During sporulation Bacillus thuringiensis produces crystal proteins called Deltaendotoxin which is encoded by cry genes. Delta-endotoxins have specific activities against the insects of the orders Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. When the insects ingest the toxin crystals their alkaline digestive tract denatures the insoluble crystals making them soluble. The cry toxin then gets inserted into the gut cell membrance and paralyzes the digestive tract. The insect then stops eating and starves to death.
