Licensed on a non-exclusive basis, the method can be applied to various cultures
From the selection of genes that allow pest control by interference RNA, a technology was developed at Unicamp's Biology Institute (IB) that can be used to control diseases and pests in agricultural plantations. The result of a partnership between the University and Tropical Melhoramento & Genética (TMG), the method was licensed on a non-exclusive basis to the company, which must pass on the technology to rural producers. Initially, the focus is on the use of technology in soybean and cotton crops. However, it can be applied to any type of agricultural crop.
“All living beings have a mechanism to fight viral attacks by silencing their genes. Researchers discovered that we can use this same mechanism to 'trick' the cells of any organism and silence their own genes”, says Professor Henrique Marques-Souza, responsible for the studies. In this partnership, Unicamp provides the know-how on how to identify, select and silence specific genes, while the company brought its agricultural knowledge, focusing on crop pests and diseases.
One of the main soybean and cotton breeding companies in the world, TMG was already interested in similar technologies and learned about the articles published by Marques-Souza's group. “Processes involving RNA interference are something that other multinational companies in the agricultural sector are already pursuing as well. We carried out a search, here in Brazil, to find researchers who were references in this area and we reached Professor Henrique, who already has experience in RNA gene silencing. He has a line of research well aligned with the company's objectives”, says Alexandre Garcia, TMG spokesperson.
“Today we can develop silencing RNA molecules to control any pest or disease in the various cultivated species”, adds the Unicamp professor. He specialized in gene silencing during his PhD at the University of Cologne in Germany and his postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley. The researcher adapted the technology to perform molecular control of agricultural pests and founded the Blast laboratory (acronym for Brazilian Laboratory on Silencing Technologies), focused on studies on gene silencing.
Technology aligned with
market demands
One of the biggest challenges in food production in the world is combating agricultural losses caused by pests and diseases. This control is currently carried out through the use of agricultural pesticides, which can be toxic to the environment and consumers. Therefore, it is worth highlighting that one of the main differences of the technology is the fact that it is not necessary to use agricultural pesticides. “It is not a chemical product, but a biological product. Despite being produced in the laboratory, they are analogous to RNA molecules present in the environment, and are quickly degraded when not introduced into the plant or the pest”, says Marques-Souza.
“The technology has enormous potential, as it can reduce or replace the use of chemical pesticides (insecticides). As a result, the environmental impact is much smaller”, comments Garcia. For this reason, the technology represents an innovation in the control of pests and diseases in crops. “You have better pest control, in a more efficient and environmentally correct way”, she summarizes.
Another point that deserves to be highlighted is the fact that the technique does not interfere with other species. In other words, it is a very specific molecular tool, with its mechanism of action determined by a unique gene sequence. “This makes it possible to control a single species or a group of target pest species, without affecting related species, natural enemies or other organisms”, adds the IB professor.
Innovation for
of competitiveness
The choice of crops for applying the technology, says Garcia, was based on the country's main agricultural markets, a trend also followed in research carried out by Unicamp researchers. “Soy is the main market and the main agricultural crop in Brazil. Cotton is a crop that requires a huge amount of chemical pesticides and can benefit from technology. And we are also entering the corn market”, she points out.
The company selected some pests of great commercial interest in soybean and cotton crops. “We are looking for genes that are essential for the vital processes of these pests. By identifying these genes, it is possible to create a mechanism to produce double-stranded RNA, and then silence the expression of these genes so that the organism does not develop”, explains the TMG spokesperson.
Alexandre Garcia highlights that TMG is among the four largest seed companies in the country and adopts an innovative vision of new technologies that provide it with competitive advantages. “We are the only legitimately Brazilian company that competes with large multinationals, such as Monsanto and Bayer, in the cultivar and genetic improvement market,” he explains.
Inova Unicamp is a bridge
for partnerships with companies
The role of the Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency, the university body responsible for partnership contracts and technology licensing, was assessed by professor Henrique Marques-Souza as essential for establishing partnerships with companies and taking technologies developed at the University to the market. “The work that Inova carried out with this partnership was fundamental. As soon as the company contacted me and we agreed on the partnership, I contacted Inova and the rest was done by them. Meetings, contracts and various other facilities that completely satisfied my interests and those of the partner company”, concludes Marques-Souza.
Garcia evaluates Inova's work as an extremely positive experience. “We were very surprised by Inova’s agility, the ease with which things happened and the professionalism. Inova, at all times, wanted to work to make this partnership between the public and private sector happen and provided full support for this”, adds the company spokesperson.
Read previous report from Journal of Unicamp
https://www.unicamp.br/unicamp/ju/noticias/2017/04/24/silenciamento-genico-e-nova-arma-contra-pragas-agricolas
