Category: Endotoxins
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Flacherie (and a ridiculous history of Bt development…roundabout)
History of Bt Development as told in New Innovative Pesticides: An Evaluation of Incentives and Disincentives for Commercial Development by Industry, Stanford Research Institute (Final Report dated September 1977, Prepared for Economic Analysis Branch Criteria and Evaluation Division Office of Pesticide Programs US Environmental Protection Agency Washington DC) Punctuation if nothing else may be wonky…
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Bacillus thuringiensis: the James Bond of biological pest control
In the microscopic world of bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a gram-positive, soil-dwelling microbe is the go-to secret agent for farmers and gardeners worldwide, thanks to its uncanny ability to produce crystal-clear killers. From Silkworms to Superbugs Our story begins in 1902 when Japanese sericultural engineer Ishiwatari Shigetane stumbled upon a mysterious ailment causing silkworms to…
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Delta endotoxins (δ-endotoxins) are pore-forming toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis species of bacteria. They are useful for their insecticidal action and are the primary toxin produced by Bt maize/corn.
Bt maize/Bt corn is a variant of maize that has been genetically altered to express one or more proteins from the bacteriumBacillus thuringiensis including Delta endotoxins. During spore formation the bacteria produce crystals of such proteins (hence the name Cry toxins) that are also known as parasporal bodies, next to the endospores; as a result some members are known as a parasporin. The Cyt (cytolytic) toxin group is a group of delta-endotoxins different from…
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Ovalbumin
Ovalbumin (abbreviated OVA) is the main protein found in egg white, making up approximately 55% of the total protein. Ovalbumin displays sequence and three-dimensional homology to the serpin superfamily, but unlike most serpins it is not a serine protease inhibitor. The function of ovalbumin is unknown, although it is presumed to be a storage protein. Storage proteins Storage proteins serve as biological reserves of metal ions and amino acids, used by organisms. They…
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Tobacco-derived 4R-cembranoid confers neuroprotection against LPS-induced hippocampal inflammation in mice (decreases levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines; improves memory function; activates STAT3, Akt1, and CREB phosphorylation; and upregulates the mRNA levels of ORM2, GDNF, and C3) independent of the α7 nicotinic receptor
Rojas-Colón, L.A., Dash, P.K., Morales-Vías, F.A. et al. 4R-cembranoid confers neuroprotection against LPS-induced hippocampal inflammation in mice. J Neuroinflammation 18, 95 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-021-02136-9 LPS: Lipopolysaccharide “4R protects the hippocampus against inflammation and memory impairments triggered by LPS by lowering TNF-α and IL-1β levels and activation of the Akt1 and CREB signaling pathways. Astrocyte proteins involved in neuronal survival also…