About this Research Topic
The focus of this Research Topic is on improvement of the action of Cry toxins produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, especially on the relationships between these entomopathogenic proteins and their respective receptors located on the mesenteron of target pests.
Such improvements could be through genetic modifications introducing point mutations in the Cry genes, leading to enhanced activity of Cry toxins and/or to a wider range of pests affected. An alternative way to improve Bacillus thuringiensis for pest control is introducing modifications in pest receptor genes, to allow for better interactions with the Cry proteins, thus improving their pest control properties.
The aim of this Research Topic is to gather a collection of articles describing the recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of action of Cry toxins, with special focus on different resistance mechanisms that insects developed to combat their action (such as mutations in cadherin, APN and ABC transportes). We also welcome articles on pest genome analysis, with a focus on proteins that present targets for pest control (cadherines, alkaline phosphatases, aminopeptidases, ABC transporters).
Specific topics include but are not limited to the following:
Receptor identification and role of different receptors in Cry toxin action
Mechanisms of resistance to Cry toxins in different insects
Transcriptomic and proteomic insights into insect resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxins
Bacillus thuringiensis insecticides as an environmentally friendly technology
Such improvements could be through genetic modifications introducing point mutations in the Cry genes, leading to enhanced activity of Cry toxins and/or to a wider range of pests affected. An alternative way to improve Bacillus thuringiensis for pest control is introducing modifications in pest receptor genes, to allow for better interactions with the Cry proteins, thus improving their pest control properties.
The aim of this Research Topic is to gather a collection of articles describing the recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of action of Cry toxins, with special focus on different resistance mechanisms that insects developed to combat their action (such as mutations in cadherin, APN and ABC transportes). We also welcome articles on pest genome analysis, with a focus on proteins that present targets for pest control (cadherines, alkaline phosphatases, aminopeptidases, ABC transporters).
Specific topics include but are not limited to the following:
Receptor identification and role of different receptors in Cry toxin action
Mechanisms of resistance to Cry toxins in different insects
Transcriptomic and proteomic insights into insect resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxins
Bacillus thuringiensis insecticides as an environmentally friendly technology
Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis, pests, insecticide, genetic modifications, receptor identification
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
