Molecular target identification platform for microbial bioactive compounds in crop disease management

Overview

This platform addresses crop fungal disease management by systematically identifying bioactive compounds produced by beneficial microorganisms found in plant microbiomes. Rather than applying whole microbes to fields, the approach isolates the specific antimicrobial compounds these microbes secrete, clarifies their biosynthesis pathways, and pinpoints their molecular targets within pathogenic fungi. This knowledge enables the rational design of new fungicides with defined mechanisms of action.

The work is particularly relevant to Fusarium diseases and other major crop pathogens. By understanding exactly how a bioactive compound interacts with its target in the pathogen, researchers can develop optimized chemical fungicides inspired by natural microbial products, combining the efficacy of biocontrol with the practicality of conventional crop protection chemistry.

Technical specifications

Core capabilities:

• A microbial culture library of more than 50,000 strains collected from plant-associated environments
• Thousands of antagonistic isolates confirmed against important crop fungal diseases, especially Fusarium pathogens
• A proprietary beneficial bacteria-pathogenic fungi interaction platform for identifying molecular drug targets of bioactive compounds
• Demonstrated target identification for compounds including phenazine-1-carboxyamide and herbicolin A
• Over 1,000 isolated Streptomyces strains with 15 selected biocontrol candidates advancing through phylogenetic, antagonistic, and field efficacy testing
• Ongoing investigation into synthetic biocontrol communities and compatible microbiota design

Workflow:

• Strain isolation and molecular identification
• Phylogenetic characterization and antagonistic activity profiling
• Field biocontrol efficacy validation
• Bioactive compound isolation and structural identification
• Drug target discovery using the bacteria-fungi interaction platform
• Rational fungicide design guided by compound-target interaction patterns

Technology readiness level

The platform is at an advanced research and validation stage. The core methodology has been demonstrated through successful identification of molecular targets for multiple bioactive compounds, and the underlying strain library and interaction screening infrastructure are operational. Current work focuses on scaling target discovery across 15 prioritized biocontrol Streptomyces strains and characterizing interactions among multiple high-efficacy biocontrol bacteria to build synthetic microbial communities. The next phase involves using the platform to identify additional bioactive compounds and their drug targets, then translating these findings into new fungicide candidates ready for agricultural development.