cry proteins

A class of crystalline proteins produced by strains of Bacillus thuringiensis, and engineered into crop plants to give resistance against insect pests. These proteins are toxic to certain categories of insects (e.g. corn borers, corn rootworms, mosquitoes, black flies, armyworms, tobacco hornworms, some types of beetles, etc.), but are harmless to mammals and most beneficial insects. Synonym: delta endotoxins.