Endolichenic fungi metabolites for xylella fastidiosa biofilm and virulence inhibition

Overview

This research program offers a natural product discovery approach to combating Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterial plant pathogen responsible for devastating crop diseases worldwide. The solution centers on metabolites produced by endolichenic fungi (ELF) — microorganisms living symbiotically within lichens harvested in Turkey. These metabolites have demonstrated potential to inhibit quorum sensing (cell-to-cell communication used by bacteria to coordinate virulence) and biofilm formation, two key mechanisms that drive X. fastidiosa infection and persistence in host plants.

By targeting virulence pathways rather than simply killing bacteria, this approach may reduce the likelihood of resistance development while offering an environmentally compatible alternative or complement to conventional pesticides. The program is relevant to agricultural technology companies, plant protection product developers, and stakeholders in Mediterranean crop production where Xylella outbreaks pose major economic threats.

Technical specifications

Core capabilities and assets:

• Library of 23 isolated and identified endolichenic fungi species sourced from three Peltigera lichen species collected in Turkey
• 3D structural metabolite library of lichen and endolichenic fungi compounds, designed for computational screening
• Validated ethyl acetate extraction protocols for fungal culture metabolites
• Vibrio harveyi AI-2 bioluminescent biomonitor assay for quorum sensing inhibition screening
• Demonstrated antibiofilm activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model organism
• In silico molecular docking workflow targeting X. fastidiosa virulence-related proteins
• In vitro antimicrobial and antibiofilm assay pipeline against commercial X. fastidiosa strains

Validation status:

Three ELF crude extracts have shown high-level quorum sensing inhibition in preliminary screening, with additional extracts inhibiting P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. The team is actively extending these findings to X. fastidiosa through computational and laboratory studies over an 18-month timeline.

Technology readiness level

The research is currently at an early-to-mid stage of development (TRL 3–4). Extraction, isolation, and preliminary in vitro screening methods are established and reproducible. Quorum sensing and antibiofilm activity have been demonstrated against model bacterial systems. Work targeting X. fastidiosa specifically is in progress, beginning with in silico docking against virulence proteins followed by in vitro testing. The team is actively seeking partners to support and collaborate on subsequent in vivo validation studies needed to advance toward field-ready applications.