Immune function of a plant can be modulated by administering a composition comprising beta glucan, where the beta glucan includes unbranched beta-(1,3)-glucan. Such unbranched beta-(1,3)-glucan can be obtained from Euglena, including heterotrophically grown Euglena. The unbranched beta-(1,3)-glucan can be in the form of paramylon and/or can be part of algae meal. The composition can further include a fertilizer, a pesticide, a fungicide, a bactericide, combinations thereof, as well as one or more various plant immune system modulators other than beta glucan. The wellbeing of the plant seed, seedling, mature plant, or harvested plant product can accordingly be improved.

Provided are engineered cells for adoptive therapy, including NK cells and T cells. Also provided are compositions for engineering and producing the cells, compositions containing the cells, and methods for their administration to subjects. In some embodiments, the cells contain genetically engineered antigen receptors that specifically bind to antigens, such as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and costimulatory receptors. In some embodiments, the cells include receptors targeting multiple antigens. In some embodiments, the cells include repression of one or more gene product, for example, by disruption of a gene encoding the gene product. In some embodiments, a gene encoding an antigen recognized by the engineered antigen receptor is disrupted, reducing the likelihood of targeting of the engineered cells. In some embodiments, the antigen recognized by the engineered antigen receptor is related to a tumor antigen recognized by the engineered antigen receptor.

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and devices for determining plant-microbe interactions. In some embodiments, the device comprises: a root chamber configured to allow a root of a plant to grow, wherein the root chamber is connected with: an inlet channel for introducing a medium into the root chamber, an outlet channel for collecting plant exudates and metabolites, and a plant reservoir for the plant shoot of the plant to grow.

A composition useful for application to plants, seeds or soil to inhibit fungal infections comprising a protein source inoculated with from 510.sup.7 cfu to 510.sup.9 cfu of a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain per gram of the protein source.

A nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV), a composition comprising the NPV, and a method comprising the use of the NPV is provided. The NPV was isolated from Cryptophlebia peltastica and has insecticidal activity against several species of moths within the tortricid tribe, Grapholitini. The NPV or composition may be suitable for use in controlling insect populations, particularly populations of insects that infest plants.

A species of Burkholderia sp with no known pathogenicity to vertebrates but with pesticidal activity (e.g., plants, insects, fungi, weeds and nematodes) is provided. Also provided are natural products derived from a culture of said species and methods of controlling pests using said natural products.

Microbial strains, compositions, and methods of use thereof to enhance the growth and/or yield of a plant are provided. Also provided are materials and methods for presenting, inhibiting, or treating the development of plant pathogens or phytopathogenic diseases. The disclosure also provides non-naturally occurring plant and derivatives thereof such as plants artificially infected with a microbial strain of the invention.

Described herein are systems, methods and kits for culturing and applying fresh microbial inoculants in the field. The system, methods and kits are easy to use, reliable, sealed to prevent contamination, and can be stored on location, for use on demand by those unskilled in the microbiological arts. Particular embodiments described herein may be used to increase agricultural crop yields.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of chronic diseases associated with the presence of abnormal or an abnormal distribution of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian host, which compositions comprise viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Clostridia. The compositions further comprise one or more additional viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganisms selected from the group consisting of Bacteroides, Eubacteria, Fusobacteria, Propionibacteria, Lactobacilli, anaerobic cocci, Ruminococcus, E. coli, Gemmiger, Desulfomonas, Peptostreptococcus, and fungi. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of the same chronic diseases comprising viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Escherichia coli, at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Bacteroides and at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganism.

The invention relates to the identification of secretory antibody-bound bacteria in the microbiota in a subject that influence the development and progression of inflammatory diseases and disorders. Thus, the invention relates to compositions and methods for detecting and identifying the constituents of a subject's microbiota, methods of modifying the constituents of the microbiota, and methods for treating inflammatory diseases and disorders in a subject in need thereof.