Methods and compositions for making and using compatible insecticidal proteins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12428649-B2
Application number	US-202217677648-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2022
Priority date	Mar 9, 2018
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

Pesticidal proteins (FFPP's) are used to produce derivatives (DP's) that are ineffective and disabled relative to conferring toxic properties upon a target pest, yet the ability of the DP to bind to the receptor to which said FFPP binds is unaffected. Such DP's are useful in inhibiting the FFPP from which it was derived when both are fed to a target pest and for comparing receptor binding capability and efficiency relative to different FFPP's from which the DP has been derived, providing for an assessment of different FFPP's relative to each other, and providing uniformity and certainty in combinations of such FFPP's for compositions, including transgenic plants, that can be used to control pest populations susceptible to both FFPP's, creating more durable transgenic plant products, inhibiting the development of resistance to such FFPP's when used in plants commercially, and in providing a durable and viable resistance management strategy for crops using such FFPP combinations. Polynucleotide sequences intended for use in expression of the DP's and FFPP's are also provided. Particular embodiments provide methods of designing and preparing DP's, as well as compositions and methods of using DP's and the FFPP's from which the DP's have been derived in more effective pesticidal compositions and products.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for selecting a first FFPP (fully functional pesticidal polypeptide) and a second FFPP that are compatible for use together in a composition for controlling a target pest, said method comprising:
a) selecting the first FFPP, which is toxic to a target pest and the second FFPP that is toxic to the target pest and is different from said first FFPP, wherein each of the first FFPP and the second FFP have toxic properties when provided individually in a diet of the target pest;
b) producing a first DT (disabled protein) from said first FFPP that, upon ingestion by said target pest, blocks the toxic properties conferred by said first FFPP;
c) producing a plurality of different mixtures containing a fixed but pesticidally effective amount of the second FFPP and increasing amounts of said first DT;
d) providing a dose of each mixture of step c) in the diet of at least three different individuals of said target pest;

wherein observing toxic properties in any individual in step d) is determinative that said first and second toxic agents are compatible for use together to control said target pest.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprising said first FFPP and said second FFPP is effective in controlling an insect pest infestation wherein said insects are selected from the group consisting of Arachnida, Coleoptera, Ctenocephalides, Diptera, Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera insects.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first FFPP and the second FFPP bind to different receptors in the target pest.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein preparing the first DP comprises the step of confirming that said first DP when used alone in a bioassay with said target pest has diminished toxicity against the target pest when compared to the toxicity of the first FFPP.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method identifies a combination of two FFPPs that has a decreased likelihood of development of resistance by said target pest against any one of the FFPPs relative to a combination that has not been selected by the method.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method identifies a combination of two FFPPs that has a delayed onset of resistance by said target pest against any one of the FFPPs relative to a combination that has not been selected by the method.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first DT does not itself confer toxic properties.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different mixtures comprises a plurality of molar ratios in which the first DP is present in a greater concentration than said second FFPP.

Assignees

• Monsanto Technology Llc

Inventors

• Baum James A
• Evdokimov Artem G
• Jerga Agoston
• Moshiri Farhad

Classifications

• G01N33/5085 Primary

  of invertebrates · CPC title

• G01N2333/43552

  from insects · CPC title

• C07K14/325

  Bacillus thuringiensis crystal peptides, i.e. delta-endotoxins · CPC title

• C12N15/8286 Primary

  for insect resistance · CPC title