Project description
Spore-based biopesticide developed to combat Xylella fastidiosa threat
Olive groves and other plants and fruits are at risk from the highly destructive invasive plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa. However, no field treatment is currently available to protect crops against this threat. The EU-funded SMART-AGRI-SPORE project will help fight the pathogen by developing a novel, smart biopesticide based on bacterial spores, which specifically targets X. fastidiosa in infected trees and insect vectors. For the first time in an agricultural setting, researchers will engineer Bacillus spores to act as a biopesticide delivery vehicle. The spores will be screened for novel antimicrobial peptides efficiently targeting X. fastidiosa and engineered to express and store these active agents in the core or coat before being released into the environment.
Objective
EU agriculture is facing an unparalleled threat by the pest Xylella fastidiosa, potentially causing an annual production loss of 5.5 billion euros and putting at risk 300.000 jobs if its expansion cannot be contained. Hence, the eradication of this bacterium remains a key priority of the EU. Yet, no field treatment is currently available, highlighting the dire need for effective pesticides against this menace.
At the same time the European Commission’s ambitious Green Deal and its Farm to Fork strategy set the reduction by 50% of the use of chemical pesticides by 2030 as a key priority. However, today, the availability of biological alternatives is limited and novel solutions targeting the most detrimental pests are urgently needed.
In light of these challenges, we propose the development of a novel, smart biopesticide based on bacterial spores (SMART-AGRI-SPORE), specifically targeting X. fastidiosa in infected trees and insect vectors.
Although the use of spores in medical applications is well established, here we extend the concept for the first time to an agricultural use by engineering spores as a biopesticide delivery vehicle.
To do so, Bacillus candidates will be isolated from orchards and vectors, while an activity screen will identify novel antimicrobial peptides efficiently targeting X. fastidiosa. Spores will be engineered to express and store these active agents in the core or coat, shielding them from physicochemical and biological degradation through the protective spore structure. Using an innovative design approach, the heterologous protein will be released into the environment during induced autolytic germination.
This study will provide novel insights into the treatment of X. fastidiosa under field conditions, while also extending our repertoire of alternative biopesticides for use in EU agriculture. In a wider context the project seeks to contribute to transforming EU agriculture into a modern, resource-efficient and resilient sector.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
23071 JAEN
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.