抗苏云金杆菌毒素Cry1Ac粉纹夜蛾细胞系的特性研究

为了从离体细胞水平探讨昆虫对苏云金芽孢杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白的部分抗性机制,本文采用活化的Cry1Ac 毒素对粉纹夜蛾BTI-TN-581-4细胞连续筛选86代,获得了高水平抗性细胞,研究了其某些特性。它对Cry1c 产生了低水平的交互抗性,对低渗溶液的耐受性显著增强,双向电泳图谱表明抗性细胞膜蛋白组分发生了明显的变化。膜蛋白组分的变化可能导致了筛选细胞的耐低渗透压和抗Cry1C。     

棉铃虫对不同Bt蛋白的抗性及交互抗性研究

【目的】棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner)对Bt(Bacillus thuringiensis)的抗性问题是阻碍Bt抗虫棉持续发展的关键,探究棉铃虫对不同Bt蛋白的抗性演化趋势及交互抗性,可为选择合适的抗虫棉花备选基因提供参考。【方法】在室内通过连续多代筛选,获得了5个对Bt具有不同抗性的品系,利用饲料混合法测定了这些品系棉铃虫的交互抗性。【结果】经筛选后棉铃虫对Cry1Ac产生了超高水平的抗性、对Cry2Ab、Vip3Aa产生了超低抗性(耐性);Cry1Ac抗性棉铃虫停止筛选而换成Cry2Ab或Vip3Aa继续筛选后,棉铃虫对Cry1Ac抗性水平明显降低,对Cry2Ab或Vip3Aa产生低抗或超低抗性(耐性)。Cry1Ac抗性棉铃虫对Cry1Ab敏感性显著降低,而对Cry2Ab、Cry2Ah及Vip3Aa敏感性变化不显著;Cry2Ab抗性品系棉铃虫对Cry1Ac敏感性显著降低;Vip3Aa抗性品系棉铃虫对Cry1Ac敏感性变化不显著。说明Cry1Ac与Cry1Ab间存在明显交互抗性,与Cry2Ah、Vip3Aa没有交互抗性;而Cry2Ab与Cry1Ac间存在不对称的交互抗性。【结论】在筛选新杀虫基因或叠加基因时,应充分考虑抗性发展及交互抗性问题,Cry2Ah、Vip3Aa是治理Cry1Ac抗性棉铃虫或与Cry1Ac叠加最优的选择。     

粉纹夜蛾细胞中Bt Cry1Ac选择抗性的研究及离体品系与毒素结合的比较

采用Bt Cry1Ac活性毒素对粉纹夜蛾BTI-Tn-5B1细胞进行56代筛选后获得了抗性比为1280倍的抗性细胞。ELISA检测表明抗性细胞总蛋白和膜蛋白结合的Cry1Ac数量都少于敏感细胞。配体结合Western杂交实验显示：抗性细胞和敏感细胞的膜蛋白与总蛋白都有5条电泳迁移率相同的毒素结合多肽带,其分子量分别为207,158．5,118.8,72,38．5 kD;抗性细胞的118．8和72kD的阳性带比敏感细胞的略弱,这可能与抗性的形成相关。     

棉铃虫ABC转运蛋白ABCG1的基因克隆、亚细胞定位及其与Cry1Ac毒力的关系

【目的】长期种植转Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)基因作物使一些靶标害虫产生了Bt抗性,有研究表明小菜蛾Plutella xylostella的white基因表达下调使其产生了Cry1Ac抗性,由于Pxwhite蛋白与ABC转运蛋白ABCG1同属于ABCG亚家族,我们推测棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera ABCG1基因(HaABCG1)的表达下调可能与棉铃虫对Cry1Ac毒素的抗性有关。【方法】克隆并分析HaABCG1的开放阅读框(open reading frame,ORF),通过构建HaABCG1基因的表达载体检测HaABCG1蛋白在TnH_5细胞中的亚细胞定位;通过细胞毒力实验验证HaABCG1蛋白与Cry1Ac毒素的关系;利用RNAi技术验证HaABCG1表达下调是否会降低棉铃虫对Cry1Ac毒素的敏感性。【结果】棉铃虫ABCG1基因的开放阅读框长1 896 bp,编码蛋白含631个氨基酸残基,分子质量估计为69.63 k D。离体昆虫细胞表达的HaABCG1蛋白主要定位在细胞的核膜和内质网。通过RNA干扰和生物测定实验发现HaABCG1下调表达不能使棉铃虫在Cry1Ac毒素浓度为0.05μg/m L的人工饲料上正常生长,3 d后处理组和对照组棉铃虫幼虫的体重变化无显著差异。经过细胞毒力实验证明HaABCG1蛋白不介导Cry1Ac毒素对TnH_5细胞的毒力,它既不是Cry1Ac毒素的受体,也不是其他3种Bt毒素Cry1Ca,Cry2Aa和Cry1Fa的受体。【结论】HaABCG1基因表达下调与棉铃虫对Cry1Ac的抗性不相关,HaABCG1不是Cry1Ac毒素的受体。这是首次报道ABCG1基因不参与棉铃虫的Cry1Ac抗性。     

Cry1Fa对Cry1Ac抗性棉铃虫的毒力评价

为了防治多种鳞翅目害虫, 表达Cry1Fa的转基因玉米和棉花已在美国商业化种植。明确棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera对Cry1Fa与Cry1Ac的交互抗性及这两种杀虫蛋白之间的协同作用, 可以为表达 Cry1Fa+Cry1Ac的转双价抗虫棉花的合理应用提供依据。本实验测定了Cry1Fa对棉铃虫敏感品系（96S）及用Cry1Ac筛选的抗性品系（BtR, 抗性倍数2 194.15倍）的毒力, 发现Cry1Fa对敏感棉铃虫的毒力远低于Cry1Ac, LC₅₀值是Cry1Ac的504.80倍; 而且抗性品系BtR对Cry1Fa存在19.98倍的交互抗性。Cry1Fa与Cry1Ac混用可以提高Cry1Fa毒杀敏感棉铃虫的效果, 尤其是Cry1Fa浓度较低时, 加入Cry1Ac, 可以显著增加Cry1Fa的毒力; 但只有加入较高浓度的Cry1Fa时才能增加Cry1Ac的毒力。由于BtR品系已经对Cry1Ac产生抗性, Cry1Ac对抗性棉铃虫的毒力明显降低; 在较高浓度的Cry1Ac中加入Cry1Fa可以显著增加棉铃虫的死亡率（P=0.0015, F=6.88, df=6）, 但最高死亡率仅为58.33%。D-饱和最优试验的结果证实, Cry1Ac对于敏感棉铃虫的死亡率的影响达到显著水平（t₁=13.76﹥t_0.05）, Cry1Ac与Cry1Fa的交互作用对毒力的影响也达到显著水平（t₂₂=2.42﹥t_0.05; t₁₁=6.95﹥t_0.05; t₁₂=3.43﹥t_0.05）。Cry1Ac和Cry1Fa对抗性棉铃虫死亡率的影响都达到显著水平（t₁=3.03﹥t_0.05;t₂=2.59﹥t_0.05）, 但Cry1Ac是决定抗、 感棉铃虫死亡率的关键因素; Cry1Ac与Cry1Fa最佳浓度配比范围都是1.41~2.10 μg/cm2; 在抗性品系中, Cry1Ac和Cry1Fa的交互作用不显著。所以, 尽管Cry1F+Cry1A作物扩大了杀虫谱, 但棉铃虫对这两种蛋白存在交互抗性, 而且这两种蛋白混用对治理抗Cry1Ac棉铃虫的效果不理想, 因此不建议在中国种植表达Cry1F+Cry1A的棉花。关     

草地贪夜蛾取食Cry1Ab和Cry1Fa蛋白后中肠转录组及ABC基因表达分析

【目的】为揭示草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera furgiperda幼虫取食Bt蛋白后与中肠上相关ATP结合盒转运子(ATP-binding cassette transporter, ABC)蛋白基因的表达量变化的关系。【方法】分别使用含活化晶体蛋白Cry1Ab (LC₇₀=240.2 μg/g)和Cry1Fa (LC₇₀=270.0 μg/g)蛋白的人工饲料饲喂草地贪夜蛾4龄幼虫48 h,利用高通量测序对中肠进行转录组测序并进行生物信息学分析,筛选处理后差异表达基因;利用RT-qPCR验证差异表达ABC基因的表达量。【结果】与饲喂正常人工饲料的对照相比,饲喂含240.2 μg/g Cry1Ab和270.0 μg/g Cry1Fa的人工饲料后草地贪夜蛾4龄幼虫中肠转录组中分别检测到1 305和1 202个差异表达基因。Cry1Ab和Cry1Fa处理组与对照组之间分别有994和912个差异表达基因被GO功能注释到生物学过程、分子功能和细胞组分三大类。在最终筛选到的9个差异表达的ABC家族基因中,Cry1Ab处理组与对照组之间有4个差异表达ABC基因,3个上调,1个下调; Cry1Fa处理组与对照组之间有5个差异表达ABC基因,2个上调,3个下调;Cry1Ab和Cry1Fa处理组与对照组之间有2个ABC基因(LOC118267200和LOC118267201)表达量均显著上调。RT-qPCR验证结果表明,与对照组相比,Cry1Ab处理组有3个ABC基因表达量极显著上调,2个ABC基因表达量下调;Cry1Fa处理组有5个ABC基因表达量上调,1个ABC基因表达量下调。【结论】Cry1Ab和Cry1Fa蛋白的摄入可以影响草地贪夜蛾幼虫中肠一些ABC家族基因的表达量变化,这些基因的表达量变化与昆虫抗性产生有关。经比对后发现,ABCC家族与ABCG8基因表达量变化显著。本研究为下一步明确草地贪夜蛾体内ABC转运蛋白在Bt蛋白杀虫机制中的作用,以及合理使用Bt蛋白防治草地贪夜蛾及延缓抗性提供了理论依据。     

Cry1Ie毒素胁迫下亚洲玉米螟的抗性发展及汰选种群对其他Bt毒素的交互抗性

亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) 是危害玉米的重要害虫之一, 转Bt基因抗虫玉米为其防治提供了新的途径。然而, 靶标害虫产生抗性将严重阻碍Bt制剂及转Bt基因抗虫玉米的持续应用。明确害虫对转Bt基因玉米表达的毒素蛋白的抗性演化, 对于制定科学有效的抗性治理策略具有重要的理论和实际意义。本实验通过人工饲料汰选法研究了Bt Cry1Ie毒素胁迫下亚洲玉米螟的抗性发展及汰选14代的种群对其他Bt毒素（Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac和Cry1Fa）的交互抗性, 并观察了Cry1Ie蛋白胁迫对亚洲玉米螟生物学的影响。结果表明： 随着汰选压不断提高, 亚洲玉米螟种群对Cry1Ie毒素的敏感性逐渐下降。汰选14代后, 种群对Cry1Ie毒素的抗性水平提高了23倍。然而, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac和Cry1Fa对所获Cry1Ie汰选种群的毒力与对敏感种群的毒力相比没有显著差异, 说明Cry1Ie汰选没有引起亚洲玉米螟对Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac和Cry1Fa毒素产生交互抗性。同时, 与敏感种群相比, Cry1Ie汰选14代的种群幼虫平均发育历期延长5.7 d, 蛹重减轻13.7%, 单雌产卵量下降40.0%。本研究结果说明, 大面积单一种植转cry1Ie基因抗虫玉米, 可能引起亚洲玉米螟产生抗性; 亚洲玉米螟Cry1Ie抗性种群对Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac和Cry1Fa没有交互抗性, 含有cry1Ie和cry1Ab, cry1Ac或cry1F双/多基因抗虫玉米, 可作为靶标害虫抗性治理的重要策略。     

东南沿海地区小菜蛾对Bt δ-内毒素和Bt制剂的抗性检测

采用浸叶法测定了2003年秋季、2004年春季采自广东惠州、福建福州、浙江杭州和江苏南京的小菜蛾Plutella xylostella田间种群对Cry1Aa、Cry1Ab、Cry1Ac和Cry2Aa以及Bt制剂kurstaki亚种 (Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Btk）的抗性水平。与敏感品系PHI-S相比,广东惠州田间小菜蛾种群的抗性水平最高,其对Cry1Ab和Cry1Ac的抗性分别达到了168和120倍,均为高抗水平; 对Btk制剂的抗性有47倍,达到了中抗水平;对Cry1Aa和Cry2Aa具有低水平抗性 (分别为5.8和5.6倍)。福建福州、浙江杭州和江苏南京田间小菜蛾种群抗性水平相近,对Cry1Ab和Cry1Ac具有低至中等水平抗性 (8～28倍),对Btk制剂具有低水平抗性 (3.5～7倍),对Cry1Aa和Cry2Aa还没有产生明显抗性。因此,在我国东南沿海地区要注意Btk制剂与Bt其他亚种制剂或其他生物杀虫剂轮换使用,以减小Bt制剂对小菜蛾的选择压力,延缓小菜蛾对Bt抗性的发展。     

田间棉铃虫种群对Cry1Ac蛋白的抗性基因频率

【目的】系统了解河南省新乡市田间棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner)种群对Cry1Ac蛋白的敏感性变化,可为该虫的抗性治理策略提供重要的科学依据。【方法】采用单雌系F1/F2代并结合诊断剂量法于2013-2016年连续监测了河南省新乡市棉铃虫种群对Cry1Ac蛋白的抗性基因频率以及种群敏感度的变化。【结果】2013-2016年河南省新乡市棉铃虫种群对Cry1Ac的抗性基因频率小于0.002 12,抗性基因频率处于较低水平;种群的相对平均发育级别由2013年的0.506分别下降到2015和2016年的0.448和0.442,表明棉铃虫对Cry1Ac蛋白的敏感度增加。【结论】河南省新乡市棉铃虫种群对转Cry1Ac基因棉花仍处于较为敏感阶段,转Bt基因棉花的种植面积在河南新乡地区的大面积缩小可能是其抗性发展缓慢的重要原因。     

对Cry1Ac毒素敏感性不同的三种BT1-Tn-5B1细胞品系基因组DNA的RAPD及SSR分析

用Operon公司W系列和F系的 40个随机引物列对BT1 Tn 5B1Cry1Ac敏感细胞、抗性细胞和抗性衰退细胞的基因组DNA进行PCR扩增。经琼脂糖凝胶电泳和EB显色总共扩增出了 2 5 9条清晰带 ,其中有 2 5 0条带为三种细胞所共有 ,有 9条为特异性扩增带。其中 3条特异性带为敏感细胞和抗性衰退细胞样品共有 ,3条特异性带为抗性细胞和抗性衰退细胞样品所特有 ,1条特异性带为抗性衰退细胞样品特有 ,2条特异性带为抗性细胞和敏感细胞样品共有 ,另外某些带在三种细胞之间还存在明显的强弱和宽窄差异。用三个微卫星引物序列分别对三种细胞的总DNA进行扩增 ,得到了 14条清晰的扩增带 ,发现它们在带形上并无太大差异 ,但有 1条带存在明显的强弱差异。这表明BT1 Tn 5B1细胞对Cry1Ac抗性的产生和衰退与基因组DNA的多态性有关。     

Mechanisms for Bt Toxin Resistance and Increased Chemical Pesticide Susceptibility in Cry1Ac10-resistant Cultured Insect Cells

Cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni) cell line BTI-Tn-5B1-4 (TnH5) has developed high-level resistance (>1000 fold) by the selection of Bt Cry1Ac10 toxin. In order to examine mechanisms of resistance to Cry1Ac10 toxin (biological pesticide), both general esterase activities and cell tolerance to osmotic lysis were compared between non-selected Cry1Ac10-susceptible Trichoplusia ni cell line TnH5-S and Cry1Ac10-resistant Trichoplusia ni cell line TnH5-R selected by Bt Cry1Ac10. The Cry1Ac10-resistant TnH5-R cells had lower general esterase activity than the non-selected TnH5-S cells, and the esterase isozyme bands for the Cry1Ac10-resistant TnH5-R cells were much weaker than that for the non-selected TnH5-S cells. Both activated Cry1Ac10 toxin and multi-toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai GC-91 (an engineering bacterium) could not inhibit the esterase activity both in the Cry1Ac10-susceptible and Cry1Ac10-resistant cells, but two chemical pesticides, chlopyrifos and methomyl, could greatly inhibit the esterase activities both in the TnH5-R and TnH5-S cells. On the other hand, cell tolerance to osmotic lysis caused by hypotonic solution for the Cry1Ac10-resistant TnH5-R cells was higher than that for the non-selected TnH5-S cells (2.5×). Based on these results, we made the following conclusions. The general esterase activities in the Cry1Ac10-resistant TnH5-R cells was not related to Bt Cry1Ac10 resistance, but the susceptibility to the two tested chemical pesticides increased in TnH5-R cells because of their lower esterase activity. The increase of cell tolerance to osmotic lysis for the Cry1Ac10-resistant TnH5-R cells may be one of the mechanisms for Bt toxin resistance because midgut cells of insects are also disrupted by an osmotic lysis caused by Bt toxin.     

Characterization of cultured insect cells selected by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> crystal toxin

Summary Selection for resistance against Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1Ac10 in the Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) cell line BTI-TN-5B1-4 (TnH5) was tested, and the development of resistance in the selected cells was like a S-form curve. Monitoring at the Cry1Ac10 50th challenge, the resistance ratio was 1, 294-fold as many as that of initial cells. But the resistance to Cry1Ac10 declined gradually when the selection was relaxed. The resistance declined rapidly at the low level of resistance and slowly at the high level of resistance. This resistant cell had high resistance to all the tested solubilized trypsin-treated mixture of crystal multitoxins of B. thuringiensis subsp. aizawai GC-91, an engineering bacterium of Bt, B. thuringiensis subsp. aizawai HD-133 and B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-1, and low cross-resistance (19.7-fold) to activated Cry1C. Both N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (GalNAc) and tunicamycin did not inhibit the toxicity of Cry1Ac10 to the susceptible TnH5 cells. Comparison of the total proteins of the selected resistant cells with that of the nonselected susceptible cells by two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis showed that were obvious differences among the 11 protein expression. These results strongly suggest that there exists an unknown mechanism of resistance in the cell line that was different from the reported mechanisms in insects.     

Different cross-resistance patterns in the diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) resistant to Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry1C.

Two strains of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), were selected using Cry1C protoxin and transgenic broccoli plants expressing a Cry1C toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Both strains were resistant to Cry1C but had different cross-resistance patterns. We used 12 Bt protoxins for cross-resistance tests, including Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Bb, Cry1C, Cry1D, Cry1E, Cry1F, Cry1J, Cry2Ab, Cry9Aa, and Cry9C. Compared with the unselected sister strain (BCS), the resistance ratio (BR) of one strain (BCS-Cry1C-1) to the Cry1C protoxin was 1,090-fold with high level of cross-resistance to Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, and Cry1J (RR > 390-fold). The cross-resistance to Cry1A, Cry1F, and Cry1J in this strain was probably related to the Cry1A resistance gene(s) that came from the initial field population and was caused by intensive sprayings of Bt products containing Cry1A protoxins. The neonates of this strain can survive on transgenic broccoli plants expressing either Cry1Ac or Cry1C toxins. The other strain (BCS-Cry1C-2) was highly resistant to Cry1C but not cross-resistant to other Bt protoxins. The neonates of this strain can survive on transgenic broccoli expressing Cry1C toxin but not Cry1Ac toxin. The gene(s) conferring resistance to Cry1C segregates independently from Cry1Ac resistance in these strains. The toxicity of Cry1E and Cry2Ab protoxins was low to all of the three strains. The overall progress of all work has resulted in a unique model system to test the stacked genes strategy for resistance management of Bt transgenic crops.     

Dual resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac and Cry2Aa toxins in Heliothis virescens suggests multiple mechanisms of resistance

One strategy for delaying evolution of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis crystal (Cry) endotoxins is the production of multiple Cry toxins in each transgenic plant (gene stacking). This strategy relies upon the assumption that simultaneous evolution of resistance to toxins that have different modes of action will be difficult for insect pests. In B. thuringiensis-transgenic (Bt) cotton, production of both Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab has been proposed to delay resistance of Heliothis virescens (tobacco budworm). After previous laboratory selection with Cry1Ac, H. virescens strains CXC and KCBhyb developed high levels of cross-resistance not only to toxins similar to Cry1Ac but also to Cry2Aa. We studied the role of toxin binding alteration in resistance and cross-resistance with the CXC and KCBhyb strains. In toxin binding experiments, Cry1A and Cry2Aa toxins bound to brush border membrane vesicles from CXC, but binding of Cry1Aa was reduced for the KCBhyb strain compared to susceptible insects. Since Cry1Aa and Cry2Aa do not share binding proteins in H. virescens, our results suggest occurrence of at least two mechanisms of resistance in KCBhyb insects, one of them related to reduction of Cry1Aa toxin binding. Cry1Ac bound irreversibly to brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from YDK, CXC, and KCBhyb larvae, suggesting that Cry1Ac insertion was unaffected. These results highlight the genetic potential of H. virescens to become resistant to distinct Cry toxins simultaneously and may question the effectiveness of gene stacking in delaying evolution of resistance.     

Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Mediated by an ABC Transporter Mutation Increases Susceptibility to Toxins from Other Bacteria in an Invasive Insect

Evolution of pest resistance reduces the efficacy of insecticidal proteins from the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) used widely in sprays and transgenic crops. Recent efforts to delay pest adaptation to Bt crops focus primarily on combinations of two or more Bt toxins that kill the same pest, but this approach is often compromised because resistance to one Bt toxin causes cross-resistance to others. Thus, integration of Bt toxins with alternative controls that do not exhibit such cross-resistance is urgently needed. The ideal scenario of negative cross-resistance, where selection for resistance to a Bt toxin increases susceptibility to alternative controls, has been elusive. Here we discovered that selection of the global crop pest, Helicoverpa armigera, for >1000-fold resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ac increased susceptibility to abamectin and spineotram, insecticides derived from the soil bacteria Streptomyces avermitilis and Saccharopolyspora spinosa, respectively. Resistance to Cry1Ac did not affect susceptibility to the cyclodiene, organophospate, or pyrethroid insecticides tested. Whereas previous work demonstrated that the resistance to Cry1Ac in the strain analyzed here is conferred by a mutation disrupting an ATP-binding cassette protein named ABCC2, the new results show that increased susceptibility to abamectin is genetically linked with the same mutation. Moreover, RNAi silencing of HaABCC2 not only decreased susceptibility to Cry1Ac, it also increased susceptibility to abamectin. The mutation disrupting ABCC2 reduced removal of abamectin in live larvae and in transfected Hi5 cells. The results imply that negative cross-resistance occurs because the wild type ABCC2 protein plays a key role in conferring susceptibility to Cry1Ac and in decreasing susceptibility to abamectin. The negative cross-resistance between a Bt toxin and other bacterial insecticides reported here may facilitate more sustainable pest control.     

Dual Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac and Cry2Aa Toxins in Heliothis virescens Suggests Multiple Mechanisms of Resistance

One strategy for delaying evolution of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis crystal (Cry) endotoxins is the production of multiple Cry toxins in each transgenic plant (gene stacking). This strategy relies upon the assumption that simultaneous evolution of resistance to toxins that have different modes of action will be difficult for insect pests. In B. thuringiensis-transgenic (Bt) cotton, production of both Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab has been proposed to delay resistance of Heliothis virescens (tobacco budworm). After previous laboratory selection with Cry1Ac, H. virescens strains CXC and KCBhyb developed high levels of cross-resistance not only to toxins similar to Cry1Ac but also to Cry2Aa. We studied the role of toxin binding alteration in resistance and cross-resistance with the CXC and KCBhyb strains. In toxin binding experiments, Cry1A and Cry2Aa toxins bound to brush border membrane vesicles from CXC, but binding of Cry1Aa was reduced for the KCBhyb strain compared to susceptible insects. Since Cry1Aa and Cry2Aa do not share binding proteins in H. virescens, our results suggest occurrence of at least two mechanisms of resistance in KCBhyb insects, one of them related to reduction of Cry1Aa toxin binding. Cry1Ac bound irreversibly to brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from YDK, CXC, and KCBhyb larvae, suggesting that Cry1Ac insertion was unaffected. These results highlight the genetic potential of H. virescens to become resistant to distinct Cry toxins simultaneously and may question the effectiveness of gene stacking in delaying evolution of resistance.     

Early warning of cotton bollworm resistance associated with intensive planting of Bt cotton in China

Transgenic crops producing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins kill some key insect pests, but evolution of resistance by pests can reduce their efficacy. The predominant strategy for delaying pest resistance to Bt crops requires refuges of non-Bt host plants to promote survival of susceptible pests. To delay pest resistance to transgenic cotton producing Bt toxin Cry1Ac, farmers in the United States and Australia planted refuges of non-Bt cotton, while farmers in China have relied on "natural" refuges of non-Bt host plants other than cotton. Here we report data from a 2010 survey showing field-evolved resistance to Cry1Ac of the major target pest, cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), in northern China. Laboratory bioassay results show that susceptibility to Cry1Ac was significantly lower in 13 field populations from northern China, where Bt cotton has been planted intensively, than in two populations from sites in northwestern China where exposure to Bt cotton has been limited. Susceptibility to Bt toxin Cry2Ab did not differ between northern and northwestern China, demonstrating that resistance to Cry1Ac did not cause cross-resistance to Cry2Ab, and implying that resistance to Cry1Ac in northern China is a specific adaptation caused by exposure to this toxin in Bt cotton. Despite the resistance detected in laboratory bioassays, control failures of Bt cotton have not been reported in China. This early warning may spur proactive countermeasures, including a switch to transgenic cotton producing two or more toxins distinct from Cry1A toxins.     

Development and mechanisms of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin Cry1Ac in the American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

The American bollworm, H. armigera, evolved 31-fold resistance to selection pressure of B. thuringiensis endotoxin Cry1Ac within six generations. The Cry1Ac selected larvae of H. armigera showed cross-resistance to Cry1Aa and Cry1Ab both in terms of mortality and growth reduction. Studies on mechanisms of resistance to Cry1Ac showed that proteases of resistant insects degraded Cry1Ac faster than those of susceptible insects, which led to the relative unavailability of toxin of about 58 kDa for binding and perforation of midgut epithelial membrane of the target insect. Besides, resistant and susceptible populations of H. armigera differed in the binding of their receptors with Cry1Ac toxin. These results suggest the possibility of both mechanisms existing in imparting resistance. These findings mandate the necessity of B. thuringiensis resistance management for usage of B. thuringiensis either as a conventional insecticide or through transgenic crops.