Engineering and expression of recombinant antibodies that interact with plant pathogenic phytoplasma membrane proteins - a model for phytoplasma disease management. [ 2003-01-01 - 2007-12-31 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: A/Prof Karen Gibb (Chief Investigator) ,  Dr Bernd Schneider (Partner Investigator) ,  Prof Rainer Fischer (Partner Investigator)

Brief description Engineering and expression of recombinant antibodies that interact with plant pathogenic phytoplasma membrane proteins - a model for phytoplasma disease management. . In Australia phytoplasmas are associated with serious diseases including papaya dieback and strawberry lethal yellows. Phytoplasmas cannot be cultured so there is a paucity of knowledge at the genomic level. We have identified the ABC Transporter and FtsH genes and expressed these phytoplasma membrane proteins (MP) in E. coli . We will generate antibody fragments that bind these MP and express them in tomato. We will analyse antibody expression in tomato and study their association with the phytoplasma membrane. Transgenic plants will be inoculated with phytoplasma and monitored for resistance. This work represents a major step towards engineering resistance to phytoplasmas.

Funding Amount $290,000

Funding Scheme Discovery Projects

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