The crystal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis have been extensively studied because of their pesticidal properties and their high natural levels of production. The increasingly rapid characterization of new crystal protein genes, triggered by an effort to discover proteins with new pesticidal properties, has resulted in a variety of sequences and activities that no longer fit the original nome...

Transgenic plants expressing combinations of microbial or plant pesticidal proteins represent a promising tool for the efficient, durable control of herbivorous insects. In this review we describe current strategies devised for the heterologous co-expression of pesticidal proteins in planta, some of which have already shown usefulness in plant protection. Emphasis is placed on protein engineeri...

Background Pesticidal RNAs that silence critical gene function have great potential in pest management, but the benefits of this technology must be weighed against non-target organism risks. Methods Published studies that developed pesticidal double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) were collated into a database. The target gene sequences for these pesticidal RNAs were determined, and the degree of simi...

Indian Neem tree is known for its pesticidal and medicinal properties for centuries. Structure elucidation of large number of secondary metabolites responsible for its diverse properties has been achieved. However, this data is spread over various books, scientific reports and publications and difficult to access. We have compiled and stored structural details of neem metabolites in NeeMDB, a d...

the presence of tribolium castaneum (herbst) in a stored food results in contamination and substantial economic damage due to loss of the products and a decrease in nutritional value. this study was conducted to determine the pesticidal and pest repellent activities of roots of laportea crenulata gaud. against t. castaneum. pesticidal activity was determined using surface film method, whereas, ...

The concurrent determination of pesticidal and non-pesticidal organotin compounds in several water matrices, using a simultaneous in situ ethylation and liquid-liquid extraction followed by splitless injection mode capillary gas chromatography with pulsed flame photometric detection, is described. The speciation analysis of nine organotin compounds includes low molecular weight low boiling (non...

During the past decade the pesticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis has been the subject of intensive research. These efforts have yielded considerable data about the complex relationships between the structure, mechanism of action, and genetics of the organism's pesticidal crystal proteins, and a coherent picture of these relationships is beginning to emerge. Other studies have focused on t...

While the problem of pesticidal contamination of the environment is far from being solved, considerable useful information has emerged from the research efforts made by many scientists in recent years. First, we now know by experience that the chemicals that cause environmental problems are the ones which are extremely persistent in nature, biologically active, and easily concentrated in biolog...

Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) is a well-known entomopathogen. The pesticidal activity of this organism resides primarily in the proteinaceous, crystalline inclusion bodies (i.e. the Cry proteins). However, roles for additional principles such as the components of the spores, the heat-stable exotoxins (beta-exotoxins), phospholipases, proteases and chitinases have been implicated in the overall ...