• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.585-591
• /
• 2019

Most insect-resistant LMOs have been produced by applying Cry and Vip3Aa proteins. Vip3Aa protein is activated during the vegetative stage of Bacillus thuringensis (Bt) and the inhibitory activity of the Vip3Aa protein against pathogenic attacks from lepidopteran insect species is well known. However, a risk assessment of the Vip3Aa protein compared to the Cry protein has not been conducted in South Korea. This study demonstrates a possible risk assessment method for Vip3Aa protein against honeybees (Apis mellifera). For the risk assessment of the protein, we purified the recombinant Vip3Aa protein in Escherichia coli. The survival rate and symptoms of general intoxication of 4 months honeybees were measured after Vip3Aa exposure. These results indicated that there was no significant difference in the survival rate and the symptom between Vip3Aa and the control buffer. In this study, we established standard methods of Vip3Aa protein purification and oral adult toxicity test using A. mellifera as an LMO risk assessment technique for preserving the natural ecosystem of South Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.10
• /
• pp.1774-1780
• /
• 2016

Vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vips) are insecticidal proteins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis during the vegetative stage of growth. In this study, Vip3Aa protein, obtained by in vitro expression of the vip3Aa gene from B. thuringiensis WB5, displayed high insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura aside from Spodoptera exigua and Helicoverpa armigera. Bioassay results showed that the toxicity of Vip3Aa protein against S. litura larvae statistically decreased along with the increase of the age of the larvae, with LC₅₀ = 2.609 ng/cm² for neonatal larvae, LC₅₀ = 28.778 ng/cm² for first instar larvae, LC₅₀ = 70.460 ng/cm² for second instar larvae, and LC₅₀ = 200.627 ng/cm² for third instar larvae. The accumulative mortality of 100% larvae appeared at 72 h for all instars of S. litura larvae, when feeding respectively with 83.22, 213.04, 341.40, and 613.20 ng/cm² of Vip3Aa toxin to the neonatal and first to third instar larvae. The histopathological effects of Vip3Aa toxin on the midgut epithelial cells of S. litura larvae was also investigated. The TEM observations showed wide damage of the epithelial cell in the midgut of S. litura larvae fed with Vip3Aa toxin.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.535-537
• /
• 2023

We report the draft genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar aizawai AS23, an insecticidal strain targeting lepidopteran pests, which was isolated from the rhizosphere of Korean melon (Cucumis melo L.). The genome of strain AS23 comprising 6,846,584 bp with a G + C content of 34.83% was assembled to 11 contigs obtained using hybrid assembly. Additionally, we mined the genome for pesticidal genes, identifying several insecticidal genes, including Cry1Aa3, Cry1Ca9, Cry1Da2, Cry1Ia44, Cry2Ab41, Cry9Ea9, Spp1Aa1, and Vip3Aa86.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.2917-2922
• /
• 2014

Background: The p53-binding protein 1 (TP53BP1) gene may be involved in the development of cancer through disrupting DNA repair. However, investigation of associations between TP53BP1 rs2602141 A/C polymorphism and cancer have yielded contradictory and inconclusive outcomes. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between the TP53BP1 rs2602141 A/C polymorphism and cancer susceptibility. Materials and Methods: Published literature from PubMed, Medline, the Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, Google (scholar), CBMDisc, Chongqing VIP database, and CNKI database were retrieved. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed or random-effects models. Publication bias was estimated using funnel plots, Begg's and Egger's test. Results: A total of seven studies (3,018 cases and 5,548 controls) were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that the genotype distribution of TP53BP1 rs2602141 A/C was not associated with cancer risk overall. However, on subgroup analysis, we found that TP53BP1 rs2602141 A/C was associated with cancer risk within an allele model (A vs C, OR=1.14, 95%CI: 1.01-1.29) and a codominant model (AA vs CC, OR=1.36, 95%CI: 1.06-1.74) in Asians rather than in Caucasians. Subgroup analysis by cancer type, genotype, and with or without adjustment for controls showed no significant association. Conclusions: The findings suggested an association between rs2602141 A/C polymorphism in TP53BP1 gene and increased risk of cancer in Asians.