HEИндивидуална стипендия2022–2024

SIGSbyBEVs · Spray-induced gene silencing using bacterial extracellular vesicles for dsRNA delivery to manage fungal diseases in agricultural and forest systems

„Хоризонт Европа“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“

Период: 2022-09-01 → 2024-10-31
Финансиране от ЕС: 166 655 €
Участници: 1
Схема: HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF

Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.

Накратко на български

Бактериални везикули се използват за доставяне на молекули (dsRNA), които спират растежа на гъбички, атакуващи например домати и борове. Това помага за създаването на биоразградима алтернатива на химичните фунгициди, които стават все по-неефективни или забранени.

Този кратък обзор е генериран от изкуствен интелект

Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.

Резултати накратко

Spray-induced gene silencing using bacterial extracellular vesicles for dsRNA delivery to manage fungal diseases in agricultural and forest systems

The SIGSbyBEVs project was developed in response to the urgent need for sustainable solutions to manage fungal diseases affecting agricultural and forest ecosystems. These pathogens cause significant economic losses, threaten global food security, and compromise forest health by reducing the yield of staple crops, fruits, and vegetables while also risking biodiversity. Traditional chemical fungicides, often banned in forestry, are becoming less viable in agriculture due to increasing restrictions under European Green Deal policies and the emergence of resistant fungal strains. The project aimed to develop an innovative, environmentally friendly technology based on bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) to deliver double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) capable of triggering RNA interference (RNAi) in fungal pathogens. This RNAi-based strategy provides a biodegradable alternative to fungicides, targeting the molecular pathways essential for fungal growth without harming non-target organisms. The research was structured around two key objectives. The first focused on identifying and designing effective dsRNA molecules to suppress fungal pathogens Fusarium circinatum (causal agent of pine pitch canker disease) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fusarium wilt disease in tomato) while minimizing potential off-target effects. The second aimed at improving the stability and uptake efficiency of these dsRNA molecules by encapsulating them within BEVs derived from bacterial strains. Through interdisciplinary collaborations with research institutions and industry partners, SIGSbyBEVs successfully advanced RNAi-based solutions for plant disease management. The project demonstrated that BEV-encapsulated dsRNAs remain stable on plant surfaces for extended periods and are efficiently taken up by fungal pathogens, leading to reduced pathogen growth and disease symptoms. The impacts of SIGSbyBEVs are multifaceted. Scientifically, it fills critical knowledge gaps in RNAi delivery systems and fungal dsRNA processing. Economically, it offers farmers and forest managers an innovative, low-impact tool to protect plants while preserving yield. Socially, it promotes safer agricultural practices and better food quality by reducing fungicide residues. Strategically, the project aligns with European policy objectives under the Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy, positioning RNAi technologies as viable alternatives for sustainable crops and forest protection.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз

Цел на проекта

Fungal plant diseases are responsible for yield and quality losses in agroecosystems, and also threaten the sustainability of forest ecosystems worldwide. The management of fungal diseases in agroecosystems often relies on the intensive use of chemical fungicides, which have negative impacts on the environment and may lead to the emergence of resistant strains. At the same time, fungal diseases are rarely managed in forest systems due to the scarcity of viable options. Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) is a novel management approach based on the ability of certain organisms, including plant pathogenic fungi, to take up double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from the environment, which can induce gene silencing in the target organism. Thus, essential or virulence-related genes can be specifically targeted by dsRNAs in SIGS, preventing or reducing disease development and providing a bio-based alternative to chemical fungicides in agroecosystems, and a promising option for forest systems. However, the easy degradation of dsRNA under environmental conditions is a major hurdle in adapting this technology for widespread use. Here, we propose to use bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) as dsRNA delivery vehicles in SIGS. My previous research experience has shown that artificial vesicles can encapsulate and protect dsRNAs that target fungal genes through spray applications, inducing gene silencing in several plant pathogenic fungi. In this proposal, we plan to develop a technology based on dsRNA encapsulation into bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) to target two fungal species in the genus Fusarium, one that infects high-value horticultural crops and one that infects forest pine trees. Through a carefully designed plan based on my research background and the expertise of my host institution, we aim to develop SIGS technologies based on BEVs that will contribute to the sustainable management of fungal diseases in agricultural and forest systems.

Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).

Участници

UNIVERSIDAD DE VALLADOLID · VALLADOLIDКоординаторИспания