, A, G, or absent; X 3 is A, T, S, Q, G, L, W, V, D, or P; X 4 is I, Y, V, A, or L; X 5 is C, H, or Y; X 6 is T, S, E, or R; X 7 is G, E, K, D, or P; X 8 is A, G, I, or E; X 9 is D, N, or G; X 10 is R, G, S, K, H, Y, L, or M; X 11 is P or A; X 12 is C, R, N, S, A, G, Y, or K; X 13 is A, H, G, or S; X 14 is A, G, or I; X 15 is C, G, I, E, or F; X 16 is C or N; X 17 is P or M; X 18 is C or Y; X 19 is G, R, or P; X 20 is T, G, H, S, E, N, I, or Q; X 21 is S, T, K, or R; X 22 is C or S; X 23 is G, Q, T, A, K, N, H, I, or absent; X 24 is K, E, G, T, P, Q, S, D, V, Y, R, N, M, L, I, A, F, or W; X 25 is A, D, P, R, S, E, I, F, Q, Y, T, or W; X 26 is E, R, D, T, G, W, A, F, H, M, or S; X 27 is S, V, H, G, Q, I, D, P, A, W, T, or K; X 28 is N, A, W, E, G, L, R, or V; X 29 is V, L, I, A, P, S, or G; X 30 is S, F, G, K, P, A, Y, T, R, C, or W; X 31 is Y, N, L, R, W, H, or F; X 32 is C or G; X 33 is R or Q; X 34 is K, N, A, R, V, G, L, M, E, D, H, I, P, Q, S, or T; X 35 is D, A, M, N, E, G, H, I, K, Q, R, S, V, Y, or absent; X 36 is E, K, F, V, or absent; X 37 is P, S, Q, or absent; or a complementary polynucleotide sequence thereof, with the proviso that the polynucleotide does not encode an KPV comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 253.

6 . The polynucleotide of claim 5 , wherein the polynucleotide encodes an KPV comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of, an amino sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2-7, 10-13, 16-19, 23, 25, 30-31, 35, 39-40, 45-46, 48, 50, 54-57, 60, 66, 68, 70-71, 73-74, 76-79, 85, 102, 110, 114, 124, 126, 140, 146-147, 149, 151-152, 157-158, 160-162, 164, 167-168, 170, 173, 176, 178, 180, 183-186, 189, 191-192, 195, 199, 204-206, 209-212, 215-218, 220-233, 235-240, 243-260, 263-265, 269-270, 274-280, 282-292, 294, 296-297, 299-300, 302-306, 308, 312-313, 315-323, 325, 327-329, 331-332, 334, 343-344, 346-348, 350, 354-355, or 358.

7 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of claim 5 .

8 . (canceled)

9 . A yeast strain comprising: a first expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide operable to encode an KPV, said KPV comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence according to Formula (I): X 1 —X 2 —X 3 —X 4 —X 5 —X 6 —X 7 —X 8 —X 9 —X 10 —X 11 —X 12 —X 13 —X 14 —X 15 —X 16 —X 17 —C—X 18 —P—X 19 —X 20 —X 21 —X 22 —X 23 —X 24 —X 25 —X 26 —X 27 —X 28 -G-X 29 —X 30 —X 31 —X 32 —X 33 —X 34 —X 35 —X 36 —X 37 ; wherein the KPV comprises at least one amino acid substitution relative to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; wherein X 1 is G, E, N, or absent; X 2 is N, S, A, G, or absent; X 3 is A, T, S, Q, G, L, W, V, D, or P; X 4 is I, Y, V, A, or L; X 5 is C, H, or Y; X 6 is T, S, E, or R; X 7 is G, E, K, D, or P; X 8 is A, G, I, or E; X 9 is D, N, or G; X 10 is R, G, S, K, H, Y, L, or M; X 11 is P or A; X 12 is C, R, N, S, A, G, Y, or K; X 13 is A, H, G, or S; X 14 is A, G, or I; X 15 is C, G, I, E, or F; X 16 is C or N; X 17 is P or M; X 18 is C or Y; X 19 is G, R, or P; X 20 is T, G, H, S, E, N, I, or Q; X 21 is S, T, K, or R; X 22 is C or S; X 23 is G, Q, T, A, K, N, H, I, or absent; X 24 is K, E, G, T, P, Q, S, D, V, Y, R, N, M, L, I, A, F, or W; X 25 is A, D, P, R, S, E, I, F, Q, Y, T, or W; X 26 is E, R, D, T, G, W, A, F, H, M, or S; X 27 is S, V, H, G, Q, I, D, P, A, W, T, or K; X 28 is N, A, W, E, G, L, R, or V; X 29 is V, L, I, A, P, S, or G; X 30 is S, F, G, K, P, A, Y, T, R, C, or W; X 31 is Y, N, L, R, W, H, or F; X 32 is C or G; X 33 is R or Q; X 34 is K, N, A, R, V, G, L, M, E, D, H, I, P, Q, S, or T; X 35 is D, A, M, N, E, G, H, I, K, Q, R, S, V, Y, or absent; X 36 is E, K, F, V, or absent; X 37 is P, S, Q, or absent; or a complementary nucleotide sequence thereof; with the proviso that the KPV does not comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 253.

10 . The yeast strain of claim 9 , wherein the KPV comprises an amino sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2-7, 10-13, 16-19, 23, 25, 30-31, 35, 39-40, 45-46, 48, 50, 54-57, 60, 66, 68, 70-71, 73-74, 76-79, 85, 102, 110, 114, 124, 126, 140, 146-147, 149, 151-152, 157-158, 160-162, 164, 167-168, 170, 173, 176, 178, 180, 183-186, 189, 191-192, 195, 199, 204-206, 209-212, 215-218, 220-233, 235-240, 243-260, 263-265, 269-270, 274-280, 282-292, 294, 296-297, 299-300, 302-306, 308, 312-313, 315-323, 325, 327-329, 331-332, 334, 343-344, 346-348, 350, 354-355, or 358.

11 . The yeast strain of claim 9 , wherein the yeast strain is selected from any species belonging to the genera Saccharomyces, Pichia, Kluyveromyces, Hansenula, Yarrowia or Schizosaccharomyces.

12 . The yeast strain of claim 11 , wherein the yeast strain is selected from the group consisting of Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae , and Pichia pastoris.

13 . (canceled)

14 . A method of producing a KPV, the method comprising:

(a) preparing a vector comprising a first expression cassette comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of, a polynucleotide operable to encode a KPV, or a complementary nucleotide sequence thereof, said KPV comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence according to Formula (I): X 1 —X 2 —X 3 —X 4 —X 5 —X 6 —X 7 —X 8 —X 9 —X 10 —X 11 —X 12 —X 13 —X 14 —X 15 —X 16 —X 17 —C—X 18 —P—X 19 —X 20 —X 21 —X 22 —X 23 —X 24 —X 25 —X 26 —X 27 —X 28 -G-X 29 —X 30 —X 31 —X 32 —X 33 —X 34 —X 35 —X 36 —X 37 ; wherein the KPV comprises at least one amino acid substitution relative to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; wherein X 1 is G, E, N, or absent; X 2 is N, S, A, G, or absent; X 3 is A, T, S, Q, G, L, W, V, D, or P; X 4 is I, Y, V, A, or L; X 5 is C, H, or Y; X 6 is T, S, E, or R; X 7 is G, E, K, D, or P; X 8 is A, G, I, or E; X 9 is D, N, or G; X 10 is R, G, S, K, H, Y, L, or M; X 11 is P or A; X 12 is C, R, N, S, A, G, Y, or K; X 13 is A, H, G, or S; X 14 is A, G, or I; X 15 is C, G, I, E, or F; X 16 is C or N; X 17 is P or M; X 18 is C or Y; X 19 is G, R, or P; X 20 is T, G, H, S, E, N, I, or Q; X 21 is S, T, K, or R; X 22 is C or S; X 23 is G, Q, T, A, K, N, H, I, or absent; X 24 is K, E, G, T, P, Q, S, D, V, Y, R, N, M, L, I, A, F, or W; X 25 is A, D, P, R, S, E, I, F, Q, Y, T, or W; X 26 is E, R, D, T, G, W, A, F, H, M, or S; X 27 is S, V, H, G, Q, I, D, P, A, W, T, or K; X 28 is N, A, W, E, G, L, R, or V; X 29 is V, L, I, A, P, S, or G; X 30 is S, F, G, K, P, A, Y, T, R, C, or W; X 31 is Y, N, L, R, W, H, or F; X 32 is C or G; X 33 is R or Q; X 34 is K, N, A, R, V, G, L, M, E, D, H, I, P, Q, S, or T; X 35 is D, A, M, N, E, G, H, I, K, Q, R, S, V, Y, or absent; X 36 is E, K, F, V, or absent; X 37 is P, S, Q, or absent; with the proviso that the KPV does not comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 OR 253;

(b) introducing the vector into a host cell; and

(c) growing the host cell in a growth medium under conditions operable to enable expression of the HVP and secretion into the growth medium.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the KPV comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of, an amino sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2-7, 10-13, 16-19, 23, 25, 30-31, 35, 39-40, 45-46, 48, 50, 54-57, 60, 66, 68, 70-71, 73-74, 76-79, 85, 102, 110, 114, 124, 126, 140, 146-147, 149, 151-152, 157-158, 160-162, 164, 167-168, 170, 173, 176, 178, 180, 183-186, 189, 191-192, 195, 199, 204-206, 209-212, 215-218, 220-233, 235-240, 243-260, 263-265, 269-270, 274-280, 282-292, 294, 296-297, 299-300, 302-306, 308, 312-313, 315-323, 325, 327-329, 331-332, 334, 343-344, 346-348, 350, 354-355, or 358.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the vector is a plasmid comprising an alpha-MF signal.

17 . (canceled)

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the yeast strain is selected from any species belonging to the genera Saccharomyces, Pichia, Kluyveromyces, Hansenula, Yarrowia , or Schizosaccharomyces.

19 - 24 . (canceled)

25 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the vector comprises two or three expression cassettes, each expression cassette operable to encode the KPV of the first expression cassette, or a KPV of a different expression cassette.

26 . (canceled)

27 . A method of combating, controlling, or inhibiting a pest comprising, applying a pesticidally effective amount of the Kappa Peptide Variant (KPV) of claim 1 , the combination of claim 3 , or the composition of claim 4 , to: the pest, a locus of the pest, a food supply of the pest, a habitat of the pest, or a breeding ground of the pest; a plant, a seed, a plant part, a locus of a plant, or an environment of a plant that is susceptible to an attack by the pest; an animal, a locus of an animal, or an environment of an animal susceptible to an attack by the pest; or a combination thereof.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the pest is an insect.

29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the pest is a lepidopteran insect, a dipteran insect, a coleopteran insect, or a non-insect arthropod pest.

30 - 32 . (canceled)

33 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the pest is selected from the group comprising: Acariformes sp.; Acleris gloverana, Acrobasis vaccinii; Adoxophyes orana, Aedes aegypti; Agrotis ipsilon ; Aleyrodidae sp.; Alsophila pometaria , Ambylomma americanum; Amblyomma maculatum; Amorbia humerosana; Anarsia lineatella, Anomala orientalis; Anthonomus eugenii; Anticarsia gemmatalis ; Aphidoidea sp.; Aphis glycines Matsumura; Archips argyrospilia, Archips podana, Archips rosana, Argyrotaenia citrana, Argyrotaenia ljungiana; Argyrotaenia velutinana, Automeris io; Batrachedra comosae; Busseola fusca ; Caudra cautella , Cerotoma spp.; Chaetocnema concinna, Chilo auricilius; Chilo partellus; Chilo suppressalis; Choristoneura fumiferana; Choristoneura pinus; Choristoneura rosaceana; Chrysodeixis includens Walker; Circulifer tenellus; Colias eurytheme; Coniesta ignefusalis; Conoderus rudis; Cosmopolites sordidus; Cotinis nitida, Crambus sp.; Crocidosema spp.; Culex pipiens; Culex quinquefasciatus; Curculio caryae; Curculio occidentis; Cyclocephala borealis; Cyclocephala lurida; Cydia funebrana; Cydia molesta; Cydia nigricana, Cydia pomonella; Cydia splendana ; Cylas formicarius; Datana integerrima, Datana major; Dermacentor albipictus; Dermacentor andersoni; Dermacentor occidentalis; Dermacentor variabilis ; Diabrotica spp.; Diabrotica virgifera; Diaphania hyalinata; Diaprepes abbreviatus; Diatraea crambidoides; Diatraea saccharalis; Diatraea spp.; Dorysthenes buqueti, Dryocampa rubicunda, Earias insulana; Ennomos subsignaria, Ephestia elutella, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant, Epiphyas postvittana; Erinnyis ello; Erionota thrax; Estigmene acrea, Euetheola humilis; Eumorpha achemon; Euwallacea fornicatus; Euxesta stigmatias; Evergestis rimosalis; Grapholita delineana; Grapholita molesta; Grapholita packardi; Halyomorpha halys; Harrisina americana, Helicoverpa armigera, Helicoverpa spp.; Helicoverpa zea, Heliothis virescens; Heterocampa guttivitta; Homadaula anisocentra; Hypera postica, Hypera zoilus; Hypercompe scribonia, Hyphantria cunea; Hypothenemus hampei; Ixodes cookei, Ixodes pacificus; Ixodes scapularis; Lambdina fiscellaria ; Lasiocampidae sp.; Leptinotarsa decemlineata; Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus; Listronotus maculicollis; Lobesia botrana, Lymantria dispar; Maladera castanea, Maliarpha separatella, Manduca quinquemaculata, Manduca sexta, Melanagromyza soja Zehntner; Melissopus latiferreanus; Neophasia menapia, Noctua pronuba ; Noctuid sp.; Nymphula stagnata; Orgyia pseudotsugata; Orgyia vetusta; Ostrinia furnacalis; Ostrinia nubilalis; Otiorhynchus ovatus; Paleacrita merriccata; Pandemis cerasana, Papilio cresphontes; Paralobesia viteana; Pectinophora gossypiella, Pegomya betae; Pemphigus betae; Peridroma saucia; Phryganidia californica; Phyllophaga sp.; Pieris rapae; Plathypena scabra; Platynota flavedana; Platynota idaeusalis; Platynota stultana, Platyptilia carduidactyla, Playnota stultana; Plodia interpunctella, Plutella xylostella, Popillia japonica; Pseudaletia unipuncta, Pseudoplusia includens; Rhipicephalus sangunineus; Rhizotroqus majalis; Sabulodes aegrotata; Schizura concinna; Scirpophaga incertulas; Scirpophaga innotata, Scutigerella immaculata; Sesamia calamistis; Sibine stimulea , Sminthurus viridis; Sparganothis pilleriana; Sphenophorus apicalis; Sphenophorus cariosus; Sphenophorus inaequalis; Sphenophorus minimus; Sphenophorus parvulus; Sphenophorus spp.; Spilonota ocellana, Spodoptera exigua; Spodoptera frugiperda; Spodoptera littoralis; Spodoptera sp.; Symmetrischema tangolias; Syntomeida epilais ; Telchin licus; Tetanops myopaeformis ; Tetranychidae sp.; Thaumatotibia ( Cryptophlebia ) leucotreta, Thecla basilides; Thymelicus lineola; Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis ; Thysanoptera sp.; Trichoplusia ni , Xanthogaleruca luteola , Xylomyges curialis; or Xylotrechus quadripes.

34 . (canceled)

35 . A Kappa Peptide Variant (KPV), having pesticidal activity against one or more pests, said KPV comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of, an amino acid sequence that is at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 229, 264, or 325, or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof, with the proviso that the KPV does not comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 253.

36 - 39 . (canceled)

40 . A Kappa Peptide Variant (KPV), having pesticidal activity against one or more pests, said KPV consisting of an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 2, 229, 264, 325, or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof.

41 - 43 . (canceled)

44 . (canceled)

45 - 48 . (canceled)