IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,600,982
Granted Patent B2
US 12,600,982 · App. 18/459,547 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Insecticidal variant CRY1B polypeptides having improved activity spectrum and uses thereof

Inventors: Caroline Horn (Los Altos, CA); Sabina Lau (Cupertino, CA); Michi Izumi Willcoxon (Palo Alto, CA); Takashi Yamamoto (Dublin, CA); Yi Zheng (Newark, CA)
Assignee: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
C12N15/8286C07K14/325Y02A40/146
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,600,982
App. No.
18/459,547
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, derived from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding variant polypeptides having increased pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera and Coleopteran. Particular embodiments of the disclosure 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.

Claims (13)

1 . A variant Cry1B polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 66, wherein the variant Cry1B polypeptide has increased insecticidal activity against corn earworm and/or fall armyworm compared to a Cry1B polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 1.

2 . The variant Cry1B polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the variant Cry1B polypeptide has increased insecticidal activity against corn earworm and/or fall armyworm compared to a Cry1B polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 47.

3 . The variant Cry1B polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the variant Cry1B polypeptide has increased insecticidal activity against corn earworm and/or fall armyworm compared to a Cry1B polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 41.

4 . A recombinant polynucleotide encoding a variant Cry1B polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 66, wherein the variant Cry1B polypeptide has increased insecticidal activity against corn earworm and/or fall armyworm compared to a Cry1 B polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 1.

5 . The recombinant polynucleotide of claim 4 , wherein its nucleic acid sequence has been optimized for expression in a plant.

6 . A DNA construct comprising the polynucleotide of claim 4 operably linked to a heterologous regulatory element.

7 . A transgenic plant comprising the DNA construct of claim 6 .

8 . A seed comprising the DNA construct of claim 6 .

9 . A composition comprising the variant Cry1B polypeptide of claim 1 .

10 . A method for controlling a Lepidopteran pest population comprising contacting said population with a pesticidally-effective amount of the variant Cry1B polypeptide of claim 1 .

11 . A method for killing a Lepidopteran pest comprising contacting said pest with, or feeding to said pest, a pesticidally-effective amount of the variant Cry1B polypeptide of claim 1 .

12 . A plant or plant cell having stably incorporated into its genome the DNA construct of claim 6 .

13 . A method of protecting a plant from an insect pest, comprising introducing into said plant the DNA construct of claim 6 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2024
From: HORN, CAROLINE; LAU, SABINA; WILLCOXON, MICHI IZUMI; YAMAMOTO, TAKASHI; ZHENG, YI
To: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 066531/0610 →
Continuity (3)
Division 16092342
Provisional Application 62322535 · Apr 14, 2016
Related Publication 20240018537A1 · Jan 18, 2024
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