Transgenic EFR Receptor Expression for Bacterial Pathogen Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for enhancing plant resistance to bacterial pathogens are inadequate, particularly for Proteobacteria, which cause diverse symptoms affecting crop yield and quality, and there is a need for effective and stable disease control methods.

Innovation Solution

Transgenic expression of the EF-Tu receptor (EFR) in plants to enhance resistance to bacterial pathogens by recognizing eubacterial EF-Tu, triggering defense responses associated with PAMP-triggered immunity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional disease control methods are used, then chemical pesticides are applied to control bacterial pathogens, but this increases production costs and environmental pollution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease control effectivenessVSAvoidchemical pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The plant utilizes its own immune system through transgenic expression of EFR to recognize and respond to bacterial pathogens. The plant serves itself by producing defense responses without external chemical intervention, eliminating the need for chemical pesticides while maintaining effective disease control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical system of pesticide application with a biological immune recognition system. The EFR receptor-triggers a biochemical defense response within the plant, substituting external chemical control with internal biological recognition and response mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If broad-spectrum PAMP recognition is used, then multiple pathogen types can be detected, but the ability to distinguish between specific pathogens is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen detection rangeVSAvoidpathogen differentiation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PAMP recognition approach by focusing on a specific subset of PAMPs (EF-Tu) rather than attempting to recognize all possible pathogen molecules. This targeted segmentation allows for both broad coverage within the Proteobacteria group and sufficient specificity to trigger appropriate defense responses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The EFR receptor exhibits multi-functionality by recognizing EF-Tu from multiple different bacterial species within the Proteobacteria phylum. This universal recognition capability allows a single receptor to provide protection against diverse pathogens while maintaining consistent defense activation

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

The transgenic expression of EFR in plants significantly enhances resistance to multiple bacterial pathogens, reducing disease symptoms and bacterial growth, thereby minimizing the need for chemical pesticides.

Implementation Method 1

Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) recognise pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), resulting in PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPattern-recognition:

Data Source

PatentUS9222103B2Methods of enhancing the resistance of plants to bacterial pathogens

Publication Date: 2015.12.29 TWO BLADES FOUND

AI summary

Methods are provided for enhancing the resistance of plants to bacterial pathogens. The methods involve transforming a plant with a polynucleotide molecule comprising a plant promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes a plant receptor that binds specifically with bacterial elongation factor-Tu. Further provided are expression cassettes, transformed plants, seeds, and plant cells that are produced by such methods.