BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT95-0905 - Plantibodies: versatile resistance genes against the polyphagous pathogens tomato spotted wilt virus and root-knot nematode

FAIR-CT95-0905
Plantibodies: versatile resistance genes against the polyphagous pathogens tomato spotted wilt virus and root-knot nematode

Contacts
Website: www.spg.wau.nl/nema/lma_bgr.htm

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Biotechnology : FAIR Area 4.4.1 - Plant Health : Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT95-0905
	Total Cost	2,390,400 ECU
	EC Contribution	2,115,000 ECU
	Start Date	01/01/96
	Duration	48 Months

Plantibodies: versatile resistance genes against the polyphagous pathogens tomato spotted wilt virus and root-knot nematode

Objectives

This is an agriculturally oriented development of a project originally sponsored by the BIOTECH programme, where the fundamental basis was established. The project is based on the fact that animals use antibodies to kill disease organisms. The idea is to transfer this mechanism to plants.

Technical Approach

The objectives are:

To obtain antibodies inhibiting:
spread in the plant or replication or uptake by thrips vectors of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)
root migration or feeding cell induction of root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita)
The production and testing of tomato plants (grown under containment/quarantine conditions) expressing these antibodies for resistance against both pathogens.

Results to date

Genes encoding target enzymes, i.e. cellulases have been cloned from M. incognita as well as four other root knot nematodes. These enzymes play a key role in root migration and form an excellent starting point for the selection of inhibiting antibodies. In addition antibodies against cell cycle proteins are being generated to block initiation of the cell cycle upon feeding cell induction by the nematode.

Antibodies against the N (important for viral replication), G1/G2 (uptake by thrips) and NSm (spread through the plant) proteins of TSWV have been obtained and will be characterised for their capacity to inhibit their targets.

Stabilising motifs have been found to ensure significant expression levels of single chain antibody fragments in the cytosol of plant cells.

A second stage nematode larvae in which the subventral
gland is stained with an antibody directed against the enzyme cellulase.
This enzyme is of key importance for root migration.

Contacts

Coordinator

Arjen SCHOTS / Wageningen Agricultural University Lab. of Nematology / NETHERLANDS

EC Scientific Officer

European Commission DG Agriculture BELGIUM

Participant