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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 2006, p. 1595-1603, Vol. 72, No. 2
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.72.2.1595-1603.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Lack of Detrimental Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry Toxins on the Insect Predator Chrysoperla carnea: a Toxicological, Histopathological, and Biochemical Analysis

Ana Rodrigo-Simón,1 Ruud A. de Maagd,2 Carlos Avilla,3 Petra L. Bakker,2 Jos Molthoff,2 Jose E. González-Zamora,3 and Juan Ferré1*

Department of Genetics, University of Valencia, 46100-Burjassot (Valencia), Spain,1 Business Unit Bioscience, Plant Research International B.V., 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands,2 Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Seville, 41013-Seville, Spain3

Received 22 September 2005/ Accepted 14 November 2005

The effect of Cry proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis on the green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) was studied by using a holistic approach which consisted of independent, complementary experimental strategies. Tritrophic experiments were performed, in which lacewing larvae were fed Helicoverpa armigera larvae reared on Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, or Cry2Ab toxins. In complementary experiments, a predetermined amount of purified Cry1Ac was directly fed to lacewing larvae. In both experiments no effects on prey utilization or fitness parameters were found. Since binding to the midgut is an indispensable step for toxicity of Cry proteins to known target insects, we hypothesized that specific binding of the Cry1A proteins should be found if the proteins were toxic to the green lacewing. In control experiments, Cry1Ac was detected bound to the midgut epithelium of intoxicated H. armigera larvae, and cell damage was observed. However, no binding or histopathological effects of the toxin were found in tissue sections of lacewing larvae. Similarly, Cry1Ab or Cry1Ac bound in a specific manner to brush border membrane vesicles from Spodoptera exigua but not to similar fractions from green lacewing larvae. The in vivo and in vitro binding results strongly suggest that the lacewing larval midgut lacks specific receptors for Cry1Ab or Cry1Ac. These results agree with those obtained in bioassays, and we concluded that the Cry toxins tested, even at concentrations higher than those expected in real-life situations, do not have a detrimental effect on the green lacewing when they are ingested either directly or through the prey.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Genetics, University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100-Burjassot (Valencia), Spain. Phone: 34 96 3544506. Fax: 34 96 3543029. E-mail: juan.ferre{at}uv.es.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 2006, p. 1595-1603, Vol. 72, No. 2
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.72.2.1595-1603.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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