CONTRACT No: QLK3-CT-2002-02032
CELL FACTORY AREA: 3.3.4
DURATION: 36 months

DOWDLOAD: Sumary Profile

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“Functional genomics and proteomics of Trichoderma antagonist strains for industry and agriculture”

   Project aims to identify genes and gene products from Trichoderma antagonists with biotechnology value, to assess their industrial potential, and to exploit and commercialize them in concert with EU biotechnology strategy. The project will involve extensive research into the Trichoderma genome, but is not a sequencing programme. Instead, it will develop integrated functional genomic and proteomic approaches and innovative use of bioinformatics, leading to rapid exploitation of genes and gene products and their transformation into industrial processes. Technologies achieved will have applications in a range of agro-industrial, environmental and medical activities, including innovations in agricultural pest and pathogen management leading to reduction in use of unsustainable chemical control measures, novel antibiotics, and enzymes with industrial uses involving processing of plant-derived matter, including animal feeds, composting and bioremediation.

   The project aims to identify genes and gene products from Trichoderma antagonists with biotechnology value, to assess their industrial potential, and to exploit and commercialize them in concert with EU biotechnology strategy. The technologies derived from the functional study of the Trichoderma genome will have applications in a wide range of agro-industrial, environmental and medical activities, including innovations in agricultural pest and pathogen management leading to reduction in use of unsustainable chemical control measures, novel antibiotics, and enzymes with multiple industrial uses involving processing of plant-derived matter, including animal feeds, composting, bioremediation, waste management etc. The project will develop integrated functional genomic and proteomic approaches, innovative use of bioinformatics and novel screening methods for biological activities leading to rapid exploitation of genes and gene products and their transformation into industrial processes.

   The project will involve extensive research into the Trichoderma genome, but is not a sequencing programme. Instead, it will develop integrated functional genomic and proteomic approaches and innovative use of bioinformatics to select genes which biological activity will be further identified. Three related work lines will be developed:

1. Isolation, identification and characterization of Trichoderma genes and gene products of potential biotechnology value, by:

2. Production of gene products in sufficient quantity for activity screening, by:

3. Functional analysis of gene products using novel high throughput systems for screening biological activities with application potential, including: a) Polymer and cell wall degrading activities; b) Antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activities; c) Systemic resistance inducing activities; d) Plant growth promoting activities.

1. An EST database of at least 7000 unique sequences from a wide representation of biodiversity within the genus Trichoderma.
2. Selection of a set of gene and gene products with potential biotechnology value.
3. Novel in vitro and in vivo high throughput screening methods to detect activities with agro-industrial applications.
4. Identification of genes and gene products with biotechnological value in the agri-food, medical and other industrial sectors.