Location: Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research
Project Number: 8062-30400-001-029-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 14, 2026
End Date: Aug 13, 2027
Objective:
Objective 1: Engineer an entomopathogenic fungal strain expressing effective RNAi targets in Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and test efficacy.
Objective 2: Optimize expression levels of dsRNA in engineered strains.
Objective 3: Test engineered fungal strains for efficacy in the insect.
Approach:
Specific Objective 1: Engineer an entomopathogenic fungal strain expressing effective RNAi targets in EAB and test efficacy. We will engineer an entomopathogenic fungus (Beauveria bassiana GHA) to express dsRNA targeting the top 1-2 candidate genes using protoplast mediated and/or Agrobacterium based transformation approaches.
Specific Objective 2: Optimize promoters for optimal expression of dsRNA. We will swap in different promotors into vector constructs and also evaluate integration sites to identify strains that express highest quantity of dsRNA.
Specific Objective 3: Test engineered strains for efficacy in the insect. This objective will use in-vitro bioassays to screen engineered strains in the insect host to identify the best performing strain for development as a biocontrol strain.