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Mullins E, Bresson J, Dalmay T, Dewhurst IC, Epstein MM, Firbank LG, Guerche P, Hejatko J, Naegeli H, Moreno FJ, Nogué F, Rostoks N, Sánchez Serrano JJ, Savoini G, Veromann E, Veronesi F, Ardizzone M, De Sanctis G, Silvia F, Dumont AF, Gennaro A, Gómez Ruiz JÁ, Grammatikou P, Goumperis T, Kagkli DM, Lenzi P, Lewandowska A, Camargo AM, Neri FM, Piffanelli P, Raffaello T, Xiftou K. Assessment of genetically modified maize MON 95275 (application GMFF-2022-5890). EFSA J 2024; 22:e8886. [PMID: 39099613 PMCID: PMC11292213 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetically modified maize MON 95275 was developed to confer protection to certain coleopteran species. These properties were achieved by introducing the mpp75Aa1.1, vpb4Da2 and DvSnf7 expression cassettes. The molecular characterisation data and bioinformatic analyses reveal similarity to known toxins, which was further assessed. None of the identified differences in the agronomic/phenotypic and compositional characteristics tested between maize MON 95275 and its conventional counterpart needs further assessment. The GMO Panel does not identify safety concerns regarding the toxicity and allergenicity of the Mpp75Aa1.1 and Vpb4Da2 proteins and the DvSnf7 dsRNA and derived siRNAs as expressed in maize MON 95275 and finds no evidence that the genetic modification would change the overall allergenicity of maize MON 95275. In the context of this application, the consumption of food and feed from maize MON 95275 does not represent a nutritional concern in humans and animals. The GMO Panel concludes that maize MON 95275 is as safe as the conventional counterpart and non-GM maize varieties tested, and no post-market monitoring of food/feed is considered necessary. In the case of accidental release of maize MON 95275 material into the environment, this would not raise environmental safety concerns. The post-market environmental monitoring plan and reporting intervals are in line with the intended uses of maize MON 95275. The GMO Panel concludes that maize MON 95275 is as safe as its conventional counterpart and the tested non-GM maize varieties with respect to potential effects on human and animal health and the environment.
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Ribeiro TP, Martins-de-Sa D, Macedo LLP, Lourenço-Tessutti IT, Ruffo GC, Sousa JPA, Rósario Santana JMD, Oliveira-Neto OB, Moura SM, Silva MCM, Morgante CV, Oliveira NG, Basso MF, Grossi-de-Sa MF. Cotton plants overexpressing the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry23Aa and Cry37Aa binary-like toxins exhibit high resistance to the cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis). PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 344:112079. [PMID: 38588981 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The cotton boll weevil (CBW, Anthonomus grandis) stands as one of the most significant threats to cotton crops (Gossypium hirsutum). Despite substantial efforts, the development of a commercially viable transgenic cotton event for effective open-field control of CBW has remained elusive. This study describes a detailed characterization of the insecticidal toxins Cry23Aa and Cry37Aa against CBW. Our findings reveal that CBW larvae fed on artificial diets supplemented exclusively with Cry23Aa decreased larval survival by roughly by 69%, while supplementation with Cry37Aa alone displayed no statistical difference compared to the control. However, the combined provision of both toxins in the artificial diet led to mortality rates approaching 100% among CBW larvae (LC50 equal to 0.26 PPM). Additionally, we engineered transgenic cotton plants by introducing cry23Aa and cry37Aa genes under control of the flower bud-specific pGhFS4 and pGhFS1 promoters, respectively. Seven transgenic cotton events expressing high levels of Cry23Aa and Cry37Aa toxins in flower buds were selected for greenhouse bioassays, and the mortality rate of CBW larvae feeding on their T0 and T1 generations ranged from 75% to 100%. Our in silico analyses unveiled that Cry23Aa displays all the hallmark characteristics of β-pore-forming toxins (β-PFTs) that bind to sugar moieties in glycoproteins. Intriguingly, we also discovered a distinctive zinc-binding site within Cry23Aa, which appears to be involved in protein-protein interactions. Finally, we discuss the major structural features of Cry23Aa that likely play a role in the toxin's mechanism of action. In view of the low LC50 for CBW larvae and the significant accumulation of these toxins in the flower buds of both T0 and T1 plants, we anticipate that through successive generations of these transgenic lines, cotton plants engineered to overexpress cry23Aa and cry37Aa hold promise for effectively managing CBW infestations in cotton crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuanne Pires Ribeiro
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Diogo Martins-de-Sa
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil; Genesilico Biotech, Brasília, DF 71503-508, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Lima Pepino Macedo
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Isabela Tristan Lourenço-Tessutti
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Caseca Ruffo
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 71966-700, Brazil
| | - João Pedro Abreu Sousa
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 71966-700, Brazil
| | - Julia Moura do Rósario Santana
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 71966-700, Brazil
| | - Osmundo Brilhante Oliveira-Neto
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Euroamerican University Center, Unieuro, Brasília, DF 70790-160, Brazil
| | - Stéfanie Menezes Moura
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Mattar Silva
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Carolina Vianna Morgante
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Embrapa Semi-Arid, Pretrolina, PE 56302-970, Brazil
| | - Nelson Geraldo Oliveira
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Marcos Fernando Basso
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brasília, DF 70770-917, Brazil; Graduate Program in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF 71966-700, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Catholic University Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS 79117-900, Brazil.
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Tavares CS, Mishra R, Kishk A, Wang X, Ghobrial PN, Killiny N, Bonning BC. The beta pore-forming bacterial pesticidal protein Tpp78Aa1 is toxic to the Asian citrus psyllid vector of the citrus greening bacterium. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 204:108122. [PMID: 38710321 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108122] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri transmits the causative agent of huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, that has decimated global citrus production. Pesticidal proteins derived from bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can provide effective and environmentally friendly alternatives for management of D. citri, but few with sufficient toxicity to D. citri have been identified. Here, we report on the toxicity of 14 Bt-derived pesticidal proteins from five different structural groups against D. citri. These proteins were selected based on previously reported toxicity to other hemipteran species and on pesticidal protein availability. Most of the proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from inclusion bodies or His-tag affinity purification, while App6Aa2 was expressed in Bt and purified from spore/crystal mixtures. Pesticidal proteins were initially screened by feeding psyllids on a single dose, and lethal concentration (LC50) then determined for proteins with significantly greater mortality than the buffer control. The impact of CLas infection of D. citri on toxicity was assessed for selected proteins via topical feeding. The Bt protein Tpp78Aa1 was toxic to D. citri adults with an LC50 of approximately 204 µg/mL. Nymphs were more susceptible to Tpp78Aa1 than adults but no significant difference in susceptibility was observed between healthy and CLas-infected nymphs or adults. Tpp78Aa1 and other reported D. citri-active proteins may provide valuable tools for suppression of D. citri populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clebson S Tavares
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Ruchir Mishra
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Abdelaziz Kishk
- Department of Plant Pathology, Citrus Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA; Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University 31527, Egypt
| | - Xinyue Wang
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Pierre N Ghobrial
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nabil Killiny
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University 31527, Egypt
| | - Bryony C Bonning
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Babar TK, Glare TR, Hampton JG, Hurst MRH, Narciso J, Sheen CR, Koch B. Linocin M18 protein from the insect pathogenic bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus isolates. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:4337-4353. [PMID: 37204448 PMCID: PMC10313851 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12563-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Brevibacillus laterosporus (Bl) is a Gram-positive and spore-forming bacterium. Insect pathogenic strains have been characterised in New Zealand, and two isolates, Bl 1821L and Bl 1951, are under development for use in biopesticides. However, growth in culture is sometimes disrupted, affecting mass production. Based on previous work, it was hypothesised that Tectiviridae phages might be implicated. While investigating the cause of the disrupted growth, electron micrographs of crude lysates showed structural components of putative phages including capsid and tail-like structures. Sucrose density gradient purification yielded a putative self-killing protein of ~30 kDa. N-terminal sequencing of the ~30 kDa protein identified matches to a predicted 25 kDa hypothetical and a 31.4 kDa putative encapsulating protein homologs, with the genes encoding each protein adjacent in the genomes. BLASTp analysis of the homologs of 31.4 kDa amino acid sequences shared 98.6% amino acid identity to the Linocin M18 bacteriocin family protein of Brevibacterium sp. JNUCC-42. Bioinformatic tools including AMPA and CellPPD defined that the bactericidal potential originated from a putative encapsulating protein. Antagonistic activity of the ~30 kDa encapsulating protein of Bl 1821L and Bl 1951during growth in broth exhibited bacterial autolytic activity. LIVE/DEAD staining of Bl 1821L cells after treatment with the ~30 kDa encapsulating protein of Bl 1821L substantiated the findings by showing 58.8% cells with the compromised cell membranes as compared to 37.5% cells in the control. Furthermore, antibacterial activity of the identified proteins of Bl 1821L was validated through gene expression in a Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis WB800N. KEY POINTS: • Gene encoding the 31.4 kDa antibacterial Linocin M18 protein was identified • It defined the autocidal activity of Linocin M18 (encapsulating) protein • Identified the possible killing mechanism of the encapsulins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tauseef K Babar
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand.
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60000, Pakistan.
| | - Travis R Glare
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
| | - John G Hampton
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
| | - Mark R H Hurst
- Resilient Agriculture, AgResearch, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Josefina Narciso
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 7647, New Zealand
| | - Campbell R Sheen
- Protein Science and Engineering, Callaghan Innovation, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Barbara Koch
- Protein Science and Engineering, Callaghan Innovation, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Wang C, Bean GJ, Chen CJ, Kessenich CR, Peng J, Visconti NR, Milligan JS, Moore RG, Tan J, Edrington TC, Li B, Giddings KS, Bowen D, Luo J, Ciche T, Moar WJ. Safety assessment of Mpp75Aa1.1, a new ETX_MTX2 protein from Brevibacillus laterosporus that controls western corn rootworm. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274204. [PMID: 36074780 PMCID: PMC9455866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The recently discovered insecticidal protein Mpp75Aa1.1 from Brevibacillus laterosporus is a member of the ETX_MTX family of beta-pore forming proteins (β-PFPs) expressed in genetically modified (GM) maize to control western corn rootworm (WCR; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte). In this manuscript, bioinformatic analysis establishes that although Mpp75Aa1.1 shares varying degrees of similarity to members of the ETX_MTX2 protein family, it is unlikely to have any allergenic, toxic, or otherwise adverse biological effects. The safety of Mpp75Aa1.1 is further supported by a weight of evidence approach including evaluation of the history of safe use (HOSU) of ETX_MTX2 proteins and Breviballus laterosporus. Comparisons between purified Mpp75Aa1.1 protein and a poly-histidine-tagged (His-tagged) variant of the Mpp75Aa1.1 protein demonstrate that both forms of the protein are heat labile at temperatures at or above 55°C, degraded by gastrointestinal proteases within 0.5 min, and have no adverse effects in acute mouse oral toxicity studies at a dose level of 1920 or 2120 mg/kg body weight. These results support the use of His-tagged proteins as suitable surrogates for assessing the safety of their non-tagged parent proteins. Taken together, we report that Mpp75Aa1.1 is the first ETX-MTX2 insecticidal protein from B. laterosporus and displays a similar safety profile as typical Cry proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunxi Wang
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Gregory J. Bean
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Chun Ju Chen
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | | | - Jiexin Peng
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | | | - Jason S. Milligan
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Robert G. Moore
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jianguo Tan
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | | | - Bin Li
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kara S. Giddings
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Bowen
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jinhua Luo
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Todd Ciche
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - William J. Moar
- Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
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Moar WJ, Giddings KS, Narva KE, Nelson ME. Enhancing global food security by using bacterial proteins with improved safety profiles to control insect pests. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 187:107704. [PMID: 34896129 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- William J Moar
- Bayer Crop Science, 700 Chesterfield Parkway, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA.
| | - Kara S Giddings
- Bayer Crop Science, 700 Chesterfield Parkway, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA
| | - Kenneth E Narva
- Corteva Agriscience, 7300 NW 62nd Ave., Johnston, IA 50131, USA
| | - Mark E Nelson
- Corteva Agriscience, 7300 NW 62nd Ave., Johnston, IA 50131, USA
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