Exploiting bacteriocins for plant protection against bacterial infections

Lead Research Organisation: University of Glasgow
Department Name: College of Medical, Veterinary, Life Sci

Abstract

Pseudomonas syringae is a bacterial species that causes disease in over 28 important crops and field losses & spoilage in storage run into $billions worldwide. For annual crops, the primary route of infection is via contaminated seed. The market for seed treatment exceeds $58bn annually but using chemicals or conventional antibiotics is increasingly regarded as having negative environmental consequences. Nearly all bacteria, including Pseudomonas spp., produce bacteriocins, protein antibiotics that kill related species. We have identified bacteriocins from Pseudomonas spp., have produced them in pure form and shown that they effectively kill field isolates of P. syringae isolated from infected crops. When applied to seed they substantially reduce growth of P. syringae. We propose to develop the use of bacteriocins as a seed treatment by optimizing treatment and seed coating conditions and identifying novel bacteriocin species for use in bacteriocin cocktails.

Publications

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Chai R (2021) Challenges of using protein antibiotics for pathogen control. in Pest management science

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Rooney WM (2020) Bacteriocins Targeting Gram-Negative Phytopathogenic Bacteria: Plantibiotics of the Future. in Frontiers in microbiology

 
Description We have identified several novel protein antibiotics that are produced by plant pathogenic bacterial species and we have tested them as treatments to prevent/reduce disease in infected seed and infected plants. Our results demonstrate that treatments of seed from several different plant species and infected leaves with two bacteriocins substantially reduce both bacterial titres and symptoms caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae. We have also identified several novel bacteriocins and have demonstrated that these also provide effective antibiotic action against plant pathogenic isolates of P. syringae

We are currently, in collaboration with Dr Richard Harrison (NIAB), characterized the efficacy of several of these bacteriocins against P.syringae isolates from cherry trees and are testing the practicality of using them for treatments.

We have now extended our studies to a second genus of plant pathogenic bacteria, Xanthomonas, which causes major losses in a wide range of crops including Brassicas, soft fruit, cotton etc.,. We have identified 8 previously unknown bacteriocins and have tested them against field isolates of Xanthomonas. Two of these have promising killing activity and we are carrying out seed testing similar to the work with P. syringae.

Overall, these results are a promising start in developing bacteriocins as seed and plant treatments for crops.
Exploitation Route Exploitation by commercial companies for use in seed treatments. We are currently collaborating with Garmin's seeds on exploiting the bacteriocins active against Xanthomonas campestris as a seed treatment for cabbage and other brassica seed. With support from the University of Glasgow, we are putting together a business plan for a spin-off company to exploit the use of bacteriocins for protection against bacterial infections in seeds. We are currently in the process of protecting the IP for the work funded by this grant.
Sectors Agriculture, Food and Drink,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology
 
Description Potential for exploitation as seed and plant treatments in agriculture
First Year Of Impact 2020
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink
Impact Types Economic
 
Description Bacteriocin Commercial Scoping
Amount £14,400 (GBP)
Funding ID 302389 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2022 
End 03/2022
 
Description Developing a novel prophylactic seed treatment for Xanthomonas infections of crops
Amount £24,703 (GBP)
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2021 
End 03/2022
 
Title A method for assessing bacterial infections in seeds 
Description We have developed a rapid and reliable method for carrying out infections in seeds of tomato, cucumber, soybean and kiwifruit. A description of the method is currently in preparation for publication online. 
Type Of Material Technology assay or reagent 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact None yet 
 
Description Exploiting Bacteriocins as treatments for Diseases in Cherry 
Organisation National Institute of Agronomy and Botany (NIAB)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have tested 24 strains of Pseudomonas syringae isolated from infected cherry trees in the UK for sensitivity to two bacteriocins, Puticacin L1 and Syringacin M1. We have identified several bacteriocin-sensitive strains. We are now collaborating on studies to test the efficacy of bacteriocin treatment on bacterial titres in infected plants
Collaborator Contribution Partners have sent us isolates for testing. Partners have assisted in genome sequencing of resistant and sensitive strains of Pseuomonas syringae.
Impact No outcomes yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Exploiting Bacteriocins as treatments for plant diseases caused by Xanthomonas species. 
Organisation University of Warwick
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have identified 5 new bacteriocins from Xanthomonas species. Partners have sent us 20 strains of different Xanthomonas spp from UK and worldwide. We have tested these for sensitivity. We are now initiating experiments to test the efficacy in suppressing infections in UK brassica crops
Collaborator Contribution Strains sent for analysis.
Impact None yet
Start Year 2020