Agricultural compositions comprising remodeled nitrogen fixing microbes
Inventors
REISINGER, MARK • SANDERS, ERNEST • BROGLIE, RICHARD • Temme, Karsten
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12757902-B2
Publication Date
2026-10-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure provides non-intergeneric remodeled microbes that are able to fix atmostpheric nitrogen and deliver such to plants in a targeted, efficient, and environmentally sustainable manner. The utilization of the taught microbial products will enable farmers to realize more productive and predictable crop yields without the nutrient degradation, leaching, or toxic runoff associated with traditional synthetically derived nitrogen fertilizer. The remodeled microbes taught herein are able to be combined with leading agricultural chemistry and elite germplasm. Furthermore, the disclosure provides seed treatments comprising remodeled microbes.
Core Innovation
The composition comprises a plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria and a nematode-antagonistic biocontrol agent selected from specified organisms or combinations thereof. The Guided Microbial Remodeling platform isolates, characterizes, and non-intergenerically engineers plant-associated microbes through promoter rewiring, transcriptomic promoter selection, and genetic modifications associated with nitrogen regulation. These alterations enhance nitrogen fixation and ammonia delivery in the presence of exogenous nitrogen.
The remodeled bacteria produce fixed nitrogen of at least about 1×10⁻¹⁷ mmol N per bacterial cell per hour and exhibit an average colonization ability of at least about 1.0×10⁴ bacterial cells per gram of fresh weight of plant root tissue. Formulations include optional carriers, stabilizers, nutrients, and pesticides for agricultural consortia or seed treatments. Documented disclosures report plant root colonization, atmospheric nitrogen contribution, and crop yield evaluations under varying fertilizer conditions.
Claims Coverage
The claims identify one independent claim comprising three inventive features across the independent claim and dependent claims.
Composition comprising remodeled bacteria and a biocontrol agent
The composition comprises a plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria and a nematode-antagonistic biocontrol agent selected from ARF18, specified fungal and bacterial groups, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobacteria, or combinations thereof.
Fixed-nitrogen production and plant root colonization
The non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria produce fixed nitrogen of at least about 1×10⁻¹⁷ mmol N per bacterial cell per hour and exhibit an average colonization ability of at least about 1.0×10⁴ bacterial cells per gram of fresh weight of plant root tissue.
Genetic variation in nitrogen-associated genes
The claim coverage specifies genetic variation in one or more listed nitrogen-regulation, glutamine-metabolism, or nitrogenase-associated genes, wherein nitrogen fixation occurs in the presence of exogenous nitrogen.
The claims cover a composition combining non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria with a selected nematode-antagonistic biocontrol agent, subject to specified thresholds for fixed-nitrogen production and plant root colonization, along with refinements to bacterial genes and formulations.
Stated Advantages
The described remodeling is stated to enhance nitrogen fixation and ammonia delivery under exogenous nitrogen conditions.
Field and greenhouse testing report yield improvements over untreated controls and numerical yield gains under reduced-nitrogen regimes.
Greenhouse testing reports that remodeled bacteria contributed about 20% of above-ground corn nitrogen, and disclosures indicate potential fertilizer replacement.
Documented Applications
Plant-use microbial compositions and formulations for seed treatment, seedling coatings, or in-furrow application across cereal, corn, and other crops.
Agricultural consortia comprising combinations of the identified microbes, including Kosakonia sacchari, Rahnella aquatilis, and Klebsiella variicola.
Compositions combining nitrogen-fixing, root-colonizing remodeled bacteria with pesticides, including fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, or pesticidal proteins, as well as hormones, fertilizers, and seed-treatment products.
Methods for detecting engineered strains.
Application of remodeled bacteria and compositions in corn-root, greenhouse, and field contexts.
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