Researchers discover SAIP insecticidal protein in Streptomyces bacteria

7 articles · Updated · ScienceBlog.com · Apr 30

Published in Nature Microbiology, the study by Min Dong and Cameron Currie found SAIP kills insect cells below 10 picomolar and killed about 80% of injected fruit flies within 60 hours.
SAIP disables eEF2 through ADP-ribosylation and enters cells via the insect-specific Flower receptor, explaining why human and mouse cells were largely unaffected in laboratory tests.
Researchers say the toxin lineage may be about 125 million years old and could aid mosquito control or crop protection, offering a new mode of action beyond Bt toxins.

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