[Construction of shuttle vector containing delta-endotoxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis]

The Bacillus thuringiensis toxin gene CryIA(c) was inserted into the shuttle vector pBE-2 to construct pAMY for expressing the B.t. gene in both Gram-negative and -positive bacterial systems. pAMY was introduced into wild type Bacillus cereus, B.brevis and B.subtilis by electroporation. Transformants containing delta-endotoxin gene produced proteins reacted with B.t. crystal protein antibody. Upon biological toxicity tests, the transformants gave a mortality of 100% against Ostrinia furnacilis, 58.8% against Heliothis armigera and 100% against Heliothis assulta. The ability of promoting plant growth of the original strains is retained.