Завершенные проекты 0363

The main objective of the project is to develop highly efficient biopesticides on the basis of genetically modified strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and of recombinant strains of some bacteria incapable of pest inhibiting but having some other advantages over natural bacterial agents used for biological control.
The project implies solution of the following problems:
- Construction of recombinant Bt strains with modified level and/or range insecticidal activity. Transfer of natural plasmids containing 5-endotoxin genes by conjugation or electroporation, integration of transposons carrying these genes in ;o resident replicons and cloning of cry-genes into medium-copy plasmid vectors will used for genetic modification of Bt.
- Creation of bacterial strains with intracellular localization of insecticidal crystal proteins, which makes them more stable to environmental factors. The producers of encapsulated biopesticides will be recombinant strains of Pseudomonas spp. with induced expression of cry-genes.
- Construction of new entomopathogens and other (e.g. nematoae-active; agents of biological control on the basis of plant-colonizing microorganisms by introducing determinants of Bt toxins into their genome and their testing against pests.
- Search for Bt isolates with novel spectra of anti-pest activity.
- Structural and functional characterization of new toxins and their genetic determinants.
- Development of procedures and techniques for biopesticide production on the basis of recombinant strains (nutrient media composition, conditions of fermentation and inactivation of bioagents, preparation formulations, etc.). Among the strains to be used in producing new biopesticides are recombinant Bt subsp. thuringiensis strain IPM-36 whose activity against Colorado potato beetle is 3-4 times higher than that of Bitoxibacillin (produced in Russia) and Novodor (produced in Denmark) and Pseudomonas putida strain IPM-37 with induced synthesis of a coleopteran-specific crystal protein.
- Evaluation of harmlessness of new formulations for warm-blooded animals and testing of their insecticidal activity in laboratory and field experiments.
Work on the project will contribute to the increased efficiency of agricultural production and improved quality of food-stuffs in Russia and other CIS countries and to reducing environmental pollution by chemical pesticides. This work is in line with the goals of the International Scientific and Technical Centre, as it enables skilled specialists earlier engaged in the defence R&D to direct their activity towards solution of fundamental and applied problems of plant protection and promotes their integration into the international scientific community. Results of this research may be used in Berdsk and Stepnogorsk Biochemical Plants (possible year output is more than 10000 tons) and local biotechnological enterprises including private ones.