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Full-length and truncated forms of the crystal protein gene cryIA(b) derived from Bacillus thuringiensissubsp. kurstakiHD-1 and full-length cryIA(c) gene of B. thuringiensissubsp. kurstakiHD-73 were introduced into the genome of the baculovirus Autographa californicanuclear polyhedrosis virus, in place of the polyhedrin gene. All gene constructs were expressed at high levels in insect cells and insects upon infection with the recombinant viruses. The protein products were shown to be biologically and immunologically similar to the natural crystal protein. The expressed proteins formed crystals (in insects) up to 10 times bigger (in length) than their bacterial counterpart. The LT50values for recombinant viruses were not significantly shorter than wild-type virus.