Grapevine Fanleaf Virus Resistance via Nucleic Acid Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current strategies for controlling grapevine fanleaf disease, caused by the grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), are inadequate, particularly in providing broad-spectrum and durable resistance to the virus, which affects grapevines and other plants, leading to significant yield losses and disease spread through infected planting material.
Innovation Solution
Development of purified nucleic acid molecules and vectors derived from conserved regions of GFLV, engineered to confer resistance to plants by expressing specific nucleic acid fragments, either alone or in combination, linked to promoters for regulated expression, to enhance resistance to GFLV and related viral pathogens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current control strategies (nematode control, breeding rootstocks, breeding grapevines for resistance) are used, then some level of disease control is achieved, but broad-spectrum and durable resistance is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the viral genome into multiple conserved regions (fragment 1 through fragment 8) and uses these segmented nucleic acid fragments as the basis for constructing resistance-inducing molecules. This segmentation allows the resistance mechanism to target multiple conserved viral elements simultaneously, providing broad-spectrum coverage against different virus strains and variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal resistance mechanisms by using conserved regions from multiple virus strains to construct nucleic acid molecules that can induce resistance against a wide range of nepoviruses. The same basic approach (using conserved region fragments) can be applied to different viruses, making the solution universally applicable across multiple plant viral diseases.
2Reliability
If current control strategies are used, then some disease control is achieved, but durable resistance over time is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by using RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms that are constitutively expressed in the plant, creating a pre-established defense system against viral infection. The nucleic acid fragments are integrated into the plant genome and continuously produce interfering RNA that targets viral sequences, providing durable resistance before the virus can establish infection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of resistance durability by using multiple conserved regions from different parts of the viral genome (RNA1 and RNA2) rather than relying on a single gene or protein. This multi-target approach ensures that even if the virus mutates in one region, the resistance mechanism remains effective against other conserved regions, thereby extending the duration of resistance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical controls are used to manage GFLV, then disease control is achieved, but environmental impact increases and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical control mechanisms with a biological mechanism (RNA interference) that is inherent to the plant's own defense systems. Instead of applying external chemical pesticides or fumigants, the plant is genetically engineered to produce its own antiviral defense through expression of nucleic acid fragments that trigger RNAi pathways, thereby eliminating the need for chemical interventions that harm productivity and the environment.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical controls are used to manage GFLV, then disease control is achieved, but environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces harmful chemical control methods with a clean biological mechanism (RNA interference) that occurs naturally within plant cells. The nucleic acid fragments integrate into the plant genome and direct the plant's own cellular machinery to produce interfering RNA that specifically targets viral sequences, eliminating the need for chemical pesticides, soil fumigants, and other environmentally harmful substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the plant to serve itself by providing it with the genetic tools to mount its own defense against viral infection. The plant's cellular machinery is harnessed to produce the resistance mechanism through endogenous expression of nucleic acid fragments, eliminating the need for external chemical inputs and reducing environmental contamination from agricultural chemicals.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules useful for conferring broad and durable resistance to grapevine fanleaf virus in plants. The invention also relates to methods of enhancing resistance to plant pathogens and plants or plant components (such as grape plants) expressing such nucleic acid molecules. In addition, the invention relates to products (e.g., foodstuffs including beverages such as wine or juice) derived from grape plants transformed with such nucleic acids.