Teratocyte-Mediated Inhibition of Host Cell Translation and Insect Growth

将研究由畸胎化细胞（寄生蜂的额外胚胎细胞）分泌的一种蛋白质的作用模式。编码该蛋白的cDNA已被克隆。它已经在重组系统中表达，并且正在进行将其置于植物系统中的工作。该基因的潜在实际应用将是在抗昆虫摄食的转基因植物中表达，或在感染目标昆虫物种的药剂中表达。在任何一种情况下，该基因的表达都将被用作一种手段，以实现对经济上重要害虫的生长和发育的选择性控制。好处包括减少农药的使用和相关的环境问题，保护非目标物种，以及减少虫害造成的产量增加。

The mode of action of a protein secreted by teratocytes (extra embryonic cells of a parasitic wasp) will be studied. A cDNA encoding the protein has been cloned. It has been expressed in a recombinant system and work is underway to place it in a plant system. The potential practical application of this gene will be to express it in transgenic plants that would be resistant to insect feeding or in an agent that will infect targeted insect species. In either case, the expression of the gene will be used as a means to achieve selective control of the growth and development of economically important insect pests. Benefits would include reduced pesticide use and related environmental concerns, protection of nontarget species and increased yield resulting from less insect damage.