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

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛的商业影响是为一种新型的环境友好、可持续的生物农药创造一种商业制造方法。出于对环境和人类健康的担忧，许多传统农药受到严格监管或被彻底禁止。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的替代品是生物杀虫剂；它们对人类和环境是安全的，几乎不受使用限制，可以在传统杀虫剂无法控制的情况下使用，如在家庭或学校附近。该项目扩展了一种新型信息素的制造平台，以加强对各种商品的害虫的控制，如在土壤生长季节和地上或采后、储存期间。该项目可能会开辟一个新的行业，因为害虫控制的信息素增强剂以前还没有商业化。此外，项目可交付成果可能会增强粮食安全，为农民提供气候友好型解决方案，并加强可持续农业做法。该项目使用生物反应器中的体外发酵来规模化生产线虫(蛔虫)信息素。目前，还不存在商业线虫信息素生产。昆虫病原线虫是昆虫的天敌，是许多重要经济害虫的生防剂。与许多生物杀虫剂一样，EPN具有局限性，例如在田间药效(杀灭能力)可变，在极端温度下药效有限。线虫信息素提取物提高EPN对土壤中昆虫的控制效果高达78%。EPN制造商和分销商对EPN传播信息素有很大的商业兴趣。由于目前还没有商业化的线虫信息素生产系统，迫切需要新的制造方法。此前，信息素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。同时，下游加工将被规模化，以获得稳定、活性的信息素提取物。将使用针对重要害虫的田间试验来确保信息素的活性，并将确定残留的信息素对土壤微生物群的影响。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NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.