SBIR Phase II: A scalable platform to produce nematode pheromones for crop protection

SBIR 第二阶段：生产用于作物保护的线虫信息素的可扩展平台

• 批准号: 2240487
• 负责人: Fatma Kaplan
• 金额: $ 97.19万
• 依托单位: Pheronym, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-07-01 至 2025-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2240487&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; II; scalable; platform

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to create a commercial manufacturing method for a new class of environmentally friendly, sustainable biopesticides. Due to environmental and human health concerns, many traditional pesticides are heavily regulated or banned outright. Further, the demand for safe and reliable pest control is increasing. One class of eco- and climate-friendly alternatives are biopesticides; They are safe for humans and the environment, face few restrictions on their use, and can be used for insect control in situations where traditional pesticides cannot, such as near homes or schools. The project scales a manufacturing platform for a new class of pheromones to enhance control of insect pests of various commodities such as during growth seasons in the soil and aboveground or postharvest, storage. The project could open up a new industry as pheromone enhancers of pest control have not been previously commercialized. Moreover, the project deliverables may enhance food security, provide climate-friendly solutions to farmers, and enhance sustainable agricultural practices. The project scales nematode (roundworm) pheromone manufacturing using in vitro fermentation in bioreactors. Currently, no commercial nematode pheromone production exists. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are natural enemies of insects and are used as biological control agents for many economically important pests. Like many biopesticides, EPNs have limitations, such as variable efficacy (ability to kill) in the field and limited efficacy at temperature extremes. Nematode pheromone extracts increase EPN efficacy for insect control in soil by up to 78%. There is big commercial interest in EPN dispersal pheromones from EPN manufacturers and distributors. Since there is no commercial production system for nematode pheromones, new manufacturing methods are urgently needed. Previously, the fermentation method for pheromone production was demonstrated in shaker flasks. In the proposed project, the fermentation method will be scaled in bioreactors. In concert, downstream processing will be scaled for stable, active pheromone extracts. Field trials targeting important insect pests will be used to ensure pheromone activity, and the residual pheromone effects on the soil microbiome will be determined. Finally, methods will be developed to establish quality control parameters, formulation, storage, and packaging.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛/商业影响是为一类新的环保，可持续的生物农药创造商业生产方法。由于环境和人类健康问题，许多传统农药受到严格管制或完全禁止。此外，对安全可靠的害虫控制的需求正在增加。 其中一类生态和气候友好型替代品是生物农药;它们对人类和环境安全，使用限制很少，并且可以在传统农药无法控制的情况下用于昆虫控制，例如在家庭或学校附近。该项目扩大了一类新信息素的制造平台，以加强对各种商品的虫害控制，例如在土壤和地上生长季节或收获后储存期间。该项目可以开辟一个新的行业，因为害虫控制的信息素增强剂以前没有商业化。此外，项目交付成果可以加强粮食安全，为农民提供气候友好型解决方案，并加强可持续农业做法。该项目利用生物反应器中的体外发酵来扩大线虫（蛔虫）信息素的生产。目前，不存在商业化的线虫信息素生产。昆虫病原线虫（Entomopathogenicnematodes，EPN）是昆虫的天敌，是许多重要害虫的生物防治剂。与许多生物农药一样，EPN也有局限性，例如田间药效（杀灭能力）可变，极端温度下药效有限。线虫信息素提取物可使EPN防治土壤中昆虫的功效提高高达78%。EPN制造商和分销商对EPN传播信息素有很大的商业兴趣。由于没有线虫信息素的商业生产系统，因此迫切需要新的制造方法。以前，用于信息素生产的发酵方法是在摇瓶中证明的。在拟议项目中，发酵方法将在生物反应器中进行规模化。一致地，下游处理将被缩放以获得稳定的、活性的信息素提取物。针对重要害虫的田间试验将用于确保信息素活性，并将确定残留信息素对土壤微生物组的影响。最后，将制定方法，以建立质量控制参数，配方，储存和包装。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。