FANA Antisense Oligonucleotides for HLB Disease Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current management strategies for Huanglongbing (HLB) and zebra chip diseases, primarily relying on insecticide control, face challenges such as environmental toxicity, resistance, and the need for non-antibiotic alternatives.

Innovation Solution

The use of FANA antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to target and inhibit the growth of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) in the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) and Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) in the potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli), thereby preventing disease transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If insecticides are used to control Asian citrus psyllid and potato psyllid populations, then disease transmission is reduced, but environmental toxicity increases and pest resistance develops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease transmission controlVSAvoidenvironmental toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical nature of the control agent from conventional insecticides to FANA antisense oligonucleotides, which are nucleic acid-based molecules. This parameter change allows for specific targeting of bacterial pathogens through sequence-complementary binding, providing pathogen-specific control without the broad-spectrum environmental toxicity associated with traditional insecticides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical system of insecticide application with a molecular biological system based on antisense oligonucleotide action. The FANA molecules bind to target bacterial RNA through specific base pairing, triggering RNA degradation pathways, thereby substituting chemical insecticide mechanisms with sequence-specific molecular recognition and biological degradation processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If conventional antisense oligonucleotides are used, then target RNA expression is inhibited, but degradation by nucleases reduces effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget RNA inhibitionVSAvoidoligonucleotide stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs FANA oligonucleotides with modified sugar-phosphate backbones that combine features of DNA and RNA while providing enhanced stability. The fluorinated arabinose sugar modification creates a composite structure that resists nuclease degradation while maintaining the ability to form specific base pairs with target RNA, thereby extending the duration of action and improving reliability of target inhibition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

FANA ASOs effectively decrease the expression of target RNA and inhibit bacterial growth within insect vectors, reducing the transmission of HLB and zebra chip diseases, and offering a potentially environmentally friendly and sustainable management approach.

Implementation Method 1

RNA interference (RNAi), a form of post-transcriptional gene silencing in which double stranded RNA induces degradation by nucleases of the homologous endogenous transcript

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRNA interference (RNAi):

Implementation Method 2

FANA antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to target and inhibit the growth of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) in the Asian citrus psyllid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntisense oligonucleotide binding:

Implementation Method 3

degradation by nucleases of the homologous endogenous transcript

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRibonuclease H degradation: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS20250027079A1Use of FANA antisense oligonucleotides for the prevention and management of huanglongbing and zebra chip diseases

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 AUM LIFETECH INC

AI summary

The present invention is based on the seminal discovery that FANA antisense oligonucleotides inhibit the growth of bacteria harbored within plant-feeding insects, wherein the insect is chewing or feeding from the xylem, phloem, or mesophyll. Specifically, the use of FANA antisense oligonucleotides decreases the expression of target RNA or DNA and inhibits growth of CLas within the psyllid D. citri, which then prevents the transmission of CLas from D. citri to a citrus tree, or of CLso within the psyllid Bactericera cockerelli which prevents the transmission of CLso from Bactericera cockerelli to a Solanaceous plant. Specifically, the use of FANA antisense oligonucleotides decreases the expression of target RNA or DNA and inhibits growth of CLas within the host plant, citrus or Solanaceous, which then prevents the transmission of CLas from D. citri to a citrus tree, or which prevents the transmission of CLso from Bactericera cockerelli to a Solanaceous plant.