1
|
Hemthanon T, Promdonkoy B, Boonserm P. Screening and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis isolates for high production of Vip3A and Cry proteins and high thermostability to control Spodoptera spp. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 201:108020. [PMID: 37956858 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.108020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is an entomopathogenic bacterium that produces crystalline (Cry and Cyt) and soluble (vegetative insecticidal proteins or Vips) proteins during the sporulation and vegetative growth phases, respectively. Combining Cry and Vip proteins could delay insect resistance development and exhibit synergistic activity against various insect pests. This study aims to screen Bt isolates collected from Thailand for high Vip3A and Cry protein production levels and high thermostability to control Spodoptera spp. Among the selected Bt isolates with high target protein synthesis, Bt isolate 506 was found to be safe for further biopesticide formulation due to the absence of non-specific metabolite, as determined by the detection of thermo-stable β-exotoxin I based on biological assays and PCR analysis. Bt isolate 506 showed the presence of Cry1A, Cry2A, and Vip3A-type proteins identified as Cry1Aa45, Cry2Aa22, and Vip3A87, respectively. The insecticidal activity of whole culture extracts containing Vip3A and Cry mixtures and culture supernatants containing secreted Vip3A protein was evaluated against the second-instar larvae of S. exigua and S. frugiperda. The Bt isolate 506 showed high toxicity against both insects, and the insecticidal proteins produced by this isolate retained their activity after heating at 50 °C. This Bt isolate is a promising candidate for further development as a biopesticide against lepidopteran pests.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tharathip Hemthanon
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Boonhiang Promdonkoy
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
| | - Panadda Boonserm
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Baranek J, Pogodziński B, Szipluk N, Zielezinski A. TOXiTAXi: a web resource for toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis protein compositions towards species of various taxonomic groups. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19767. [PMID: 33188218 PMCID: PMC7666212 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75932-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioinsecticides consisting of different sets of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry, Cyt and Vip toxins are broadly used in pest control. Possible interactions (synergistic, additive or antagonistic) between these proteins can not only influence the overall efficacy of certain Bt-based bioinsecticide, but also raise questions regarding environmental safety. Here, we assemble, summarize and analyze the outcomes of experiments published over 30 years, investigating combinatorial effects among Bt Cry, Cyt and Vip toxins. We collected the results on 118 various two-to-five-component combinations that have been bioassayed against 38 invertebrate species. Synergism, additive effect and antagonism was indicated in 54%, 32% and 14% of experiments, respectively. Synergism was noted most frequently for Cry/Cyt combinations, followed by Cyt/Vip and Cry/Cry. In Cry/Vip combinations, antagonism is more frequent and higher in magnitude compared to other categories. Despite a significant number of tested Bt toxin combinations, most of them have been bioassayed only against one pest species. To aid the research on Bt pesticidal protein activity, we present TOXiTAXi ( http://www.combio.pl/toxitaxi/ ), a universal database and a dedicated web tool to conveniently gather and analyze the existing and future bioassay results on biocidal activity of toxins against various taxonomic groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Baranek
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Bartłomiej Pogodziński
- Department of Computational Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
| | - Norbert Szipluk
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
| | - Andrzej Zielezinski
- Department of Computational Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Núñez-Ramírez R, Huesa J, Bel Y, Ferré J, Casino P, Arias-Palomo E. Molecular architecture and activation of the insecticidal protein Vip3Aa from Bacillus thuringiensis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3974. [PMID: 32769995 PMCID: PMC7414852 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17758-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3 (Vegetative Insecticidal Protein 3) toxins are widely used in biotech crops to control Lepidopteran pests. These proteins are produced as inactive protoxins that need to be activated by midgut proteases to trigger cell death. However, little is known about their three-dimensional organization and activation mechanism at the molecular level. Here, we have determined the structures of the protoxin and the protease-activated state of Vip3Aa at 2.9 Å using cryo-electron microscopy. The reconstructions show that the protoxin assembles into a pyramid-shaped tetramer with the C-terminal domains exposed to the solvent and the N-terminal region folded into a spring-loaded apex that, after protease activation, drastically remodels into an extended needle by a mechanism akin to that of influenza haemagglutinin. These results provide the molecular basis for Vip3 activation and function, and serves as a strong foundation for the development of more efficient insecticidal proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Núñez-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juanjo Huesa
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
- Estructura de Recerca Interdisciplinar en Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (ERI BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Yolanda Bel
- Estructura de Recerca Interdisciplinar en Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (ERI BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Juan Ferré
- Estructura de Recerca Interdisciplinar en Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (ERI BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Patricia Casino
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
- Estructura de Recerca Interdisciplinar en Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (ERI BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
- CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ernesto Arias-Palomo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tabashnik BE, Carrière Y. Evaluating Cross-resistance Between Vip and Cry Toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 113:553-561. [PMID: 31821498 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toz308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Crops genetically engineered to produce insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have revolutionized control of some major pests. Some recently introduced Bt crops make Vip3Aa, a vegetative insecticidal protein (Vip), which reportedly does not share binding sites or structural homology with the crystalline (Cry) proteins of Bt used widely in transgenic crops for more than two decades. Field-evolved resistance to Bt crops with practical consequences for pest control includes 21 cases that collectively reduce the efficacy of nine Cry proteins, but such practical resistance has not been reported yet for any Vip. Here, we review previously published data to evaluate cross-resistance between Vip and Cry toxins. We analyzed 31 cases based on 48 observations, with each case based on one to five observations assessing cross-resistance from pairwise comparisons between 21 resistant strains and 13 related susceptible strains of eight species of lepidopteran pests. Confirming results from previous analyses of smaller data sets, we found weak, statistically significant cross-resistance between Vip3 and Cry1 toxins, with a mean of 1.5-fold cross-resistance in 21 cases (range: 0.30-4.6-fold). Conversely, we did not detect significant positive cross-resistance between Vip3 toxins and Cry2Ab. Distinguishing between weak, significant cross-resistance, and no cross-resistance may be useful for better understanding mechanisms of resistance and effectively managing pest resistance to Bt crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yves Carrière
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Boonmee K, Thammasittirong SNR, Thammasittirong A. Molecular characterization of lepidopteran-specific toxin genes in Bacillus thuringiensis strains from Thailand. 3 Biotech 2019; 9:117. [PMID: 30854277 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-019-1646-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A total of 511 local isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis from different geographical regions of Thailand were analyzed for the presence of the cry1A, cry1B, cry2A, cry9, and vip3A genes encoding for lepidopteran-specific toxins. PCR results revealed that 94.32% (482/511) of B. thuringiensis isolates harbored at least one of the detected genes, of which the cry1A, cry1B, cry2A, cry9, and vip3A genes were detected at frequencies of 90.61%, 89.63%, 76.32%, 40.70%, and 48.18%, respectively. Nineteen gene-combination profiles were discovered among 482 B. thuringiensis isolates, of which the most frequently detected profile contained the cry1A, cry1B, cry2A, and vip3A genes. Sixty-one isolates (12.66%), which harbored all of the detected insecticidal toxin genes, were further detected for the exochitinase (chi36) gene and chitinase activity. The results revealed that all 61 isolates contained the chi36 gene and exhibited chitinase activity. Insect bioassays showed that five isolates were highly toxic (more than 80% mortality) against second instar larvae of Spodoptera litura, of which the highest insect mortality (93%) was obtained from the B. thuringiensis isolates 225-15 and 417-1. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the crystal morphologies of the five effective isolates were bipyramidal and cuboidal shapes. SDS-PAGE analysis of the spore-crystal mixture showed major bands of approximately 65 and 130 kDa. These five effective strains are alternative candidates for use as a microbial insecticide for the control of the S. litura pest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kesorn Boonmee
- 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, 73140 Thailand
| | - Sutticha Na-Ranong Thammasittirong
- 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, 73140 Thailand
- 2Microbial Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, 73140 Thailand
| | - Anon Thammasittirong
- 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, 73140 Thailand
- 2Microbial Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, 73140 Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chen W, Liu C, Lu G, Cheng H, Shen Z, Wu K. Effects of Vip3AcAa+Cry1Ac Cotton on Midgut Tissue in Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2018; 18:5076837. [PMID: 30137436 PMCID: PMC6101592 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iey075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
To determine cellular changes caused by the chimeric protein Vip3AcAa against Helicoverpa armigera, we used transmission electron microscopy to examine ultrastructural changes in midgut cells of third-instar larvae of Cry1Ac-susceptible H. armigera after feeding on an artificial diet containing the Vip3AcAa toxin. Midgut epithelial cells of Cry1Ac-resistant H. armigera larvae that had fed on an artificial diet containing Vip3AcAa or on Bt cotton expressing Vip3AcAa+Cry1Ac were also examined using optical microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining. In the midgut cells of H. armigera larvae fed with Vip3AcAa, microvilli were swollen and broken; inner cristae of the mitochondria were indistinct and vacuolated; endoplasmic reticulum was swollen, fractured, and disordered; boundaries of karyotheca in the nucleus were indistinct and chromatin underwent pyknosis and was pressed close to the karyotheca. Histopathological changes and the time of onset in midgut tissues of H. armigera larvae fed on Vip3AcAa or Cry1Ac were similar. Vip3AcAa and transgenic cotton expressing Vip3AcAa+Cry1Ac caused the goblet cell cavity and microvilli pathological changes in the midgut epithelial cells of the Cry1Ac-susceptible and Cry1Ac-resistant H. armigera larvae that eventually killed the larvae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Chen
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chenxi Liu
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guoqing Lu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongmei Cheng
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhicheng Shen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kongming Wu
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|