Potency of insect-specific scorpion toxins on mosquito control using Bacillus thuringiensis Cry4Aa

Two insect-specific scorpion toxins, BjαIT and AahIT were produced as alkali-soluble protein inclusions in Escherichia coli. The inclusion bodies themselves exhibited no toxicity against Culex pipiens larvae. However, coadministration with Cry4Aa toxin enhanced the mosquitocidal activity by 2–3 fold. Insect-specific scorpion toxins can be good supplements for Cry toxin-based bioinsecticides.