Bioinsecticidal ability of virulence factors released by Steinernema carpocapsae

Abstract: Steinernema carpocapsae is a biological control agent largely used to control insects.Laboratorial and field assays evidenced the diversity of beneficial traits of this organism namelyvirulence. The analysis of transcripts and proteins in the excreted secreted products of theparasitic nematode allowed to the identification of genes and proteins participating in invasion,evasion and host death. Some of these genes present specific features that support its use in thegenetic improvement of the nematode, in the improvement of Bacillus thuringiensis incombination with other insecticidal genes, and in plant transformation.