Expression ofPseudomonas phosphotriesterase activity in the fall armyworm confers resistance to insecticides

Abstract
The gene encoding for the phosphotriesterase (opd) fromPseudomonas diminuta has been subcloned into a baculovirus expression system. Functional enzyme is produced when the recombinant baculovirus is used to infect either culturedSpodoptera frugiperda sf9 cells or the larval stage of the fall armyworm. The LD50 for paraoxon toxicity was found to increase 280-fold in the larvae after infection with the recombinant baculovirus and expression of the functional phosphotriesterase.