Development of Host induced Gene Editing (Hi-GE): a novel platform for bacterial disease control

宿主诱导基因编辑（Hi-GE）的开发：细菌性疾病控制的新平台

• 批准号: 10004717
• 金额: $ 44万
• 依托单位: TROPIC BIOSCIENCES UK LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Collaborative R&D
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10004717
• 关键词: Development; Host; induced; Gene; Editing

Bacterial diseases of plants and animals cause devastating damage to crops and livestock, respectively, resulting in significant global economic losses (worth multiple billions of pounds annually). With the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria threatening human health, agribusinesses are under pressure to reduce antibiotic use. Development of antibacterial resistance through gene editing(GE) shows promise, but remains limited by slow/costly gene discovery.Bacteria are one of the major pathogens causing emerging infectious plant diseases. One high-profile example is citrus greening or huanglongbing, which is recognised as the most devastating citrus disease worldwide(Dala-Paula_et_al_2019). Citrus greening affects tree health as well as fruit development, ripening, and quality. There is currently no cure or management strategy, with infected trees dying within as little as 5years(Singerman_and_Rogers_2020). In the US, over the last decade, citrus greening has caused Florida's orange production to decrease by over 70%(USDA_2019), and the price of a box of oranges to increase by over 3x(Dala-Paula_et_al_2019).Tropic Biosciences is developing high-performing commercial varieties of tropical crops (including banana, coffee, rice), which promote cultivation efficiencies, enhance consumer health, and improve sustainable environmental practices. Our approach relies on proprietary/patented cutting-edge GE technologies and has overcome the gene discovery barrier. However, our current technical approach is limited to targeting plant/viral/fungus/pest genes and cannot target bacteria.Headquartered at renowned Norwich Research Park, with access to world-leading facilities, Tropic Biosciences was founded in 2016 by a team of highly experienced entrepreneurs and academics, including: CEO Gilad Gershon, experienced AgTech private equity investor/entrepreneur; CSO Dr Eyal Maori, scientific co-founder of Beelogics, acquired by Monsanto(2011); and, CTO Dr Ofir Meir, former Head of the Agro Chemistry Division at Rosetta Green, acquired by Monsanto(2013).We now employ a team of 80+ industry-leading experts and have raised £22.5million Series B round (largest ever in the UK AgriTech sector) to accelerate our growth trajectory through field trials for our novel banana varieties and to further commercialise our proprietary Genome Editing induced Gene Silencing(GEiGS) technology platform.While GEiGS enables host protection against viruses, fungi, and pests, it cannot target bacteria. This R&D project extends our technical approach to bacteria for the first time and is highly complementary to GEiGS. A successful project, validating experimental proof of concept(technology readiness level 3) will unlock in-house development of high-performance antibacterial tropical crop varieties, resistant to emerging bacterial plant diseases. Through licensing to established agribusinesses, Hi-GE platform will also enable development of antibacterial traits in non-tropical crops and animals.

植物和动物的细菌性疾病分别对农作物和牲畜造成毁灭性损害，导致全球重大经济损失（每年价值数十亿英镑）。随着抗生素耐药细菌的增加威胁人类健康，农业综合企业面临着减少抗生素使用的压力。通过基因编辑（GE）开发抗菌抗性显示出了希望，但仍然受到缓慢/昂贵的基因发现的限制。细菌是引起新出现的传染性植物病的主要病原体之一。一个引人注目的例子是柑橘黄龙病，它被认为是全球最具破坏性的柑橘病害（Dala-Paula_et_al_2019）。柑橘绿化影响树木健康以及果实发育、成熟和质量。目前尚无治愈或管理策略，受感染的树木在短短 5 年内就会死亡（Singerman_and_Rogers_2020）。在美国，过去十年，柑橘绿化导致佛罗里达州的橙子产量减少了 70% 以上（USDA_2019），一盒橙子的价格上涨了 3 倍以上（Dala-Paula_et_al_2019）。Tropic Biosciences 正在开发热带作物（包括香蕉、咖啡、水稻）的高性能商业品种，以提高种植效率， 增强消费者健康，并改善可持续的环境实践。我们的方法依赖于专有/专利的尖端 GE 技术，并克服了基因发现障碍。然而，我们目前的技术方法仅限于针对植物/病毒/真菌/害虫基因，无法针对细菌。Tropic Biosciences 总部位于著名的诺维奇研究园，拥有世界领先的设施，由经验丰富的企业家和学者团队于 2016 年创立，其中包括：首席执行官 Gilad Gershon，经验丰富的农业科技私募股权投资者/企业家； CSO Eyal Maori 博士，Beelogics 的科学联合创始人，被孟山都公司收购（2011 年）；首席技术官 Ofir Meir 博士是 Rosetta Green 农业化学部门的前负责人，该公司于 2013 年被孟山都公司收购。我们现在聘请了一支由 80 多名行业领先专家组成的团队，并筹集了 2250 万英镑的 B 轮融资（英国农业科技领域有史以来规模最大的一笔），通过我们新型香蕉品种的田间试验加速我们的增长轨迹，并进一步将我们专有的基因组编辑诱导基因商业化 沉默（GEiGS）技术平台。虽然GEiGS能够保护宿主免受病毒、真菌和害虫的侵害，但它不能针对细菌。该研发项目首次将我们的技术方法扩展到细菌领域，与 GEiGS 高度互补。一个成功的项目，验证概念实验验证（技术准备级别 3）将开启高性能抗菌热带作物品种的内部开发，以抵抗新出现的细菌性植物病害。通过向成熟的农业企业授予许可，Hi-GE 平台还将能够开发非热带作物和动物的抗菌特性。