Global Mechanisms of Bt Resistance in a Field Strain of the Cotton Bollworm, Helicopera Zea: The Expected and Unexpected

RNAseq is a method to quantitatively measure total gene expression in an organism.  This method was used to measure differences in gene expression between a Bt susceptible and a Bt resistant strain of the cotton bollworm, Helicoperva zea, where the differences in susceptibility to Cry1Ac toxin was 100 fold.  We found gene expression differences that would be expected based on our current understanding of Bt mode of action and resistance as well as additional affected genes suggesting previously unknown Bt mechanisms of resistance.