A Universal, Host-Independent, Cell-Free Biomanufacturing Platform to Produce Plant Pathogen-Targeting Bacteriophages for Sustainable Agricultural Biocontrol
Profile
A Universal, Host-Independent, Cell-Free Biomanufacturing Platform to Produce Plant Pathogen-Targeting Bacteriophages for Sustainable Agricultural Biocontrol
PIs: William M. (Bil) Clemons and Richard Murray
Research Team: Yan Zhang
Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Division of Biology and Biological Engineering
Ecology and Biosphere Engineering Initiative
2025 Explorer grant
This project tackles invasive agricultural bacterial pathogens that cause over $1 billion in annual crop losses. With no effective elimination methods, bacteriophages—viruses that kill bacteria—are a promising alternative. We propose a scalable platform to produce phages as next-generation, sustainable bactericides for environmentally responsible and effective crop protection.