The present application is directed to a system and device for attraction of pests. This system comprises CO.sub.2-releasing microorganisms, and also nutrients specific to these microorganisms, and this system, or the device, comprises one or more biodegradable biopolymers and allows CO.sub.2, and optionally other attractants, to be released over a period of more than 20 days. Furthermore, the present application provides for the use of such a system or such a device for the attraction of pests, more particularly of maize or potato pests, such as larvae of the Western corn rootworm or wire worm. The present application is also directed, lastly, to methods for attracting pests, more particularly pests of maize or potatoes, such as the larvae of the Western corn rootworm, or for wire worms, with the systems or devices of the invention being positioned in the immediate vicinity of the plants, but preferably not directly on the plants.

This invention relates generally to methods of preparing compositions from microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, particularly to preparing compositions with antifungal and/or antibacterial characteristics, and more particularly to preparing cyanobacteria or other microorganism-derived compositions for use in construction materials. Cyanobacteria make various kinds of natural products that may be useful for a variety of applications, including products with antifungal and/or antibacterial activity, and other biologically active compounds (e.g. immunomodulatory, antitumor, antithrombotic, anticoagulant, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral). Some of the especially useful ones might be antifungals and antibacterials, such as by incorporation or application onto construction materials (e.g. drywall).

This invention relates generally to methods of preparing compositions from microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, particularly to preparing compositions with antifungal and/or antibacterial characteristics, and more particularly to preparing cyanobacteria or other microorganism-derived compositions for use in construction materials. Cyanobacteria make various kinds of natural products that may be useful for a variety of applications, including products with antifungal and/or antibacterial activity, and other biologically active compounds (e.g. immunomodulatory, antitumor, antithrombotic, anticoagulant, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral). Some of the especially useful ones might be antifungals and antibacterials, such as by incorporation or application onto construction materials (e.g. drywall).

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The insecticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, fungal, hemipteran, and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The insecticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, fungal, hemipteran, and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

The invention provides isolated Erwinia persicina strains with activity against: a) at least one Xanthomonas species, and/or b) at least one Brassicaceae pathogen. In particular the invention provides the isolated E. persicina strains deposited as DSM 32302, DSM 32304, DSM 32305 and DSM 32303. The invention provides compositions comprising one or more strains of the invention. The invention also provides methods of use of one or more strains or compositions of the inventions to control plant pathogens, particularly Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris.

The invention provides isolated Erwinia persicina strains with activity against: a) at least one Xanthomonas species, and/or b) at least one Brassicaceae pathogen. In particular the invention provides the isolated E. persicina strains deposited as DSM 32302, DSM 32304, DSM 32305 and DSM 32303. The invention provides compositions comprising one or more strains of the invention. The invention also provides methods of use of one or more strains or compositions of the inventions to control plant pathogens, particularly Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris.

The disclosure provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera. Particular embodiments of the disclosure provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.

The disclosure provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera. Particular embodiments of the disclosure provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.

Method that allows surfaces in interior spaces or technical equipments to be cleaned, characterised in that it comprises at least the following step: —the targeted atomization on the surfaces of a liquid with spores of benign bacteria on all or certain types of surfaces by means of an electrically and/or pneumatically powered atomizer, while the space remains accessible to people and animals, with the purpose of speeding up the cleaning of interior spaces and of technical equipments, lowering the cleaning frequency, and lowering the dust deposit.