It is herewith provided a biocontrol composition comprising an intact minicell comprising a nucleic acid that targets a transcript encoding a polypeptide and a method for controlling pests and pathogens with novel systems and compositions to deliver RNA molecules to a subject.

The present invention discloses RNAi constructs derived from a Fusarium chitin synthase gene Chs3b, which has a nucleotide sequence as shown by SEQ ID NO: 1. Five distinct RNAi vectors are constructed for 5 different segments of the Chs3b gene (named Chs3b-1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively), and separately transformed into Fusarium. It is found that siRiNAs in the transformed Fusarium shows a significant inhibition in fungal growth, development, and pathogenicity. The expression of the RNAi vectors against Chs3b in plants may inhibit the infection of Fusarium and improve the resistance of the transgenic plants to Fusarium head blight.

The present application discloses a recombinant fiber-selective promoter region comprising a DNA molecule comprising a fiber specificity region of a cotton lipid transfer protein gene promoter, operably linked to a DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence of about 500 consecutive nucleotides of the 3′ end of the FB8-like 2 promoter and use thereof to increase fiber-selective expression of products of interest in cotton fiber cells.

Described herein are biological devices and methods for using the same to produce a polyactive carbohydrate. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing a chitin synthase, a chitosanase, and a chitin deacetylase. In some instances, the biological devices also include a gene for lipase. Methods for using the polyactive carbohydrate are also provided herein, including, but not limited to, enhancing the physiological properties of plants; medical applications; applications in the construction, materials science, and home goods industries; personal care, grooming, cosmetics, and oral care compositions containing the polyactive carbohydrate; methods for water decontamination; and the production of polyurethane s.

Described herein are biological devices and methods for using the same to produce a polyactive carbohydrate. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing a chitin synthase, a chitosanase, and a chitin deacetylase. In some instances, the biological devices also include a gene for lipase. Methods for using the polyactive carbohydrate are also provided herein, including, but not limited to, enhancing the physiological properties of plants; medical applications; applications in the construction, materials science, and home goods industries; personal care, grooming, cosmetics, and oral care compositions containing the polyactive carbohydrate; methods for water decontamination; and the production of polyurethanes.

Described herein are biological devices and methods for using the same to produce a polyactive carbohydrate. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing a chitin synthase, a chitosanase, and a chitin deacetylase. In some instances, the biological devices also include a gene for lipase. Methods for using the polyactive carbohydrate are also provided herein, including, but not limited to, enhancing the physiological properties of plants; medical applications; applications in the construction, materials science, and home goods industries; personal care, grooming, cosmetics, and oral care compositions containing the polyactive carbohydrate; methods for water decontamination; and the production of polyurethanes.

The present application discloses a recombinant fiber-selective promoter region comprising a DNA molecule comprising a fiber specificity region of a cotton lipid transfer protein gene promoter, operably linked to a DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence of about 500 consecutive nucleotides of the 3 end of the FB8-like 2 promoter and use thereof to increase fiber-selective expression of products of interest in cotton fiber cells.

Described herein are biological devices and methods for using the same to produce a polyactive carbohydrate. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing a chitin synthase, a chitosanase, 5 and a chitin deacetylase, and, optionally, lipase, regulatory sequence CHR1, transglycosylase, dehydrogenase, and/or (1.fwdarw.3), (1.fwdarw.4)-?-glucan synthase. Methods for using the polyactive carbohydrate are also provided herein including, but not limited to, increasing plant hormone production and improving the appearance and root strength of plants and production of polyurethane biofoams.

The present invention discloses RNAi constructs derived from a Fusarium chitin synthase gene Chs3b, which has a nucleotide sequence as shown by SEQ ID NO: 1. Five distinct RNAi vectors are constructed for 5 different segments of the Chs3b gene (named Chs3b-1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively), and separately transformed into Fusarium. It is found that siRiNAs in the transformed Fusarium shows a significant inhibition in fungal growth, development, and pathogenicity. The expression of the RNAi vectors against Chs3b in plants may inhibit the infection of Fusarium and improve the resistance of the transgenic plants to Fusarium head blight.

Described herein are biological devices and methods for using the same to produce a polyactive carbohydrate. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing a chitin synthase, a chitosanase, and a chitin deacetylase. In some instances, the biological devices also include a gene for lipase. Methods for using the polyactive carbohydrate are also provided herein, including, but not limited to, enhancing the physiological properties of plants; medical applications; applications in the construction, materials science, and home goods industries; personal care, grooming, cosmetics, and oral care compositions containing the polyactive carbohydrate; methods for water decontamination; and the production of polyurethanes.