Compositions comprising recombinant Bacillus cells and another biological control agent
Inventors
CURTIS, Damian • Thompson, Brian
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10667522-B2
Publication Date
2020-06-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a) recombinant exosporium-producing Bacillus cells that express a fusion protein comprising: (i) at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide and (ii) a targeting sequence that localizes the fusion protein to the exosporium of the Bacillus cells; and b) at least one further biological control agent selected from particular microorganisms disclosed herein and/or a mutant of a specific strain of a microorganism disclosed herein having all identifying characteristics of the respective strain, and/or at least one metabolite produced by the respective strain, and/or at least one metabolite produced by the respective strain that exhibits activity against insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens in a synergistically effective amount. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of this composition as well as a method for enhancing plant growth, promoting plant health, and/or reducing overall damage of plants and plant parts.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a composition that includes recombinant cells of a Bacillus cereus family member. The recombinant cells express a fusion protein that combines at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide with a targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment capable of targeting the fusion protein to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.
The plant growth stimulating element includes at least one polypeptide having endoglucanase activity with at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 107 and/or a polypeptide having phospholipase activity with at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 108. The targeting element comprises an amino acid sequence related to SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2, including amino acids 1-35, 20-35, 22-31, 22-33, or 20-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or an amino acid sequence having at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.
In combination with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member cells, the composition includes a Bacillus firmus strain in a synergistic weight ratio in the range of 1:1000 to 1000:1. The composition is provided in a biological control context directed to plant performance, and the synergism refers to enhancing plant growth and/or promoting plant health.
Claims Coverage
The claim set includes one independent claim. It covers three inventive features: recombinant Bacillus cereus family member cells expressing an exosporium-targeted fusion protein with defined plant growth stimulating elements; specific sequence identity and segment relationships for the targeting element; and a Bacillus firmus strain present in a synergistic weight ratio for enhancing plant growth and/or promoting plant health.
Exosporium-targeted fusion protein in recombinant Bacillus cereus family cells
Recombinant Bacillus cereus family member cells express a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide selected from a polypeptide having endoglucanase activity with at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 107 and a polypeptide having phospholipase activity with at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 108, together with a targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment capable of targeting the fusion protein to the exosporium.
Exosporium targeting defined by SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 identity and segment relationships
A targeting element defined by an amino acid sequence having at least 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1 with at least 54% identity for amino acids 25-35, including amino acids 1-35, 20-35, 22-31, 22-33, or 20-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or an amino acid sequence having at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.
Synergistic Bacillus firmus strain combined with recombinant Bacillus cereus family cells
A Bacillus firmus strain is present in a synergistic weight ratio in the range of 1:1000 to 1000:1 with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member cells, where the synergism refers to enhancing plant growth and/or promoting plant health.
Overall, the claims center on recombinant Bacillus cereus family cells engineered to express an exosporium-targeted fusion protein and combined with a Bacillus firmus strain at a synergistic weight ratio to enhance plant growth and/or promote plant health.
Stated Advantages
Enhancing plant growth and/or promoting plant health.
Documented Applications
Treating a plant, a plant part, or the surrounding area by applying the composition to enhance plant growth and/or promote plant health.
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