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FAIR-CT96-3222
Field testing & safety assessment of viral biopesticides for use in integrated pest management systems
|
Contacts
Further Information
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FAIR Area 2.2 - Bioprocessing
:
Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control
 |
Type of Project |
Shared Cost |
| Contract No |
FAIR-CT96-3222 |
| Total Cost |
1,726,547 ECU |
| EC Contribution |
1,300,000 ECU |
| Start Date |
01/10/1997 |
| Duration |
36 Months |
The field testing and safety assessment of viral biopesticides for use in integrated pest management
systems
Objectives
Technical Approach
- To evaluate an in vitro produced, formulated viral biopesticide in laboratory based assays
and field trials: The first component is the field testing of an in vitro produced,
formulated baculovirus against key European insect pest/crop targets. The formulation will include
additives to help counteract the effect of identified stress factors.
- To optimise the production process: The second component is the optimisation
of the baculovirus production process, including the development of a method capable of analysing
metabolic fluxes. An integrated model will be used incorporating the cell cycle and the main metabolic
pathways to predict and analyse cell growth and virus production kinetics. Also, the instability of
baculoviruses upon serial passage needs improvement. Selection and attenuation of cells on the one
hand and baculovirus strains for optimal productivity and infectivity in insects on the other hand is the
challenge to meet and has been successful in other baculovirus insect cell systems.
- To assess the biosafety of the proposed product and the production process: The
third component is the assessment of the biosafety of the product. This includes the stability of the
product, the quality and biosafety of the in vitro production process, examining degradation on the leaf
surface, monitoring the effects on non-target species on vertebrate cell systems in vitro and evaluating the
half life of the product and the persistence in different soil types.
Results to Date
Preliminary results are:
- the best virus/cell system has been selected
- baculovirus was produced on a 70-litre scale
- downstream process equipment was installed and used
- basic field trials were carried out in summer 1998 in Spain
- toxicity testing has begun
- Standard Operating Protocols have been established and applied
- in vivo and in vitro produced viruses have been compared.
Contacts
Coordinator
EC Scientific Officer
Participant
