The invention relates to the use of benzyl alcohol as a systemic herbicide. The invention also relates to a method for controlling weeds or undesired plants, which includes applying a composition comprising the benzyl alcohol herbicide to harmful or undesired plants, or to parts of these harmful or undesired plants, or else to the fields where these weeds or undesired plants are growing.

Provided herein are synthetic peptides with enhanced antimicrobial and antibiofilm characteristics, and are biocompatible with mammalian cellular systems. The disclosed synthetic antimicrobial moieties include a mastoparan peptide having SEQ ID NO:1 and a pentapeptide motif formed from phenylalanine, leucine, proline, and two isoleucine residues, wherein the pentapeptide motif is conjugated the N-terminus of the mastoparan peptide. Also provided are compositions comprising the synthetic peptides, as well as methods of treating a microbial infection or removing a biofilm using the peptides.

Provided herein are synthetic peptides with enhanced antimicrobial and antibiofilm characteristics, and are biocompatible with mammalian cellular systems. The disclosed synthetic antimicrobial moieties include a mastoparan peptide having SEQ ID NO:1 and a pentapeptide motif formed from phenylalanine, leucine, proline, and two isoleucine residues, wherein the pentapeptide motif is conjugated the N-terminus of the mastoparan peptide. Also provided are compositions comprising the synthetic peptides, as well as methods of treating a microbial infection or removing a biofilm using the peptides.

The present invention primarily relates to the use of a mixture capable of biocementation as a means of preventing or reducing plant growth, preferably weed growth. The invention also relates to a method for preventing or reducing plant growth, preferably weed growth, on/in a substrate.

The present invention primarily relates to the use of a mixture capable of biocementation as a means of preventing or reducing plant growth, preferably weed growth. The invention also relates to a method for preventing or reducing plant growth, preferably weed growth, on/in a substrate.

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 including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal 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 present invention relates to the use of at least one peptide having sequence VRLIVX.sub.1VRIX.sub.2RR (SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4), wherein X1 is selected from A or K and X.sub.2 is selected from W and K, as a bactericidal antimicrobial agent against Listeria monocytogenes.

The present invention relates to the use of at least one peptide having sequence VRLIVX.sub.1VRIX.sub.2RR (SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4), wherein X1 is selected from A or K and X.sub.2 is selected from W and K, as a bactericidal antimicrobial agent against Listeria monocytogenes.

The present invention relates to the use of at least one peptide having sequence VRLIVX.sub.1VRIX.sub.2RR (SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 4), wherein X1 is selected from A or K and X.sub.2 is selected from W and K, as a bactericidal antimicrobial agent against Listeria monocytogenes.

Insecticidal toxins described herein are fused toxin peptides made up of a targeting domain fused to a toxin domain. The targeting peptide generates a specific association with mosquitoes by causing the fused toxin peptide to bind mosquitoes in a way that leads to the insecticidal activity. Transgenic plants described herein are mosquitocidal by expressing an insecticidal toxin protein in nectar that includes a targeting peptide to ensure specificity against mosquitoes. These transgenic plants serve as role models for safety, since they are non-crop plants and specific to one mosquito species.