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Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria synthesize different insecticidal proteins named Cry, Vip, and Cyt that are able to kill different insect orders, or nematodes. These proteins have been extensively used in insect control practices in agriculture as sprays or expressed in genetically modified plants. This chapter reviews the mechanism of action of these Bt proteins. In addition, genetic engineering has proven to help in developing novel biotechnological applications of these toxins, such as Cry1AMod toxins, which are active against insects that have developed resistance to Cry toxins; and zymogen-like Vip2 proteins, which can be used to control specific insect pests. Overall, the great diversity of Bt toxins represents a broad opportunity to control the most important insect pests that affect different crops, as well as vectors of human diseases such as malaria and dengue, and to design strategies to manage the development of insect resistance to Bt toxins. |
