Microbial Toxins in Insect and Nematode Pest Biocontrol
Invertebrate pests, such as insects and nematodes, not only cause or transmit human and livestock diseases but also impose serious crop losses by direct injury as well as vectoring pathogenic microbes. The damage is global but greater in developing countries, where human health and food security are...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/14/7657 |
| _version_ | 1797526926541193216 |
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| author | Subbaiah Chalivendra |
| author_facet | Subbaiah Chalivendra |
| author_sort | Subbaiah Chalivendra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Invertebrate pests, such as insects and nematodes, not only cause or transmit human and livestock diseases but also impose serious crop losses by direct injury as well as vectoring pathogenic microbes. The damage is global but greater in developing countries, where human health and food security are more at risk. Although synthetic pesticides have been in use, biological control measures offer advantages via their biodegradability, environmental safety and precise targeting. This is amply demonstrated by the successful and widespread use of <i>Bacillus</i><i>thuringiensis</i> to control mosquitos and many plant pests, the latter by the transgenic expression of insecticidal proteins from <i>B</i>. <i>thuringiensis</i> in crop plants. Here, I discuss the prospects of using bacterial and fungal toxins for pest control, including the molecular basis of their biocidal activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:36:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bb35c8e9e4a4cb6a003b91cd9f8e93d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:36:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bb35c8e9e4a4cb6a003b91cd9f8e93d2023-11-22T04:02:10ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-07-012214765710.3390/ijms22147657Microbial Toxins in Insect and Nematode Pest BiocontrolSubbaiah Chalivendra0LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USAInvertebrate pests, such as insects and nematodes, not only cause or transmit human and livestock diseases but also impose serious crop losses by direct injury as well as vectoring pathogenic microbes. The damage is global but greater in developing countries, where human health and food security are more at risk. Although synthetic pesticides have been in use, biological control measures offer advantages via their biodegradability, environmental safety and precise targeting. This is amply demonstrated by the successful and widespread use of <i>Bacillus</i><i>thuringiensis</i> to control mosquitos and many plant pests, the latter by the transgenic expression of insecticidal proteins from <i>B</i>. <i>thuringiensis</i> in crop plants. Here, I discuss the prospects of using bacterial and fungal toxins for pest control, including the molecular basis of their biocidal activity.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/14/7657pore-forming toxinsinsect ion channel modulatorsinnate immunity busterscyclic lipopeptide surfactantspsychoactive compoundsribotoxins |
| spellingShingle | Subbaiah Chalivendra Microbial Toxins in Insect and Nematode Pest Biocontrol International Journal of Molecular Sciences pore-forming toxins insect ion channel modulators innate immunity busters cyclic lipopeptide surfactants psychoactive compounds ribotoxins |
| title | Microbial Toxins in Insect and Nematode Pest Biocontrol |
| title_full | Microbial Toxins in Insect and Nematode Pest Biocontrol |
| title_fullStr | Microbial Toxins in Insect and Nematode Pest Biocontrol |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial Toxins in Insect and Nematode Pest Biocontrol |
| title_short | Microbial Toxins in Insect and Nematode Pest Biocontrol |
| title_sort | microbial toxins in insect and nematode pest biocontrol |
| topic | pore-forming toxins insect ion channel modulators innate immunity busters cyclic lipopeptide surfactants psychoactive compounds ribotoxins |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/14/7657 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT subbaiahchalivendra microbialtoxinsininsectandnematodepestbiocontrol |