Pichia kluyveri Yeast for Multi-Species Insect Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pest control methods are ineffective against multiple pest species, leading to significant crop losses and economic damages, with chemical insecticides contributing to the rapid selection of resistant insect populations.

Innovation Solution

The use of a yeast strain belonging to the species Pichia kluyveri and/or its lysate, filtrate, isolate, or extract, which is incorporated into the body of agricultural target pests, such as those belonging to the order Hemiptera and family Drosophilidae, to reduce their survival rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical insecticides are used to control pest insects, then insecticidal efficacy is improved, but resistant insect populations are rapidly selected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsecticidal efficacyVSAvoidresistance development

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the insecticide from synthetic organic compounds to a biological agent (yeast strain Pichia kluyveri). This parameter change allows maintaining insecticidal efficacy while avoiding the rapid resistance selection pressure that characterizes synthetic insecticides, as the yeast operates through different mechanisms including competition for resources and production of antimicrobial substances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical/chemical system of synthetic insecticides with a biological system using yeast strains. The yeast strain Pichia kluyveri controls pests through biological mechanisms such as resource competition, production of antimicrobial substances, and disruption of pest physiology, replacing the direct toxic chemical action of traditional insecticides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If species-specific IPM strategies are developed for each pest, then control effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of management increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol effectivenessVSAvoidmanagement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a universal pest control approach using the yeast strain Pichia kluyveri that is effective against multiple pest species including aphids, fruit flies, and other agricultural pests. This single biological agent can be used across different crop types and pest infestations, eliminating the need for developing and managing multiple species-specific strategies while maintaining control effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple different control methods are applied for different pest species, then pest control coverage is improved, but the cost and time for implementation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest control coverageVSAvoidimplementation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The yeast strain Pichia kluyveri serves as a universal control agent that can be applied to manage multiple pest species simultaneously or sequentially. The same biological preparation can be used for aphids, fruit flies, and other pests, significantly reducing the time and resources required compared to implementing and switching between multiple different control methods for different pest outbreaks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This multi-species pest control method effectively reduces the survival rate of target pests, including aphids and fruit flies, offering a universally applicable solution for controlling a wide range of agricultural pests.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological control through yeast incorporation:

Data Source

PatentUS12207657B2Methods of multi-species insect pest control

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

Multi-species pest control methods, which contact or subject a target pest to a yeast strain belonging to the species Pichia kluyveri and/or with a lysate, filtrate, isolate or extract thereof. The yeast strain belonging to the species Pichia kluyveri and/or the lysate, filtrate, isolate or extract thereof is incorporated into the body of the agricultural target pest.