Biomimetic protein nanoparticles for sustainable antifungal crop protection
A modular, self-assembling protein nanoparticle platform that displays antifungal peptides (thanatin) on plant leaves to enhance retention and fungal inhibition. Offers a biodegradable, non-transgenic alternative to conventional pesticides for sustainable crop disease management.
Overview
Many conventional pesticides carry risks of soil and groundwater contamination, while transgenic approaches to crop protection face challenges related to resistance evolution. This solution proposes a direct, exogenous, and controlled application of fungicidal proteins to crops using biomimetic protein nanoparticles. By displaying the antifungal peptide thanatin—originally derived from a spined soldier bug—on self-assembled protein nanoparticles, the technology aims to enhance both peptide retention on leaf surfaces and antifungal activity. The result is a sustainable, biodegradable crop protection approach that avoids the environmental drawbacks of traditional chemical fungicides and the regulatory complexities of genetically modified organisms.
Technical specifications
Core technology:
- A modular recombinant platform for self-assembling protein nanoparticles that display functional peptides or proteins
- Genetic fusion of thanatin with coiled-coil protein motifs enables spontaneous nanoparticle self-assembly
- Enhanced local density of thanatin on leaf surfaces improves both attachment and antifungal performance
- Biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles with low environmental impact risk
- Applicable to intact leaf surfaces without genetic modification of the plant
Development pipeline:
- Structural modeling to screen coiled-coil and thanatin sequence combinations
- Recombinant DNA technology for fusion protein construct design
- Bacterial expression and purification of candidate fusion proteins
- Optimization of nanoparticle size, shape, and assembly conditions
- Leaf attachment assays and fungal growth/viability monitoring
Technology readiness level
The underlying self-assembling nanoparticle platform has been validated in the principal investigator's research group, with prior demonstrations of incorporating and displaying various proteins and peptides on nanoparticle surfaces. The thanatin-specific application is at an early research stage, with future validation planned to include sequence screening, recombinant protein production, nanoparticle assembly optimization, and leaf-surface antifungal efficacy testing. The technology is currently positioned for collaborative development and sponsored research partnerships to advance toward field-ready crop protection applications.
About Kansas State University
Kansas State University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research university with multiple campuses and a strong applied mission. Industry partners tap a statewide extension network that connects companies to field sites, talent, and rapid outreach; campus pilot plants and analytical services enable bench‑to‑pilot scale validation, while co‑located high‑containment facilities support regulated studies. The Olathe campus in the Kansas City metro serves as an industry‑engagement hub with workforce pipelines, collaborative labs, and proximity to the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, USDA, and DOE, alongside state and corporate sponsors, and a dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP, sponsored research, and startup formation.
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