BIOLOGICAL INSECT CONTROL AGENTS EXPRESSING INSECT-SPECIFIC MITE TOXIN GENES, METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS

摘要

Provided herein are genetically engineered baculoviruses which express insect-specific toxins, preferably paralytic neurotoxins, underthe regulatory control of strong promoters expressed early after infection and in a wide variety of insect cells. Particularly preferredinsect-specific paralytic neurotoxins are those of insect-predacious mites, including Pyemotes. The genetically engineered baculoviruses ofthe present invention are improved over prior art viruses in that they produce efficacious insect-toxic levels of the neurotoxin at earlier timesafter infection, particularly in comparison to baculoviruses in which the toxin is expressed under the control of a polyhedrin or granulinpromoter. Insect-toxic compositions are also provided and methods of insect control using these compositions are described.