Enhancement of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry protein toxicities to coleopterans, and novel insect cadherin fragments

摘要

The subject invention relates in part to the discovery that a fragment from a cadherin of the western corn rootworm enhances Cry3 toxicity to larvae of naturally susceptible species. The subject invention also relates in part to the discovery that a cadherin fragment from a beetle enhances Cry3Aa and Cry3Bb toxicity to coleopteran larvae, particularly those in the family Chrysomelidae. Such cadherin fragments are referred to as Bt Boosters (BtBs). The subject invention can be extended to the use of BtBs with other coleopteran-toxic Cry proteins for controlling a wide range of coleopterans.