# US 5,707,619 A · Bacillus thuringiensis isolates active against weevils > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,619 A - Document ID: US5707619A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/399,311 - Filed: 1995-03-06 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1995-03-06 - Assignees: Mycogen Corporation - Inventors: Gregory A. Bradfisch; H. Ernest Schnepf; Leo Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707619A ## CPC - C07K 14/325: Bacillus thuringiensis crystal peptides, i.e. delta-endotoxins - A01N 63/50: Isolated enzymes; Isolated proteins (peptides A01N37/46) - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ## Abstract The subject invention concerns the discovery of Bacillus thuringiensis isolates with advantageous activity against weevils. In preferred embodiments of the invention, B.t. isolates, or toxins therefrom, are used to control alfalfa weevils, boll weevils, and/or rice water weevils. The toxins can be administered to the pests through a variety of methods including the transformation of bacteria or plants to produce the weevil-active toxins. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of killing rice water weevils which comprises administering to rice water weevils a pesticidally effective amount of a microbial isolate that expresses a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) .delta.-endotoxin, wherein said isolate is selected from the group consisting of MR506, KB92, PS201T6, PS101Z2, PS50B, PS33F2, PS204G4, PS204G6, PS167P, PS192N1, PS201L1, PS169E, PS177G, PS196S1, and PS73E; or a .delta.-endotoxin therefrom; or a weevil killing fragment of said .delta.-endotoxin. ### Claim 2 A method of killing rice water weevils which comprises administering to rice water weevils a pesticidally effective amount of a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) isolate or a .delta.-endotoxin therefrom wherein the Bacillus thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin is a cyt toxin, or a weevil killing fragment thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the Bacillus thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin is a toxin which can be obtained from a B.t. strain selected from the group consisting of PS73E, PS192N1 and PS201T6. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the Bacillus thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin is an activated 201T6 toxin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method, according to claim 1, wherein said Bacillus thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin is a Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis toxin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein said .delta.-endotoxin is activated by treating said .delta.-endotoxin with a protease prior to administering. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein activation of the .delta.-endotoxin is effected by truncation of said Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis .delta.-endotoxin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the Bacillus thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin is administered to said rice water weevils by spraying rice plants with a foliar spray containing the B.t. .delta.-endotoxin. ### Claim 9 A method of killing weevils which comprises administering to said weevils a pesticidally effective amount of a Bacillus thurigiensis isolate, wherein said isolate is selected from the group consisting of PS201T6, KB92, PS50B, PS204G4, PS204G6, PS167P, PS192N1, PS201L1, PS169E, PS177G, PS196S1, and PS73E; or a .delta.-endotoxin therefrom; or a weevil killing fragment of said .delta.-endotoxin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein said weevils are selected from the group consisting of alfalfa weevils (Hypera postica), Egyptian alfalfa weevils (Hypera brunneipennis), boll weevils (Anthonomus grandis), and rice water weevils (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein said weevils are rice water weevils (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus). ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein said weevils are alfalfa weevils and wherein said isolate is selected from the group consisting of PS201T6, MR506, and KB92. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein said weevils are boll weevils and said isolate is selected from the group consisting of PS201T6 and KB92. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein said .delta.-endotoxin is activated by treating said .delta.-endotoxin with a protease prior to administering. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein activation of the .delta.-endotoxin is effected by the truncation of said Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis .delta.-endotoxin. ### Claim 16 A method of killing boll weevils (Anthonomus grandis) which comprises contacting said weevils with a pesticidally effective mount of a microbial isolate that expresses a Bacillus thuringiensis .delta.-endotoxin, wherein said isolate is selected from the group consisting of PS33F2, MR506, and PS101Z2; or a .delta.-endotoxin therefrom; or a weevil killing fragment of said .delta.-endotoxin. ### Claim 17 A composition of matter comprising a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t. ) isolate or spores, crystals, or .delta.-endotoxins from a B.t. isolate, or a recombinant microbe that expresses a B.t. toxin, in association with a formulation particularly adapted for use with rice water weevils, wherein said B.t. isolate or said recombinant microbe is selected from the group consisting of MR506, KB92, PS201T6, PS101Z2, PS50B, PS33F2, PS204G4,PS204G6, PS167P, PS192N1, PS201L1, PS169E, PS177G, PS196S1, and PS73E.