Cry75Aa (Mpp75Aa) Insecticidal Proteins for Controlling the Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Isolated from the Insect-Pathogenic Bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus

This study describes three closely related proteins cloned from Brevibacillus laterosporus strains that are lethal upon feeding to Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, the western corn rootworm (WCR). Mpp75Aa1, Mpp75Aa2, and Mpp75Aa3 were toxic to WCR larvae when the larvae were fed purified protein. Transgenic plants expressing each mMpp75Aa protein were protected from feeding damage and showed a significant reduction in adult emergence from infested plants by both susceptible Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1-resistant WCR. These results demonstrate that proteins from B. laterosporus are as efficacious as the well-known Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal proteins in controlling major insect pests such as WCR. The deployment of transgenic maize expressing mMpp75Aa, along with other active molecules lacking cross-resistance, has the potential to be a useful tool for control of WCR populations resistant to current B. thuringiensis traits. IMPORTANCE Insects feeding on roots of crops can damage the plant roots, resulting in yield loss due to poor water and nutrient uptake and plant lodging. In maize, the western corn rootworm (WCR) can cause severe damage to the roots, resulting in significant economic loss for farmers. Genetically modified (GM) plants expressing Bacillus thuringiensis insect control proteins have provided a solution for control of these pests. In recent years, populations of WCR resistant to the B. thuringiensis proteins in commercial GM maize have emerged. There is a need to develop new insecticidal traits for the control of WCR populations resistant to current commercial traits. New proteins with commercial-level efficacy on WCR from sources other than B. thuringiensis are becoming more critical. The Mpp75Aa proteins from B. laterosporus, when expressed in maize, are efficacious against the resistant populations of WCR and have the potential to provide solutions for control of resistant WCR.