METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR IMPROVING ENGINEERED MICROBES
The present disclosure provides a bacterial composition, comprising: at least one genetically engineered bacterial strain that fixes atmospheric nitrogen in an agricultural system, wherein the bacterial strain comprises a modification in or one or more genes selected from the group consisting of bcsll, bcslll, yjbE, fhaB, pehA, glgA, otsB, treZ, and cysZ. The present disclosure further provides a bacterial composition and method for increasing the colonization of a plant growth promoting bacterial strain on a plant, wherein the plant growth promoting bacterial strain has been remodeled to increase colonization of said plant, In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of increasing nitrogen or nitrogen fixation available to a plant.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A bacterial composition, comprising:
a bacterial strain, wherein said strain has been remodeled to increase colonization of said bacterial strain on a plant.
3 . The bacterial composition of claim 2 , wherein said colonization of said bacterial strain occurs on a root of said plant.
4 . The bacterial composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacterial strain comprises a genetic modification in an enzyme or pathway involved in production of exopolysaccharides.
5 . The bacterial composition of claim 0 , wherein said genetic modification is in a gene selected from the group consisting of bcsII, bcsIII, and yjbE.
6 . The bacterial composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacterial strain comprises a genetic modification in an enzyme or pathway involved in production of a filamentous hemagglutinin.
7 . The bacterial composition of claim 0 , wherein said genetic modification is in a fhaB gene.
8 . The bacterial composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacterial strain comprises a genetic modification in an enzyme or pathway involved in production of an endo-polygalaturonase.
9 . The bacterial composition of claim 0 , wherein said genetic modification is in a pehA gene.
10 . The bacterial composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacterial strain comprises a genetic modification in an enzyme or pathway involved in production of trehalose.
11 . The bacterial composition of claim 10 , wherein said genetic modification is in a gene selected from the group consisting of: otsB and treZ.
12 . The bacterial composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacterial composition is formulated for application to a field.
13 . The bacterial composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacterial strain provides a nutrient to said plant.
14 . The bacterial composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacterial strain provides fixed nitrogen to said plant.
15 . The bacterial composition of claim 2 , wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of corn, barley, wheat, sorghum, soy, and rice.
16 . A method of increasing the colonization of a bacterial strain on a plant, said method comprising:
introducing into said bacterial strain a genetic modification in a gene involved in a pathway selected from the group consisting of: exopolysaccharide production, endo-polygalaturonase production, and trehalose production.
17 - 18 . (canceled)
19 . A method of increasing nitrogen available to a plant, said method comprising:
applying a plurality of remodeled bacteria onto a plant, said plurality of remodeled bacteria having an increased amount of at least one nitrogenase cofactor within said remodeled bacteria.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said cofactor is sulfur.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said remodeled bacteria have increased expression of cysZ.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said remodeled bacteria have increased expression of a sulfur transporter.