A new Bacillus thuringiensis protein for Western corn rootworm control

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 11; p. e0242791
• Main Authors: Yin, Yong, Flasinski, Stanislaw, Moar, William, Bowen, David, Chay, Cathy, Milligan, Jason, Kouadio, Jean-Louis, Pan, Aihong, Werner, Brent, Buckman, Karrie, Zhang, Jun, Mueller, Geoffrey, Preftakes, Collin, Hibbard, Bruce E, Price, Paula, Roberts, James
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 30-11-2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Agricultural pests; Animals; Bacillus thuringiensis; Bacillus thuringiensis - genetics; Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins - genetics; Bioassays; Biology and Life Sciences; Chemical properties; Cloning; Coleoptera - genetics; Coleoptera - pathogenicity; Control; Corn; Crop science; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diseases and pests; DNA; Dust control; E coli; Economic importance; Engineering and Technology; Gene sequencing; Genomes; Hemolysin Proteins - genetics; Humans; Insect pests; Insecticide resistance; Insecticide Resistance - genetics; Insecticides - adverse effects; Insecticides - chemistry; Insects; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mortality; Pest Control, Biological; Pests; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - parasitology; Plasmids; Proteins; Research and Analysis Methods; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Zea mays - genetics; Zea mays - parasitology; United States; United States > US; North America; Missouri
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242791

The Western corn rootworm (WCR) Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte is one of the most economically important insect pests in North America. Since 2003, transgenic maize expressing WCR-active proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been widely adopted as the main approach to controlling WCR in the U.S. However, the emergence of field resistance to the Bt proteins in current commercial products has been documented in recent years, highlighting the need to develop additional tools for controlling this devasting pest. Here we report the discovery of Vpb4Da2 (initially assigned as Vip4Da2), a new insecticidal protein highly selective against WCR, through high-throughput genome sequencing of a Bt strain sourced from grain dust samples collected in the eastern and central regions of the US. Vpb4Da2 contains a sequence and domain signature distinct from families of other WCR-active proteins. Under field conditions, transgenic maize expressing Vpb4Da2 demonstrates commercial-level (at or below NIS 0.25) root protection against WCR, and reduces WCR beetle emergence by ≥ 97%. Our studies also conclude that Vpb4Da2 controls WCR populations that are resistant to WCR-active transgenic maize expressing Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 (reassigned as Gpp34Ab1/Tpp35Ab1), or DvSnf7 RNA. Based on these findings, Vpb4Da2 represents a valuable new tool for protecting maize against WCR.