# US 2020/0323218 A1 · Viral Mediated Biological Control of Plant Pathogenic Microorganisms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0323218 A1 - Document ID: US20200323218A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/956,296 - Filed: 2018-12-20 - Published: 2020-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-21 - Assignees: The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited - Applicants: The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited - Inventors: Mahmoud Elhoseny Elhoseny Elsayed KHALIFA; Robin Marion MACDIARMID - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200323218A1 ## CPC - C07K 14/005: from viruses - A01N 63/40: Viruses, e.g. bacteriophages - C12N 1/00: Microorganisms; Compositions thereof (medicinal preparations containing material from protozoa, bacteria or viruses A61K35/66, from algae A61K36/02, from fungi A61K36/06; preparing medicinal bacterial antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. bacterial vaccines, A61K39/00); Processes of propagating, maintaining or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof; Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing a microorganism; Culture media therefor - C12N 7/00: Viruses; Bacteriophages; Compositions thereof; Preparation or purification thereof (preparing medicinal viral antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. virus vaccines, A61K39/00) - C12N 2795/10143: viral genome or elements thereof as genetic vector - C12N 2795/18021: Viruses as such, e.g. new isolates, mutants or their genomic sequences - C12N 2795/18022: New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes - C12N 2795/18031: Uses of virus other than therapeutic or vaccine, e.g. disinfectant - C12R 2001/91: Cell lines {; Processes using cell lines} - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - C12R: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES C12C - C12Q, RELATING TO MICROORGANISMS ## Abstract The present invention relates to an isolated strain of DNA mycovirus or a degenerate strain thereof, an isolated hypovirulent fungal strain or part thereof, and the use of the isolated strain of DNA mycovirus or hypovirulent fungal strain or part thereof as a biological control agent. Processes and compositions for the biological control of phytopathogenic microorganisms, particularly fungi, using the DNA mycovirus and hypovirulent fungal strain are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An isolated DNA mycovirus or degenerate strain thereof encoding at least one polypeptide comprising at least 70% sequence identity to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 6. ### Claim 2 An isolated polypeptide comprising at least 70% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 6. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) An isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one polypeptide of claim 1 or claim 2. ### Claim 4 An isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1. ### Claim 5 An isolated DNA mycovirus comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, or a degenerate strain thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid sequence of claim 4. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3, 4, 5, 6) An isolated host cell comprising a nucleic acid sequence of claim 3 or claim 4, an isolated DNA mycovirus of claim 5, or a vector of claim 6. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The isolated host cell of claim 7 that is a cell of a hypovirulent fungal strain. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) A composition comprising an isolated DNA mycovirus of claim 1 or claim 5, an isolated polypeptide of claim 2, an isolated nucleic acid sequence of claim 3 or claim 4, a vector of claim 6 or an isolated host cell of claim 7 or claim 8, or a combination thereof, and a carrier, diluent or excipient. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) A method of reducing the virulence of at least one phytopathogenic fungus comprising contacting the fungus with an isolated DNA mycovirus of claim 1 or claim 5, a vector of claim 6, an isolated cell of claim 7 or claim 8, a composition of claim 9 or a combination thereof. ### Claim 11 A method of Botrytis spp. biocontrol comprising contacting at least one Botrytis spp. with an isolated DNA mycovirus, or degenerate strain thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) A method of treating at least one plant disease caused by a phytopathogenic fungus comprising contacting the plant with an isolated DNA mycovirus of claim 1 or claim 5, a vector of claim 6, an isolated host cell of claim 7 or claim 8, a composition of claim 9, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13) A method of controlling at least one phytopathogenic fungus comprising contacting the fungus with an isolated DNA mycovirus of claim 1 or claim 5, a vector of claim 6, an isolated host cell of claim 7 or claim 8, a composition of claim 9, or a combination thereof. The method of claim 10, 12 or 13 wherein the phytopathogenic fungus is a Botrytis spp., preferably Botrytis cinerea. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1, 5) An isolated DNA mycovirus or degenerate strain thereof of claim 1 or claim 5 for use in controlling at least one phytopathogenic fungal strain. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) An isolated hypovirulent fungal cell or part thereof of claim 8 for use in controlling at least one phytopathogenic fungal strain. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14, 15) The isolated DNA mycovirus or degenerate strain thereof of claim 14 or the isolated hypovirulent fungal cell or part thereof of claim 15, wherein the phytopathogenic fungal strain is Botrytis spp., preferably Botrytis cinerea. ### Claim 17 An isolated DNA mycovirus, or a degenerate strain thereof, for use in controlling Botrytis spp. fungi.