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Relevance of Bt toxin interaction studies for environmental risk assessment of genetically modified crops |
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| Authors: | Adinda De Schrijver Patrick De Clercq Ruud A. de Maagd Kees van Frankenhuyzen |
| Affiliation: | 1. Biosafety and Biotechnology Unit, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium;2. Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium;3. Plant Research International, BU Bioscience and Wageningen University, Chair Group Bioinformatics, Wageningen, The Netherlands;4. Entomica, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada |
| Abstract: | In recent years, different Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin‐encoding genes have been combined or ‘stacked’ in genetically modified (GM) crops. Synergism between Bt proteins may occur and thereby increase the impact of the stacked GM event on nontarget invertebrates compared to plants expressing a single Bt gene. On the basis of bioassay data available for Bt toxins alone or in combination, we argue that the current knowledge of Bt protein interactions is of limited relevance in environmental risk assessment (ERA). |
| Keywords: | genetically modified plants risk assessment Bt protein specificity interaction nontarget effects |