SmartLAB project
Arterra Bioscience received funding for the project:
SmartLAB
DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENT (SMART) LACTOBACILLI (LAB) FOR THE CONTAINMENT
OF BEE PARASITES THROUGH THE USE OF DOUBLE STRANDED RNA (dsRNA) TECHNOLOGIES.
On Priority Axis 3 – Competitiveness of the production system (2022-2023), POR CAMPANIA, ERDF 2014 -2020
Brief description of the project:
The aim of the project, carried out in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture of the University of Naples Federico II, was to develop new bee parasite control systems based on dsRNA technology. As part of the project, Arterra identified three new bacterial strains belonging to the Lactobacilli genus and, using recombinant DNA techniques, produced all the elements necessary for the production and delivery of dsRNA to silence the expression of genes essential for the survival of
the dsRNA bee parasite Varroa destructor.
Goals achieved by the project:
1. Identification of three new proprietary lactobacilli strains;
2. Deposit of the lactobacilli strains at the IZSLER Biobank, recognized as an International Depository Authority;
3. Development of proprietary vectors for the expression of target molecules in lactobacilli;
4. Application for a Trademark to identify a class of proprietary vectors of Arterra for expression in Lactobacilli;
5. Identification of key genes for the survival of Varroa destructor.
The project results led to the development of a new biotechnological platform based on the use oflactobacilli, which could be used for various applications in the future.
Cup and No. Decree B67H22002630007
