Patent
The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera . Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, 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, especially plant pests.
1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having pesticidal activity against Ostrinia nubilalis, Helicoverpa zea and Agrotis ipsilon selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and
(b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
2. A DNA construct comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 .
3. The DNA construct of claim 2 , further comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous polypeptide.
4. A host cell that contains the DNA construct of claim 2 .
5. The host cell of claim 4 that is a bacterial cell.
6. The host cell of claim 4 that is a plant cell.
7. A method for producing a polypeptide with pesticidal activity against Ostrinia nubilalis, Helicoverpa zea and Agrotis ipsilon , comprising culturing the host cell of claim 5 under conditions in which a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide is expressed, said polypeptide being selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; and
(b) a polypeptide that is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
8. A method for protecting a plant from Ostrinia nubilalis, Helicoverpa zea and Agrotis ipsilon , comprising introducing to said plant or cell thereof at least one expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a pesticidal polypeptide active against Ostrinia nubilalis, Helicoverpa zea and Agrotis ipsilon , wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of:
a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and
b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.