Our partner AINIA presented a CITRUSBUSTERS project at the 12th edition of the Recombinant Protein Production conference (RPP12). Organised by the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB), the event took place in Ulm and Neu-Ulm, Germany, from 7 to 9 October 2025. The event attracted academic and industry experts around chassis engineering, precision fermentation and biopharmaceutical production.

The short talk was delivered by Ibai Lenitz Etxaburu (AINIA). Titled “Recombinant Production and Characterization of Endolysins Targeting Candidatus Liberibacter”, it introduced one of the CITRUSBUSTERS project’s most promising biocontrol strategies: the use of endolysins to disarm the bacterium behind citrus greening.

Endolysins are enzymes produced by bacteriophages (the viruses infecting bacteria), that break down bacterial cell walls with high precision. They are being explored as a sustainable alternative to conventional antimicrobials because they act with high species specificity, minimise disruption to the wider soil microbiome, and have shown no signs of bacterial resistance to date.

Within CITRUSBUSTERS, AINIA is working on the identification, recombinant expression and functional evaluation of endolysins targeting Candidatus Liberibacter, the bacterium responsible for Huanglongbing (HLB), the world’s most devastating citrus disease. Bacteriophages are isolated from infected plant material, sequenced, and screened for endolysin-encoding genes. Selected candidates are then expressed in a production host, purified, and evaluated for antimicrobial activity and host specificity. Stabilisation strategies, including microencapsulation, are being explored to enhance formulation stability.

The approach combines molecular biology with protein engineering and formulation science to deliver precise, scalable biocontrol agents. A novel, resistance-free strategy for managing bacterial plant diseases, and one more step towards agriculture that works with plant biology.

Contact: Ibai Lenitz Etxaburu (AINIA), ilenitz@ainia.es