Matrix-facilitated coating of target organisms with bioeffectors

Abstract

The invention relates to a matrix, in particular for forming a layer which surrounds a target organism, comprising at least one matrix former and at least one bioeffector, to a method for accumulating bioeffectors on a target organism, to the use of the matrix as an external layer for seeds, to the use of the matrix as a carrier for bioeffectors, and to the matrix for use as a pharmaceutical product.

Description

[0001] Matrix-mediated coating of target organisms with bioeffectors

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a matrix, in particular for forming a layer surrounding a target organism, comprising at least one matrix former and at least one bioeffector, a method for enriching bioeffectors on a target organism, the use of the matrix as an external layer for seeds, the use of the matrix as a carrier for bioeffectors and the matrix for use as a medicament.

[0004] Bioeffectors, as defined in the present application, describe a wide variety of different active substances that can have antimicrobial effects or promote the growth, nutrient uptake, and / or resistance of living organisms (e.g., crops, animals, or humans) and / or parts thereof (e.g., tissues or organs). Bioeffectors have a wide variety of uses, such as plant protection products, plant tonics, growth promoters, wound dressings, enterointestinal gels, or aerosol sprays.

[0005] In agriculture, the protection of crops from pathogenic bacteria is of particular importance. Currently, pathogenic bacteria are combated with non-specific agents such as antibiotics, copper compounds, pesticides, or plasma gas. This results in a broad spectrum of bacterial species being killed indiscriminately. As a result, even some of the most specific antibiotics are only effective against certain groups of bacteria, for example, only Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, or only bacteria belonging to a specific phylogenetic group, but cannot be species- or strain-specific.

[0006] However, many genera, such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus, to name a few, contain both pathogenic and beneficial bacteria (so-called commensals). It is these beneficial bacteria, which can benefit the target organism or are important for its health, that should not be killed if possible. The indiscriminate killing of the desired microorganisms can also lead to negative changes in the microbiome and the local environment.

[0007] An alternative approach to highly specifically targeting a single host species is offered by bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) (Erdrich et al. 2022, Hampton et al. 2020, and Holtappels et al. 2021). As such, they offer great potential for the targeted control of bacterial pathogens. Another useful property of bacteriophages is their ability to replicate and multiply themselves once they attach to a host bacterium and inject their genetic material into the cell.

[0008] All previous methods for combating bacterial pathogens have in common that they are non-selective and affect multiple organisms simultaneously, meaning that beneficial and desirable bacteria are also killed. Furthermore, these non-selective methods act as evolutionary pressure and are increasingly causing the formation of so-called "superbugs" (multi-resistant bacteria) that are immune to disease-fighting chemicals. This leads to an accumulation of undesirable, persistently biodegradable substances in the environment, such as antibiotics, copper, and pesticides, which exacerbate ecological problems.

[0009] For a targeted effect, however, not only the specificity of the effect is crucial, but also the proximity of the corresponding bioeffectors to the target organism. Such spatial specificity would be advantageous not only for killing harmful bacteria, but also, for example, in agriculture when adding biological effectors in the form of nutrients or fertilizers. Typically, the addition of fertilizer is limited to widespread application, without a high degree of spatial specificity for the site of effect. Considering the process of sowing in agriculture, for example, even the most precise nutrient application, such as with "in-furrow" technology, is still subject to the limitation that the nutrients are applied to a much larger area than the immediate space around a single seed.

[0010] As a third factor, in addition to the specificity of action and spatial specificity, the temporal component must also be taken into account. In practice, the application of an active ingredient and its effect often differ in time. In the case of growth-promoting substances, such as nutrients or hormones, their effect is usually required at a specific time. In agriculture, for example, the optimal time to add growth-promoting substances would be precisely when the seedling's natural reserves from the seed have been exhausted. However, since the exact time for optimal application is difficult to determine, the growth-promoting substances are applied in larger quantities instead to ensure that the seed is not deprived. As a result, however, more growth-promoting substances are applied than the target organism can utilize.The same applies to pesticides that are applied in large quantities, sometimes preventively, because early stages of infection are often undetectable. This has the disadvantage of higher costs and increased resistance development, as opposed to targeted application in areas where they are needed, for example, when the seedling is still young and particularly susceptible. Likewise, antimicrobial substances such as bacteriophages can experience stability problems, which can be counteracted by a matrix.

[0011] From the above, it is clear that although there are possibilities to provide bioeffectors with the required specificity of action for different areas of application, there is a lack of application options to use them with the required spatial specificity and at the same time ensure that the bioeffectors are available at the required time and that their stability is guaranteed over a longer period of time.

[0012] As part of the development work for this patent application, attempts were therefore made to apply bioeffectors locally to a target organism and to fix them by physical barriers and / or chemical interactions.

[0013] As part of this work, it was possible to bind or enrich bacteriophages to mucilage-secreting seeds before they germinate. It was shown that the bacteriophages immobilized in the mucilage were still active against their host bacteria, which are pathogenic to the plant, when the seeds were re-exposed to moisture. It was also shown that the bacteriophages remain active even after extended storage periods (>4 weeks). The mucilage enriched with bacteriophages can therefore act as an external immune layer on the seed, thus immobilizing and stabilizing the bacteriophages to the target organism.

[0014] Such an approach is not limited to mucus-secreting target organisms; plant mucus or a polymer can also be supplied exogenously. Plant mucus typically consists of carbohydrates with complex branched structures composed of monomers of L-arabinose, D-xylose, D-galactose, L-rhamnose, and galacturonic acid, and in nature, it primarily serves as a water-binding matrix. A variety of commercially available matrix formers are capable of acting as a matrix in a similar manner, allowing bioeffectors to be bound to non-mucus-secreting target organisms.

[0015] The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a matrix based on polymers or to have it produced by the target organism itself, which allows a bioeffector to be applied as close as possible to a target organism or to be enriched at the target site and at the same time to ensure the necessary storage stability of the bioeffector.

[0016] This object is achieved by a matrix according to claim 1, ie by a matrix, in particular for forming a layer surrounding a target organism, comprising at least one matrix former and at least one bioeffector.

[0017] The matrix according to the invention serves as a carrier or medium for the at least one bioeffector and, depending on the nature of the at least one bioeffector and the at least one matrix former, represents a physical barrier and / or keeps the bioeffector in the environment of the target organism through chemical interactions. The matrix according to the invention thus offers the advantage of high local specificity for the enrichment of bioeffector in the immediate environment of the target organism and, at the same time, provides a medium in which the bioeffector, in particular bacteriophages, have a high storage stability. Due to the proximity of the bioeffector to the target organism, these can either render pathogenic bacteria harmless and protect the plants from pathogens in the long term or perform another beneficial function.

[0018] A target organism, as defined in the application, is any object that can be enriched with a bioeffector using a matrix, and includes both organisms and parts thereof, such as organs and / or tissue. Preferably, the target organism is seed or a seed.

[0019] Seed refers to dry, dormant, generative reproductive organs such as seeds, fruits, pseudofruits, infructescences, or parts thereof. They contain the complete germ cell of the plant, resulting from fertilization.

[0020] Further preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0021] In the following, the term "comprise" shall also include "consisting of".

[0022] Matrix formers within the meaning of the application include chemically distinct, natural and synthetic substances, preferably polymers, whose common feature is that they are biodegradable and can be enriched with bioeffectors due to their physical barrier properties and / or through chemical interactions. The at least one matrix former can be synthesized by the target organism or supplied externally. The advantage of biodegradable matrix formers is primarily their good availability and ecological compatibility.

[0023] The matrix according to the invention is preferably characterized in that the at least one matrix former is selected from the group consisting of non-polymers, polymers, mucilage mucus, microgels, proteins, peptides, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, pentosans, mucins and compounds, preferably proteins, peptides, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, pentosans, mucins, most preferably polysaccharides.

[0024] Since the mechanical requirements for the matrix former in the matrix according to the invention are rather low, complex modifications can be omitted. However, under certain circumstances, certain chemical modifications are advantageous, as long as the resulting matrix former remains biodegradable.

[0025] According to an alternative embodiment, matrix formers can therefore also comprise native polymers, where native polymers are derived from naturally occurring or biomass-occurring polymers such as cellulose and starch, with no or only minor modifications or while retaining the basic structure. For example, native polymers can be cellulose or starch derivatives.

[0026] The addition of excipients may be advantageous under certain circumstances, for example to increase the positional stability or to adapt the barrier properties of the matrix to the at least one bioeffector.

[0027] The matrix according to the invention is further preferably characterized in that the at least one matrix former comprises at least one auxiliary substance selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, emulsifiers, pH regulators, humectants, preservatives and / or antioxidants.

[0028] As already explained above, bioeffectors describe a wide variety of different active substances that can have antimicrobial effects or can promote the growth, nutrient acquisition and / or resistance of crop plants.

[0029] The matrix according to the invention is preferably characterized in that the at least one bioeffector comprises at least one antimicrobial active ingredient and / or at least one growth-promoting agent.

[0030] Antimicrobial agents are chemical or biological substances that reduce the reproductive capacity or infectivity of microorganisms, or kill or inactivate them. As already mentioned at the beginning, pathogenic bacteria are killed indiscriminately with nonspecific agents such as antibiotics, which is associated with a number of disadvantages. Therefore, the use of specific antimicrobial agents, especially bacteriophages, is advantageous because they attack only one host species.

[0031] The matrix according to the invention is further preferably characterized in that the at least one antimicrobial active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of phage lysins, tailocins, fusion proteins, bacteriophages, bacteriophage vectors, proteins, peptides and bacteriophage protein derivatives.

[0032] Preferably, the at least one antimicrobial active ingredient is a bacteriophage, a bacteriophage vector, a bacteriophage protein derivative, a bactericidal protein, or a phage lysine, preferably a bacteriophage.

[0033] More preferably, the at least one antimicrobial agent is a bacteriophage from the kingdom Duplodnaviria which is strictly lytic and infects and kills at least one pathogen from the order Lysobacterales, Pseudomonadales, Burkholderiales, Enterobacterales or Hyphomicrobiales.

[0034] Instead of antimicrobial agents, growth-promoting agents can also be present as bioeffectors in the matrix according to the invention, whereby the combination of antimicrobial agents and growth-promoting agents is also conceivable.

[0035] Likewise, the provision of growth-promoting agents can be effected by the matrix according to the invention, whereby growth-promoting agents are understood to mean all agents which are beneficial to the vitality of the target organism.

[0036] The matrix according to the invention is further preferably characterized in that the at least one growth-promoting agent is selected from the group consisting of nutrients, hormones, cofactors, and coenzymes, with nutrients and hormones being particularly preferred. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the matrix according to the invention comprises a matrix former and bacteriophages for forming a layer surrounding a seed.

[0037] The present invention further relates to a method for enriching bioeffectors, in particular bacteriophages, by means of a matrix surrounding a target organism, the method comprising the steps of a) producing a matrix, preferably based on a mixture comprising water and / or at least one organic solvent, comprising at least one bioeffector, in particular bacteriophage, and a matrix former, b) bringing a target organism, in particular seed, into contact with the matrix, c) drying the target organism, in particular seed, brought into contact with the matrix.

[0038] The matrix is ​​produced in step a) by adding at least one bioeffector and at least one matrix former to the mixture of water and / or organic solvent.

[0039] The concentration of the at least one bioeffector is not limited; if the at least one bioeffector comprises bacteriophages, the concentration of the bacteriophages is preferably 10 2 up to 10 34 Bacteriophages / mL, particularly preferably 10 8 up to 10 34 Bacteriophages / mL.

[0040] Bringing the target organism into contact with the matrix in step b) can be done by various means such as spraying or immersing, preferably the target organism is immersed in the matrix produced in step a) for a period of less than one hour.

[0041] The drying of the target organism in step c) takes place in a sterile environment in a temperature range of 0 to 25°C, preferably until complete evaporation of water and / or the solvent. All preferred embodiments and definitions for the matrix according to the invention apply analogously to the method according to the invention.

[0042] The method according to the invention is based on the inclusion of bioeffectors in a matrix that serves as a barrier. The matrix either acts as a physical barrier or, due to its chemical affinity, is capable of fixing the at least one bioeffector in the immediate environment of the target organism. The matrix thus surrounds the target organism and thus ensures the advantage of high local specificity for the enrichment of bioeffector in the immediate environment of the target organism. At the same time, it provides a medium in which the bioeffector, in particular bacteriophages, exhibits high stability.

[0043] Alternatively, exogenous addition of matrix-forming agents can be dispensed with if the target organism releases mucilage, e.g., mucilage, into an environment to be enriched. For example, various seeds can secrete mucilage, such as Arabidopsis thah'ana (thale cress).

[0044] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the steps: a) producing a matrix, preferably based on a mixture comprising water and / or at least one organic solvent, comprising at least one bioeffector, in particular bacteriophage, and at least one matrix former, b) bringing seeds into contact with the matrix, c) drying the seeds brought into contact with the matrix.

[0045] Depending on the seed, it is also possible to forego the exogenous addition of a matrix former; however, this requires that the seed itself can provide an environment to be enriched with barrier properties, e.g. in the form of shell substances. Therefore, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: a) preparing a solution, preferably based on a mixture comprising water and / or at least one organic solvent, comprising at least one bioeffector, in particular bacteriophages, b) bringing seed into contact with the solution, whereby the seed secretes plant mucilage due to the moisture of the solvent c) drying the seed brought into contact with the solution.

[0046] Such a procedure is extremely economical, especially due to its simple procedure.

[0047] The present invention further relates to seeds obtainable by one of the above processes.

[0048] The seed obtained by the process according to the invention has the advantage that the applied bioeffectors are fixed to the target organism.

[0049] Drying the seeds in contact with the matrix reduces the volume of the matrix to such an extent that the seeds can be stored, while the bioeffectors remain attached to the seeds. This is particularly advantageous because the bioeffectors are already present in the immediate vicinity of the individual seeds at sowing. After the seeds are placed in the soil and come into contact with water, the matrix absorbs the water, allowing the young seedling to access the bioeffectors.

[0050] The infection of crops by pathogenic bacteria can occur via various routes, e.g., transmission via soil, air, or insects, but in a large percentage of cases, transmission occurs through contaminated seed. Targeted infection of pathogenic, but not beneficial, microbes by bacteriophages fixed to the surface of the seed therefore offers the advantage that they can act against the bacteria during germination and plant growth. It is therefore even more advantageous if the seed is brought into contact with bacteriophages in step a) of the process according to the invention. Seed obtained in this way therefore has great potential for effectiveness, as it can interrupt the most common route of infection, namely through contaminated seed.

[0051] The present invention further relates to the use of the matrix according to the invention for coating a target organism, in particular seeds.

[0052] Particularly preferred is the use of the matrix according to the invention for coating a target organism, in particular seed, comprising at least one matrix former selected from the group consisting of mucins and mucilagens, and at least one bioeffector selected from the group consisting of bacteriophages, bacteriophage vectors and bacteriophage protein derivatives, for coating seed.

[0053] However, it is also conceivable that the principle described in the application could be applied to the medical field. The use of the matrix according to the invention would be particularly conceivable on mucosal surfaces, such as those in the lungs.

[0054] The administration of bacteriophages to kill gastrointestinal pathogens such as E. coli species could be improved by using the matrix of the invention as a carrier for antimicrobial agents, in particular bacteriophages.

[0055] Further possible applications in medicine could include a combination of different bioeffectors in medical dressings. The incorporation of the matrix according to the invention could even have a dual-purpose function here. In addition to the killing of bacteria by the bacteriophages, the matrix former or other synthetically produced polymers would prevent the wound from drying out due to their water-binding properties. Combinations with other antimicrobial agents are also conceivable.

[0056] Accordingly, the present invention relates to the use of the matrix according to the invention as a carrier for antimicrobial agents, in particular bacteriophages. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the matrix according to the invention for use as a medicament.

[0057] The invention is explained in more detail below in non-limiting examples.

[0058] Examples

[0059] Example 1 - Fixation of bacteriophages to seeds

[0060] To illustrate the general principle of the present invention, the seeds of a model plant were provided with bacteriophages.

[0061] Approximately 1000 seeds of Arabidopsis tha / iana were inoculated in a sterile Eppendorf tube with 1 mL of bacteriophage solution of concentration 10 8 Pfu / mL incubated for at least 30 minutes.

[0062] Subsequent drying on sterile filter paper makes the seeds storable.

[0063] The seeds are then sown on agar plates, where the plant mucilage expands upon contact with moisture, releasing the bacteriophages onto the seeds.

[0064] It has been shown that bacteriophages can bind to seeds before they germinate. As soon as the seeds came into contact with moisture during sowing, the bacteriophages were released and fixed in the plant mucilage (see Figures 2 and 3). It was found that the bacteriophages were still active against their host bacteria (which are pathogenic to the plant). Due to the self-replicating nature of the bacteriophages, their numbers were greatly amplified once a host bacterium was attacked (see Figure 3).

[0065] Other bacteriophages [5] that can bind to seeds secreting plant mucilage were tested. An overview is provided in Table 1 below.

[0066] Table 1 : List of tested bacteriophages

[0067] Example 2 - Influence of plant mucilage on the fixation of bacteriophages

[0068] The following experiment aimed to examine the influence of plant mucilage on the fixation of bacteriophages.

[0069] For this purpose, the mucilage was mechanically removed from a portion of the seeds (Voiniciuc and Günl 2016, Bio-protocol; doi: 10.21769 / BioProtoc. l802). The seeds were then incubated in two groups, with and without mucilage, in the same bacteriophage solution as in Example 1 and dried in a sterile environment. The seeds were then sown on agar plates containing the target bacterium in a thin, soft agar layer. It was observed that bacteriophage activity was greatly reduced when the mucilage was removed from the seeds, as shown by the example of the Pseudomonas phage Athelas (see Figure 4B).

[0070] It has been shown that plant mucus can be enriched with bacteriophages, and that the plant mucus significantly improves the fixation of the bacteriophages. Consequently, the bacteriophage-enriched plant mucus can act as an external immune layer on the seeds.

[0071] Example 3 - Storage stability of the seeds from Example 1

[0072] To demonstrate that bioeffectors applied to a target organism retain their function over time, storage stability at low temperatures was measured.

[0073] Arabidopsis thaüana seeds treated with three different phages, alfirin, athelas, and pipeweed, as described in Example 1, were stored at 4 °C, and the bacteriophage activity was tested on a bacterial lawn over a period of 28 days. At regular intervals, a portion of the seeds was sown on a bacterial lawn to determine the viability of the bacteriophages.

[0074] The activity decreased only minimally over the tested period. The results shown in Figure 6 indicate the percentage of tested seeds in which phage activity was detected in the form of plaques.

[0075] literature

[0076] [1] Erdrich et al. 2022, Viruses; doi.org / 10.3390 / V14071449

[0077] [2] Hampton et al. 2020, Nature; doi: 10. 1038 / s41586-019-1894-8

[0078] [3] Holtappels et al. 2021, Current Opinion in Biotechnology; doi: 10. 1016 / j. copbio. 2020.08.016

[0079] [4] Voiniciuc and Günl 2016, Bio-protocol; doi: 10.21769 / BioProtoc. l802

[0080] [5] Maffei et al. 2021, PLOS Biology; doi.org / 10.1371 / journal. pbio.3001424

[0081] Character description

[0082] Figure 1:

[0083] Schematic drawing of the application method for enriching bacteriophages on mucilage-secreting seeds.

[0084] Figure 2:

[0085] Seeds enriched with bacteriophages are placed on double agar in Petri dishes containing the bacteria to be treated. Upon successful infection of the bacteria, a plaque formation becomes visible. The clear zone around the seeds (also called plaque) is caused by the bacteriophages, which use successfully infected host bacteria for amplification and ultimately lysis.

[0086] The labeling of the individual Petri dishes corresponds to the bacteriophages: a) Pseudomonas phage Athelas, b) Xanthomonas phage Pfeifenkraut, c) Agrobacterium phage Alfirin, e) Xanthomonas phage Langgrundblattl, f) Xanthomonas phage Langgrundblattl, g) E. coii phage Bas66, h) E. coii phage Bas65 and i) E. coii phage Bas64

[0087] Figure 3:

[0088] Electron micrograph of extracted plant mucilage incubated with the bacteriophage alfirin and stained with 2% uranyl acetate (UO2(CH3COO)22 H2O).

[0089] Figure 4:

[0090] A) Mechanical removal of the secreted mucilage from Arabidopsis thaiana seeds. Ruthenium red-stained seeds of Arabidopsis thaiana before and after mechanical removal of the mucilage layer (Voiniciuc and Günl 2016, Bio-protocol; doi: 10.21769 / BioProtoc. 1802). The stained

[0091] Polysaccharide structures are colored red and can be seen as a layer around the seed.

[0092] B) Influence of plant mucilage on selected bacteriophages

[0093] First row from top: Arabidopsis thaüana seeds incubated with Pseudomonas phage Athelas and seeded on a Pseudomonas syringae bacterial lawn. Second row from top: Arabidopsis thaüana seeds incubated with Pseudomonas phage Athelas, mucilage removed, and then seeded on a Pseudomonas syringae bacterial lawn.

[0094] Third row from top: Arabidopsis thaüana seeds incubated with the E. coü phage Bas65 and sown on a fine E. co / / bacterial lawn.

[0095] Fourth row from top: Arabidopsis thaüana seeds incubated with E. co / / phage Bas65, removal of the mucilage and spreading on a fine E. coü bacterial lawn.

[0096] In both series of experiments in which the plant mucilage was removed (second and fourth row from the top), the seeds show less good phage binding properties.

[0097] Figure 5:

[0098] The storage stability of bacteriophages on bacteriophage-enriched seeds at 4°C was investigated.

[0099] Arabidopsis thaüana seeds were treated with three different bacteriophages—alfirin, athelas, and pipeweed—and incubated for 30 minutes. The seeds were then dried in a laminar flow cabinet and stored at 4°C. At regular intervals, a portion of the seeds was sown onto a bacterial lawn to determine the viability of the bacteriophages. The results shown indicate the percentage of tested seeds in which bacteriophage activity was detected in the form of plaques.

Claims

Claims 1. A matrix, in particular for forming a layer surrounding a target organism, comprising at least one matrix former and at least one bioeffector.

2. The matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one matrix former is selected from the group consisting of non-polymers, polymers, mucilage mucus, microgels, proteins, peptides, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, pentosans, mucins.

3. The matrix according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one matrix former is selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, pentosans and mucins.

4. The matrix according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one bioeffector comprises at least one antimicrobial agent and / or at least one growth-promoting agent.

5. The matrix according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of phage lysins, tailocins, fusion proteins, bacteriophages, bacteriophage vectors, proteins, peptides and bacteriophage protein derivatives.

6. The matrix according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the at least one antimicrobial agent is a bacteriophage.

7. The matrix according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises a bacteriophage from the kingdom of Duplodnaviria, which is strictly lytic and infects and kills at least one pathogen from the order of Lysobacterales, Pseudomonadales, Burkholderiales, Enterobacterales or Hyphomicrobiales.

8. The matrix according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one growth-promoting agent is selected from the group consisting of nutrients, hormones, cofactors and coenzymes.

9. A method for enriching bioeffectors in a target organism, in particular seed, comprising the steps: a) preparing a matrix, preferably based on a mixture comprising water and / or at least one organic solvent, comprising at least one bioeffector and at least one matrix former, b) bringing a target organism, in particular seed, into contact with the matrix, c) drying the target organism, in particular seed, brought into contact with the matrix.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising the steps: a) preparing a solution, preferably based on a mixture comprising water and / or at least one organic solvent, comprising at least one bioeffector, in particular bacteriophages, b) bringing seeds into contact with the solution, whereby the seeds secrete plant mucilage due to the moisture of the solvent c) drying the seeds brought into contact with the solution.

11. Seed obtainable by a process according to claim 9 or 10.

12. The use of a matrix according to claims 1 to 8 for coating a target organism, in particular seeds.

13. Use of a matrix according to claim 12, comprising at least one matrix former selected from the group consisting of mucins and mucilagens, and at least one bioeffector selected from the group consisting of bacteriophages, bacteriophage vectors and bacteriophage protein derivatives, for coating seeds.

14. The use of a matrix according to claims 1 to 8 as a carrier for antimicrobial agents, in particular bacteriophages.

15. Matrix according to claims 1 to 8 for use as a medicament.

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