Methods for improving the ability of a population of biological agents to compete and survive in a field setting are provided. The improved, modified population of agents is able to grow, compete with other microbial strains and fungi, and provide protection for plants from pathogens. Modified biological agents and modified populations of such agents that are herbicide tolerant or resistant are selected or engineered. In this manner, the protection from disease-causing agents is enhanced. Such modified populations can be added to soils to prevent fungal pathogens and the associated diseases thereby promoting plant growth. The present invention is useful for enhancing the competitiveness of modified biological agents particularly over other microbial agents which are not herbicide resistant. Disclosed compositions include selected or engineered herbicide resistant biological agents and modified populations of biocontrol agents. These modified biological agents can be used as an inoculant or seed coating for plants and seeds.

Compositions and methods for controlling a plant pest or for treating or preventing plant disease are provided. Such compositions and methods comprise a bacterial strain that controls one or more plant pests or that improves at least one agronomic trait of interest in a plant. The bacterial strain can be used as an inoculant for plants. Methods for controlling a plant pest, for growing a plant susceptible to a plant disease, and for controlling plant disease on a plant susceptible to the plant disease are provided. Methods for improving at least one agronomic trait of interest in a plant are also provided.

An improved bacterial oil treatment composition or pool for handling a decommissioned oil cable, which may be laid in particular as part of a power grid in the ground. The invention further relates to a bacteria growth culture medium containing the bacterial oil treatment composition for refurbishing an oil cable and a corresponding use.

Methods for improving the ability of a population of biological agents to compete and survive in a field setting are provided. The improved, modified population of agents is able to grow, compete with other microbial strains and fungi, and provide protection for plants from pathogens. Modified biological agents and modified populations of such agents that are herbicide tolerant or resistant are selected or engineered. In this manner, the protection from disease-causing agents is enhanced. Such modified populations can be added to soils to prevent fungal pathogens and the associated diseases thereby promoting plant growth. The present invention is useful for enhancing the competitiveness of modified biological agents particularly over other microbial agents which are not herbicide resistant. Disclosed compositions include selected or engineered herbicide resistant biological agents and modified populations of biocontrol agents. These modified biological agents can be used as an inoculant or seed coating for plants and seeds.

Provided herein are bacterial leader sequences for periplasmic expression of heterologous proteins, fusion proteins comprising bacterial leader sequences, and methods of expression of same.

Provided herein are methods of production of recombinant Erwinia asparaginase. Methods herein produce asparaginase having high expression levels in the periplasm or the cytoplasm of the host cell having activity comparable to commercially available asparaginase preparations.

Provided herein are methods of production of recombinant E. coli asparaginase. Methods herein allow production of asparaginase in Pseudomonadales host cells at high expression levels and having activity comparable to commercially available asparaginase preparations.

This invention consists of a consortium of plant-growth promoting microorganisms including Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas denitrificans, Pseudomonas resinovorans, Pseudomonas brassicacearum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Shimwellia blattae and Klebsiella oxytoca. The bacterial consortium along with a vehicle suitable for agricultural application, form a biofertilizer useful to enhance agricultural yield when applied to cultivation plants. The biofertilizer described present a long shelf life and preserve a high cell density along the time.

Provided herein are methods for integrating a gene of interest into a chromosome of a host cell. In some embodiments, the methods include introducing into a host cell a first plasmid comprising a transposase coding sequence and a donor sequence, which includes a selectable marker coding sequence flanked by a first and a second lox site and is itself flanked by inverted repeats recognized by the transposase. Following transposase-mediated chromosomal integration of the donor sequence into the host cell, a second plasmid is introduced, which comprises the gene of interest and a second selectable marker coding sequence, both flanked by a first and a second lox site. The gene of interest is chromosomally integrated into the host cell by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) between the donor sequence and the second plasmid via Cre-/cuc recombination. Further provided herein are host cells, vectors, and methods of producing a product related thereto.

In exemplary embodiments, the disclosure provides weed-suppressive Pseudomonas fluorescens strains effective for controlling one or more invasive grass weeds that are members selected from the group consisting of downy brome (cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum L.), medusahead (Taeniatherum caput medusae (L.) Nevski) and jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica L.). In exemplary embodiments, the weed-suppressive Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial strain is a member selected from the group consisting of: Pseudomonas fluorescens strain ACK55, Pseudomonas fluorescens strain NKK78 and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain SMK69. In still other exemplary embodiments the disclosure provides methods for selecting weed-suppressive Pseudomonas fluorescens strains.