Oral insecticidal composition containing protein fragments derived from a Xenorhabdus species

摘要

Provided is an insecticidal composition adapted for oral administration to an insect. The composition comprises a pesticidal material obtained from a Xenorhabdus species, or a pesticidal fragment thereof, or a pesticidal variant or derivative of either of these. The composition may in fact comprise cells of Xenorhabdus or alternatively supernatant taken from cultures of cells of Xenorhabdus species. However, the composition preferably comprises toxins isolated from Xenorhabdus. Toxic activity has been associated with material encoded by the nucleotide sequence of Figure 2. Thus, the composition suitably comprises a pesticidal material which is encoded by all or part of the nucleotide sequence of Figure 2.