Award details

402b: Genomics of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus to characterise novel insect toxins

ReferenceBBS/E/H/00032648
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Dr James Morgan
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution University of Warwick
DepartmentWarwick HRI
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 520,100
StatusCompleted
TypeInstitute Project
Start date 01/04/2003
End date 31/03/2005
Duration24 months

Abstract

Strains of bacterial symbionts of insect parasitic nematodes produce proteinaceous toxins that are active against a range of important insects including key Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and aphids. The toxin genes in two Xenorhabdus strains have been identified. We have shown that three genes are required for full insecticidal activity, one protein (XptA like) is required for specificity (host range) while the other two proteins are required for enhanced activity (XptB and XptC like). The XptA like toxins interact with target cells independently of XptB and XptC; while XptB and XptC need to be present in the same cell for functional activity. This project has two main goals, to study the structure and function of the Xpt proteins, and to look at the genomic organisation of toxin genes in Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)
export PDF file