Multimeric defensin proteins and related methods
OwnerDilip M Shah, Siva linga sasanka Velivelli +1inventors
InventorsDilip M Shah, Siva linga sasanka Velivelli, Kazi Tariqul Islam
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Abstract
Multimeric defensin proteins (MD) containing at least two defensin peptides joined by a spacer peptide that is resistant to endoproteinase cleavage are disclosed along with compositions comprising the MD proteins and transgenic or genetically edited plants or microorganisms that express the MD to inhibit growth of pathogenic fungi. Such MD proteins, compositions, plants, and microorganisms can provide for improved inhibition of fungal growth when compared to a protein containing only one of the defensin peptides found in the MD.
Claims15
-77. (canceled)
A method of obtaining an optimized multimeric defensin (MD) protein with improved antifungal activity comprising:
- (i) assaying one or more MD proteins comprising a first defensin peptide which is operably linked with a spacer peptide to a second defensin peptide for improved phospholipid and/or sphingolipid binding in comparison to a reference protein or for increased protein oligomerization in the presence of a phospholipid and/or sphingolipid in comparison to a reference protein;
- and
- (iii) selecting an optimized MD protein that exhibits the improved phospholipid and/or sphingolipid binding or increased protein oligomerization, thereby obtaining an optimized MD protein with improved antifungal activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.