Bacterial genes and isolates for conferring insect resistance

Abstract

Provided are biologically pure bacterial isolates characterized by a genome structure at least 90% similar to a genome structure of a bacterial species selected from the group consisting of: Streptomyces sp. E128 having an NRRL Accession No. B-67462, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens A190 having an NRRL Accession No. B-67464, Bacillus subtilis P243 having an NRRL Accession No. B-67459, Bacillus thuringiensis M979 having an NRRL Accession No. B-67457, Massilia aurea P63 having an NRRL Accession No. B-67461, Rhodococcus sp. G706, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia E132 having an NRRL Accession No. B-67460, Streptomyces aurantiacus A918, Streptomyces badius 0180, Streptomyces mirabilis B670 having an NRRL Accession No. B67463, Streptomyces scopuliridis F427 having an NRRL Accession No. B-67458, and Streptomyces sp. L219. Also provided are whole cell broth or lysates thereof, and polynucleotide, polypeptides and constructs expressing same, compositions-of-matter comprising same and methods using same for killing or inhibiting the development of insects.

1 . An isolated insecticidal polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 247, 421-433, 578, 646 and 655. 
     
     
         2 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 247, 421-433, 578, 646 and 655. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated insecticidal polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein said amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 247, 421-433, 578, 646 and 655. 
     
     
         4 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A biologically pure modified bacterial isolate, or a lysate thereof, or a whole cell broth collected from fermentation thereof, having an improved insect killing or inhibitory activity as compared to a biologically pure bacterial isolate of the same species, wherein the biologically pure modified bacterial isolate over-expresses a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 247, 421-433, 578, 646 and 655. 
     
     
         20 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 2 , wherein said nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 26, 174-186, 522, 622 and 631. 
     
     
         38 . A nucleic acid construct comprising the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 2 , and a promoter operably linked thereto, wherein said promoter is capable of directing transcription of said nucleic acid sequence in a host cell. 
     
     
         39 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 38 , wherein said promoter is heterologous to said isolated polynucleotide and/or to said host cell. 
     
     
         40 . A plant cell transformed with the nucleic acid construct of  claim 38 . 
     
     
         41 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A plant comprising the plant cell of  claim 40 . 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A composition-of-matter comprising the biologically pure modified bacterial isolate or lysate or whole cell broth thereof of  claim 19 . 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A composition-of-matter comprising the isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         48 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The composition-of-matter of  claim 45 , further comprising at least one agent selected from the group consisting of: a carrier, a stabilizer, a diluent, a surfactant, a mineral and an adjuvant. 
     
     
         52 . The composition-of-matter of  claim 47 , further comprising at least one agent selected from the group consisting of: a carrier, a stabilizer, a diluent, a surfactant, a mineral and an adjuvant. 
     
     
         53 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A coated seed comprising a plant seed and a coating on said plant seed, wherein said coating comprises the composition-of-matter of  claim 45 . 
     
     
         59 . A coated seed comprising a plant seed and a coating on said plant seed, wherein said coating comprises the composition-of-matter of  claim 47 . 
     
     
         60 . The coated seed of  claim 58 , wherein said coating further comprises at least one agent selected from the group consisting of: a wetting agent, a binding agent, an agricultural active agent, and a nutrient. 
     
     
         61 . A method of increasing resistance of a plant to an insect, comprising expressing within the plant the insecticidal polypeptide of  claim 1 , thereby increasing the resistance of the plant to the insect. 
     
     
         62 . A method of increasing resistance of a plant to an insect, comprising transforming a plant cell with the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 2  thereby increasing the resistance of the plant to the insect. 
     
     
         63 - 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . A method of inhibiting an insect in or on a plant, comprising contacting the plant or a part thereof with the isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  thereby inhibiting the insect. 
     
     
         66 . A method of inhibiting an insect in or on a plant, comprising contacting the plant or a part thereof with the biologically pure modified bacterial isolate or lysate or whole cell broth thereof of  claim 19  thereby inhibiting the insect. 
     
     
         67 - 79 . (canceled)