Engineered extracellular vesicle biopesticide for rice pest control
Expora Therapeutics presents an innovative biopesticide using engineered Lactobacillus extracellular vesicles (EVs) to deliver spider-venom toxins targeting brown planthopper (BPH) pests in rice. This eco-friendly solution offers potent, species-specific control while ensuring crop and environmental safety.
Overview
Expora Therapeutics has developed a cutting-edge biopesticide leveraging engineered Lactobacillus extracellular vesicles (EVs) to combat brown planthopper (BPH) infestations in rice crops. This solution uses EVs to deliver spider-venom toxins, specifically targeting BPH without affecting non-target species, ensuring ecological safety. The biopesticide is spray-applied, offering a novel mode of action to overcome traditional insecticide resistance, enhancing crop protection and yield.
Technical specifications
- Engineered EVs: Utilize Lactobacillus strains to produce EVs carrying toxins like Hv1a, SF1, and BrD1.
- Targeted delivery: Incorporates a BPH gut-binding peptide (P2S) to ensure precise delivery to pests.
- Formulation: Lyophilized with trehalose and a sticker adjuvant for stability and adherence.
- Mode of Action: Toxins block insect-specific Ca²⁺ or Na⁺ channels, resulting in up to 100% BPH mortality.
- Environmentally friendly: Biodegradable with no chemical residue, ensuring non-target safety.
Technology readiness level
Currently at TRL 4, this biopesticide has undergone laboratory validation and is progressing towards greenhouse trials to further evaluate efficacy and safety under realistic agricultural conditions.
About Expora Therapeutics
Expora Therapeutics is a biotechnology company specializing in the design and manufacturing of bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs). Spun out of the University of Maryland, the company has developed a patent-pending platform, the Expora Platform, which overcomes traditional manufacturing barriers to enable the scalable, consistent, and cost-effective production of BEVs. By utilizing these nano-sized particles produced by probiotic bacteria, Expora provides a non-living, cell-free alternative to traditional probiotics, allowing for precise, predictable, and potent delivery of bioactive payloads. The company's technology includes advanced engineering capabilities to modify BEV payloads, such as small molecules, proteins, peptides, or RNA, for targeted therapeutic applications.
Expora operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and maintains its own therapeutic research and development programs. Its technology addresses critical challenges in human health, particularly in areas like gastrointestinal disease, by offering a drug delivery vehicle that avoids the viability issues associated with live bacteria. By providing a scalable, industrial-grade GMP process for BEVs, Expora serves pharmaceutical and consumer health partners looking to advance novel exosome-based therapies. The company is based in Frederick, Maryland, and is focused on building out its manufacturing and quality systems to scale its platform for diverse therapeutic and consumer applications.
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