A novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double‑stranded RNA biopesticides

RNA interference (RNAi) represents one of the most conserved pathways evolved by eukaryotic cells for regulating gene expression. RNAi utilises non-translatable double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules to sequester or degrade mRNA molecules gene. In RNAi, specifically designed exogenous dsRNA delivered...

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Main Authors: Nwokeoji, A.O., Nwokeoji, E.A., Chou, T., Togola, A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/125348
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author Nwokeoji, A.O.
Nwokeoji, E.A.
Chou, T.
Togola, A.
author_browse Chou, T.
Nwokeoji, A.O.
Nwokeoji, E.A.
Togola, A.
author_facet Nwokeoji, A.O.
Nwokeoji, E.A.
Chou, T.
Togola, A.
author_sort Nwokeoji, A.O.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description RNA interference (RNAi) represents one of the most conserved pathways evolved by eukaryotic cells for regulating gene expression. RNAi utilises non-translatable double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules to sequester or degrade mRNA molecules gene. In RNAi, specifically designed exogenous dsRNA delivered to the cell can silence a target gene, a phenomenon that has been exploited in many functional studies and explored in biopesticide applications. The search for safe and sustainable crop pest management options drives the need to offset the effect of inorganic pesticides on biodiversity. The prospect of replacing inorganic pesticides with dsRNA crop spray is gaining popularity, enhanced by its high-target specificity and low environmental impact. However, for dsRNA to reach the pesticide market, it must be produced cost-effectively and sustainably. In this paper, we develop a high-yield expression media that generates up to 15-fold dsRNA yield compared to existing expression media utilising 1 mM IPTG. We also optimise a low-cost purification method that generates high-quality and purified dsRNA. The developed method circumvents the need for hazardous chemical reagents often found in commercial kits or commercial nucleases to eliminate contaminating DNA or single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) species. We also demonstrate that the production platform is scalable, generating 6.29 mg dsRNA from 259 mg wet E. coli cell pellet. The results also provide structural insights into the heterogeneous dsRNA species within the microbial-derived dsRNA pool. Finally, we also show that the purified ‘naked’ dsRNA, without prior formulation, can induce insect toxicity under field conditions. This study provides a novel, complete, low-cost process dsRNA platform with potential for application in industrial dsRNA production.
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spelling CGSpace1253482025-11-11T10:33:57Z A novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double‑stranded RNA biopesticides Nwokeoji, A.O. Nwokeoji, E.A. Chou, T. Togola, A. pest control biopesticides pest management rna purification RNA interference (RNAi) represents one of the most conserved pathways evolved by eukaryotic cells for regulating gene expression. RNAi utilises non-translatable double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules to sequester or degrade mRNA molecules gene. In RNAi, specifically designed exogenous dsRNA delivered to the cell can silence a target gene, a phenomenon that has been exploited in many functional studies and explored in biopesticide applications. The search for safe and sustainable crop pest management options drives the need to offset the effect of inorganic pesticides on biodiversity. The prospect of replacing inorganic pesticides with dsRNA crop spray is gaining popularity, enhanced by its high-target specificity and low environmental impact. However, for dsRNA to reach the pesticide market, it must be produced cost-effectively and sustainably. In this paper, we develop a high-yield expression media that generates up to 15-fold dsRNA yield compared to existing expression media utilising 1 mM IPTG. We also optimise a low-cost purification method that generates high-quality and purified dsRNA. The developed method circumvents the need for hazardous chemical reagents often found in commercial kits or commercial nucleases to eliminate contaminating DNA or single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) species. We also demonstrate that the production platform is scalable, generating 6.29 mg dsRNA from 259 mg wet E. coli cell pellet. The results also provide structural insights into the heterogeneous dsRNA species within the microbial-derived dsRNA pool. Finally, we also show that the purified ‘naked’ dsRNA, without prior formulation, can induce insect toxicity under field conditions. This study provides a novel, complete, low-cost process dsRNA platform with potential for application in industrial dsRNA production. 2022-10-06 2022-11-07T10:10:42Z 2022-11-07T10:10:42Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/125348 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Nwokeoji, A.O., Nwokeoji, E.A., Chou, T. & Togola, A. (2022). A novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double-stranded RNA biopesticides. Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 9(1), 1-16.
spellingShingle pest control
biopesticides
pest management
rna
purification
Nwokeoji, A.O.
Nwokeoji, E.A.
Chou, T.
Togola, A.
A novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double‑stranded RNA biopesticides
title A novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double‑stranded RNA biopesticides
title_full A novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double‑stranded RNA biopesticides
title_fullStr A novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double‑stranded RNA biopesticides
title_full_unstemmed A novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double‑stranded RNA biopesticides
title_short A novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double‑stranded RNA biopesticides
title_sort novel sustainable platform for scaled manufacturing of double stranded rna biopesticides
topic pest control
biopesticides
pest management
rna
purification
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/125348
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