Targeting Plant Pathogens Through LPMO Gene Silencing

我们开发了针对生菜和菠菜霜霉病以及草莓和绿色豆类收获后霉菌的新型高度特异性作物保护。病原体的宿主渗透通常需要酶促破坏植物细胞壁，纤维素的结晶性质使其具有挑战性。裂解性多糖单加氧酶（LPMO）在裂解多糖的结晶表面处的键以允许其快速降解中起关键作用。我们最近在植物病原体中发现了一个新的LPMO家族。该家族的成员在宿主感染的早期阶段表达，表明它们的功能是降解细胞壁并使病原体能够穿透植物。在这里，我们将确定两个卵菌和一个真菌病原体的毒力所需的关键LPMO。我们将优化RNAi的应用，以沉默这些LPMO基因并预防感染。将制定一项商业计划，以扩大和商业化这种新的方法。

We develop novel highly specific crop protection against downy mildew in lettuce and spinach, and post-harvest mould in strawberry and green beans. Host penetration by pathogens typically requires enzymatic disruption of the plant cell wall with the crystalline nature of cellulose making this challenging. Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) play a key role in lysing bonds at the crystalline surfaces of polysaccharides allowing their rapid degradation. We recently identified a new family of LPMOs in plant pathogens. Members of this family are expressed during early stages of host infection suggesting they function to degrade the cell wall and enable the pathogen to penetrate the plant. Here we will identify key LPMOs required for virulence in two oomycete and one fungal pathogens. We will optimise application of RNAi for silencing these LPMO genes and preventing infection. A business plan for scale up and commercialisation of this novel approach will be developed.