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

这项小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目旨在培育携带新型基因融合的转基因柑橘和水稻植株，以控制柑橘溃烂病和水稻枯萎病。融合主要由来自单抗(ScFv)的多肽适配子和单链可变区片段组成，这些单链抗体与细菌致病性(PTH)蛋白结合并干扰，而PTH蛋白必须由病原体注入宿主细胞才能致病。通过Biacore分析，将选择在生理上合适的pH和温度范围内表现出更好的结合能力的融合。将确定适体单链抗体融合在一定pH和温度范围内的结合亲和力。第二阶段项目将导致一种新的、具有成本效益的遗传方法来控制由细菌植物病原体引起的各种重要植物疾病。农业和森林业将拥有商业潜力。

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.