Bacillus Biopesticide Composition for Systemic Pest Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for controlling arthropod, nematode, and mollusc infestations in agriculture are costly, environmentally harmful, and inefficient, with chemical pesticides posing risks to human health and ecosystems, while biological alternatives like Bacillus thuringiensis face challenges in maintaining effective concentrations and longevity on plant surfaces.

Innovation Solution

Development of a biopesticide composition using Bacillus, Brevibacillus, and Paenibacillus bacterial strains in systemic forms, including wild-type, mutant, or transgenic variants, combined with endophytic Bacillus thuringiensis, applied through various formulations like powders, liquids, and seed inoculants to ensure sustained toxic protein presence within plants, protecting against pests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical pesticides are used to control pests, then pest control effectiveness is improved, but environmental pollution and human health risks worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepest control effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental pollution and human health risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of pest control from chemical to biological agents. It utilizes bacterial strains (Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Paenibacillus) that produce toxins specifically harmful to pests while being environmentally benign. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining pest control effectiveness through biological mechanisms rather than chemical pesticides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs biodegradable bacterial toxins and live bacterial agents that naturally decompose in the environment. These biological control agents are short-lived and break down into harmless substances, eliminating the persistent environmental pollution associated with chemical pesticides while maintaining effective pest control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If biological control agents like Bacillus thuringiensis are used, then environmental harm is reduced, but longevity and effectiveness on plant surfaces worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental harmVSAvoidlongevity on plant surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates composite formulations combining multiple bacterial strains (Bacillus, Brevibacillus, and Paenibacillus genera) with complementary properties. This composite approach allows the formulation to maintain environmental benignity while achieving extended duration of action through the synergistic effects of different bacterial species and their toxin profiles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops multi-functional bacterial formulations that simultaneously provide pest control, plant protection, and extended residual activity. The bacterial strains are selected and combined to perform multiple functions: producing toxins against pests, colonizing plant surfaces, and maintaining prolonged protective effects, thereby resolving the limitation of short longevity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple bacterial strains are combined in formulations, then pest control spectrum and effectiveness are improved, but formulation complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepest control spectrum and effectivenessVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex task of broad-spectrum pest control into distinct functional components, each provided by specific bacterial strains. Different bacterial strains are assigned to target different pest groups (arthropods, nematodes, molluscs), allowing the formulation to achieve comprehensive coverage while maintaining manageable complexity through functional segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The biopesticide composition effectively controls pests with prolonged activity, achieving mortality rates comparable to chemical pesticides without environmental harm, reducing production costs and complexity, and maintaining efficacy through controlled release formulations.

Implementation Method 1

The pesticide activity of the bacteria of the Bacillus, Brevibacillus and Paenibacillus genera is due to the production of toxins during the vegetative or sporulation phases of growth and by infection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectToxin production:

Data Source

PatentUS8598077B2Composition based on bacillus spp. and correlate genera and their use in pest control
Publication Date: 2013.12.03 EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUARIA EMBRAPA

AI summary

The objective of the current invention is the control of agricultural infestations based on alternative methods that are less aggressive to the environment and that are harmless to other invertebrates and to man; for instance biological control using bacterial strains belonging to species of the genera Bacillus, Brevibacillus and/or Paenibacillus. A first embodiment of the invention refers to compositions based on the systemic utilization of bacterial strains belonging to species of the genera Bacillus, Brevibacillus and/or Paenibacillus to protect plants by using the composition containing the above referred bacteria in wild-type, conjugated, mutant or transgenic forms and/or the substances produced by them. A second embodiment of the invention refers to a method of bioinsecticide application based on bacteria from the genera Bacillus, Brevibacillus and/or Paenibacillus. A third embodiment of the invention is related to the bioinsecticide usage of the formulations based on bacteria from the genera Bacillus, Brevibacillus and/or Paenibacillus.