Question

Bt-toxin works against which of the following order of insects?

• A. Lepidopterans
• B. Coleopterans
• C. Dipterans
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is D All of the above

Bt-toxin is produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. It works against insect orders such as lepidopterans, coleopterans, and dipterans by binding to their midgut epithelium cell surface and creating pores causing their death. It is an inactive protoxin, but once a target insect ingests the Bt-toxin (Cry protein), it gets solubilized in its alkaline midgut and gets activated by proteases.