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

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛/商业影响是为一种新型环保、可持续生物农药创造一种商业生产方法。由于对环境和人类健康的担忧，许多传统农药受到严格管制或完全禁止。此外，对安全可靠的虫害防治的需求正在增加。一类生态和气候友好型替代品是生物农药；它们对人类和环境都是安全的，对其使用几乎没有限制，并且可以在传统杀虫剂无法控制的情况下用于昆虫控制，例如在家庭或学校附近。该项目扩大了一种新型信息素的制造平台，以加强对各种商品的虫害控制，例如在土壤和地上的生长季节或收获后的储存。该项目可以开辟一个新的产业，因为害虫防治信息素增强剂以前没有商业化。此外，项目成果可以加强粮食安全，为农民提供气候友好型解决方案，并促进可持续农业实践。该项目扩大了线虫（蛔虫）信息素在生物反应器中体外发酵生产的规模。目前，没有商业化的线虫信息素生产存在。昆虫病原线虫是昆虫的天敌，是许多重要经济害虫的生物防治剂。与许多生物农药一样，epn也有局限性，比如田间药效（杀伤能力）不稳定，在极端温度下的药效有限。线虫信息素提取物可使EPN在土壤中防治昆虫的功效提高78%。EPN制造商和分销商对EPN分散信息素有很大的商业兴趣。由于线虫信息素没有商业化的生产系统，迫切需要新的制造方法。以前，信息素生产的发酵方法是在摇瓶中演示的。在拟议的项目中，发酵方法将在生物反应器中进行规模化。与此同时，下游加工将扩大生产稳定、有效的信息素提取物。将采用针对重要害虫的田间试验来确保信息素的活性，并确定残留信息素对土壤微生物组的影响。最后，将开发建立质量控制参数、配方、储存和包装的方法。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.