Insecticidal proteins derived from bacillus thuringiensis

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of plant pest control, particularly insect control. Provided are nucleotide sequences from Bacillus thuringiensis encoding insecticidal proteins. Further provided are methods and means for using said nucleotide sequence for controlling plant insect pests.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A DNA comprising:
 a) a nucleotide sequence encoding an insecticidal protein comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said nucleotide sequence is an artificial DNA sequence having a different codon usage compared to the naturally occurring DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or   b) a nucleotide sequence encoding an insecticidal protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 wherein 1-10 amino acids have been added or replaced without changing the insecticidal activity of the protein, or   c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric or hybrid insecticidal protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid position 200 to amino acid position 455.   
     
     
         22 . The DNA of  claim 21 , wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid position 55 to amino acid position 455. 
     
     
         23 . A chimeric gene comprising : a) the DNA of claim  1  or b) a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an insecticidal protein comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, operably linked to a promoter that can direct the expression of said DNA in plant cells. 
     
     
         24 . A host cell comprising the chimeric gene of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         25 . The host cell of  claim 24 , wherein said host cell is a plant cell. 
     
     
         26 . The host cell of  claim 24 , wherein said host cell is a micro-organism. 
     
     
         27 . A plant, seed, or plant cell, comprising the chimeric gene of  claim 23 .