Pesticidal genes from brevibacillus and methods for their use

An isolated polypeptide with insecticidal activity, selected from the group consisting of:

• a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
• b) a polypeptide that is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5;
• c) a polypeptide that is at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein said polypeptide has pesticidal activity against a plant pest;
• and wherein said polypeptide is operably linked to a leader sequence, a signal sequence or a transit peptide.

A plant or a plant cell having stably incorporated into its genome a DNA construct comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein having insecticidal activity, wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of:

• a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 5;
• b) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
• and
• c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein said polypeptide has pesticidal activity against a plant pest;
• wherein said nucleotide sequence is operably linked to a promoter that drives expression of a coding sequence in a plant cell.

A method for protecting a plant from an insect pest, comprising introducing into said plant or cell thereof at least one expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a insecticidal polypeptide, wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of:

• a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 5;
• b) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
• and
• c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein said polypeptide has pesticidal activity against a plant pest;
• and
• wherein said nucleotide sequence is operably linked to a promoter that drives expression of a coding sequence in a plant cell.