Open AccessMolecular Approach for Improving the Stability of Insecticidal Nematodes
Author(s) -
Randy Gaugler,
I. Glazer,
Daniel Segal,
Sarwar Hashmi
Publication year - 2002
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.32747/2002.7580680.bard
Subject(s) - desiccation , trehalose , cryptobiosis , biology , desiccation tolerance , biological pest control , nematode , gene , genetically modified crops , microbiology and biotechnology , transgene , botany , genetics , biochemistry , ecology
Our overall goal is to improve insecticidal nematodes by genetically engineering strains capable of entering an enhanced state of dormancy that provides improved stability. Objectives: 1. Clone and sequence tps-l homologue from Steinernema carpocapsae. (Revised: A failure to isolate the tps gene group from Steinernema precipitated a redirection to identifying other genes involved in insecticidal nematode desiccation process.) 2. Incorporate cloned tps-l gene into S. carpocapsae to obtain overexpression, thereby, enhancing desiccation tolerance. (Revised: Other stress genes in addition to tps-l genes were cloned and efforts at expression in S. carpocapsae were conducted) 3. Characterize the transgenic strains. No other biological control agent offers more impressive attributes than insecticidal nematodes. However, their potential is limited by the bane of nearly all biological control agents: poor stability. This leads to inadequate shelf-life and ultimately reduced field efficacy. Nematode storage is based on desiccation, yet insecticidal species are only capable of partial desiccation termed quiescent anhydrobiosis. Overwhelming evidence has shown that when the disaccharide compound trehalose is elevated in anhydrobiotic organisms such as yeast, plants, and nematodes it enables these organisms the ability to survive environmental stresses i.e., desiccation. Armed with this information our goal was to improve insecticidal nematodes stability by engineering trehalose overexpression.