Encapsulation of the Bacillus thuringiensis secretable toxins Vip3Aa and Cry1Ia in Pseudomonas fluorescens

Vip3A and Cry1I toxins are secreted during the vegetative growth of Bacillus thuringiensis. Vip3A toxins do not share homology to the crystal (Cry) proteins and are active against a different spectrum of lepidopteran species. Cry1I toxins share similarity with the Cry1 protein group but do not accumulate in the parasporal crystal. Since Vip3A and Cry1I toxins are released from the cell, they are excluded from biological formulates based on spores and crystals of B. thuringiensis. As an approach to obtain novel sprayable insecticides containing Vip3 or Cry1I toxins, Vip3Aa and Cry1Ia proteins were expressed in Pseudomonas fluorescens. This bacterium, non-pathogenic to animals or plants, can …