SBIR Phase II: Disease Block - Genetically Engineered Plants with Disease Resistance

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This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to produce transgenic citrus and rice plants carrying novel gene fusions for the purpose of controlling citrus canker and rice blight disease. The fusions consist mainly of peptide aptamers and single chain variable region fragments from monoclonal antibodies (SCFVs) that bind to and interfere with bacterial pathogenicity (Pth) proteins that must be injected by the pathogens into host cells to cause disease. Fusions will be selected that show improved binding at physiologically appropriate pH and temperature ranges by BIAcore analyses. Binding affinities of aptamer SCFV fusions over a range of pH and temperatures will be determined.The Phase II project will lead to a new, cost-effective genetic method to control a variety of important plant diseases caused by bacterial plant pathogens. Commercial potential would be to the agricultural and forest industries.