SHORT COMMUNICATION - A FUSION GENE CODING FOR 2 DIFFERENT DELTA-ENDOTOXINS OF BACILLUS-THURINGIENSIS TOXIC TO PLUTELLA-XYLOSTELLA AND USEFUL FOR RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT

Two truncated Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin genes, belonging to the classes cry1Ab and cry1B, and both coding for N-terminal toxic fragments of the corresponding crystal proteins, were translationally fused. Expression of the fusion gene driven by the cry1C promoter in E scherichia coli at a very high level resulted in a protein with enhanc ed toxicity to the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella).