Parasitic nematodes, proteinases and transgenic plants

Parasite proteinases have important function in host-parasite interactions. Consequently, they have been investigated as targets for the control of bo th plant and animal parasites. Plant parasitic nemotodes cause estimated an nual losses to world agriculture of US$100 billion and, currently, their co ntrol often relies on highly toxic nematicides, with associated environment al risks. The potential of disrupting digestive proteinases for plant paras itic nematode control, via expression of proteinase inhibitors in transgeni c plants, is summarized here by Catherine Lilley, Pauline Devlin, Peter Urw in and Howard Atkinson. They then consider whether the approach of expressi ng antinematode proteins in plants can be adopted for control of certain an imal parasitic nematodes.