Biocontrol project to help primary industries going viral

He is collaborating in a University of Canterbury project “Adaptable phage solutions: an Aotearoa-NZ platform for precision biocontrol for primary industries” with a five-year timeframe, and a $8,946,240 Endeavour Fund grant.

Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria. They use it to replicate, resulting in the death of the bacterial host, without directly causing harm to plants or animals.

This means they can target specific bacteria, and not affect others which may be beneficial to the organism.

The project intends to “generate a robust pipeline for the discovery and development of non-GM phage-based biocontrols against any bacterial pathogen”.

It will “exploit data-intensive analysis of phage-bacterial interactions, employ smart cocktail design and evolutionary methods to create phage biocontrols that target the appropriate pathogens and mitigate phage resistance.

The programme will target four important pathogens with different challenges and at different research and development stages to ensure “the creation of robust and generalisable phage-based solutions”.

Its initial products will economically benefit the kiwifruit and apiculture sectors, which were significantly impacted by bacterial pathogens the kiwifruit vine canker (or Psa), and American Foulbrood (AFB) that attacks honeybees. Work on phage biocontrols for cherry and salmon industries will follow.

“I am involved in the production and scale up of the bacteriophage, as to how you grow the phage at commercial volumes,” Professor Glare said.

“It’s about optimising fermentation for each of the phages, working with the team developing formulations then providing material for field trials.”

The programme will aim to create a new phage manufacturing bioindustry in Aotearoa New Zealand with highly skilled jobs and will improve our food sectors’ productivity.

Longer term, it will be ideally positioned to pivot towards emerging threats to food production, and even medically relevant human pathogens.

The programme will generate a knowledge-intensive sector, provide environmental and sustainability benefits, reduce toxic agrichemicals, improve user safety and brand identity, and enhance market access in environmentally conscious global markets.

The collaborative team for the project also includes the University of Otago, Plant and Food Research, Cawthron Institute, BioSouth Ltd, and Apiculture New Zealand, while Māori scientists and researchers will contribute valuable indigenous perspectives on the implications for the taiao (environment).