An Buthus martensii Karsch Insect Toxin (BmK IT ) gene was inserted into the genome of Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) to construct a recombinant baculovirus, AcMNPV-BmK IT. The expression of BmK IT was confirmed using RT-PCR, dot blot and SDS-PAGE analysis. Dose-lethal time responses to Spodoptera exigua larvae were compared between wild-type baculovirus AcMNPV and recombinant virus AcMNPV-BmK IT. At the concentration of 1×107 PIBs/mL, the median lethal time of recombinant baculovirus (LT50 = 73.6h) on third instar S. exigua larvae showed an improvement of 13.2% over the efficacy of wild type virus (LT50 = 84.8h) during a 192h in-fection.
