Grant Information

COMMERCIAL DELIVERY OF THERAPEUTIC SOLUTIONS FOR HLB

Sponsoring Institution Agricultural Research Service/USDA
Status ACTIVE
Funding Source USDA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
Reporting Frequency Annual
Project Director SHATTERS R G
Accession Number 438047
Project Number 6034-22320-007-019A
Dates 2020-10-01 - 2024-06-30
Recipient Organization AgroSource, Inc.
166 Beacon Lane
Jupiter,FL 33469-3504
Keywords asiaticus
candidatus
citrus
clas
greening
huanglongbing
liberibacter
therapeutics
Research Effort Applied (30%)
Basic (45%)
Developmental (25%)
Classification Parameters
Knowledge AreaSubject of InvestigationField of SciencePercent
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants 910 - Grapefruit 1040 - Molecular biology 40%
215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants 920 - Orange 1130 - Entomology and acarology 40%
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants 1131 - Wine grapes 1130 - Entomology and acarology 10%
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems 1130 - Table grapes 1040 - Molecular biology 10%
Goals / Objectives
  1. Further develop PHACT technology by refining export and systemic movement, peptide production, cell culture, transplantation, and vector design as in Objective 1 and 3a.
  2. Assist with bend-to-field pipeline assay design using PHACT.
  3. Conduct field trials to test candidate therapeutics and delivery systems identified in Objective 2.
  4. Collaborate to design direct delivery device in Objective 3C.
  5. Conduct preliminary economic assessment of lead candidate therapeutics.
Methods (unparsed)

Objective 1&2. Optimize use of PHACT as peptide production method. Produce AMPs, fungal entomopathogen metabolites and Ribonucleic acid (RNA) aptamers, using PHACT and compare with Vmax to determine best production method for each type of peptide. Use PHACT to produce peptides for use in objective 2 pipeline assays, as well as 3a and 3c delivery methods. Determine whether PHACT can be used as a screening method for therapeutics. Assist with field testing of molecules that show anti-ACP or anti-CLas activity in greenhouse bioassays. Objective 3a. PHACT Delivery. Optimize biofactory morphological structure, recombinant gene expression and defense gene product export as well as cell culture and delivery strategies and demonstrate the use of PHACT for HLB control. Optimize Cell activation genes. Optimize protein and dsRNA molecule export and systemic movement in the plant. Optimize cell culture of activated citrus and tomato biofactory cell lines for transplantation. Determine whether PHACT can function as an HLB control strategy for curing infected trees and/or preventing infection of healthy trees. Objective 3c. Direct Plant Infusion. A collaborative effort between agricultural engineers and biologists will use current knowledge from laboratory device development to construct rugged attachment devices that can remain attached to the tree and allow rapid refilling over multiple years. Agricultural industry key personnel will support commercial production pathway evaluations. Objective 5. Economics analysis. Conduct preliminary economic evaluations of cost and commercial viability on lead candidates in field trials, including Objective 5A cost estimates and 5B a detailed outline of EPA registration costs.