April 22, 2022
Genetic biocontrol of pests
Dr. Michael Smanski
Associate Professor, University of Minnesota
Abstract
Recently developed tools for precision genome engineering have ushered in a number of novel proof-of-concept technologies for pest control. Termed ‘genetic biocontrol’, these approaches allow researchers to essentially convert the pest organism into a pesticide. Released genetically engineered biocontrol agents would spread deleterious genes into the pest population, leading to a local population suppression. This talk will introduce a strategy for genetic biocontrol developed in the Smanski Lab and discuss its translation into applied organisms.
Biosketch
Michael Smanski is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics and the BioTechnology Institute. Dr. Smanski received a B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the University of California – San Diego and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin, where he deciphered the genetic and biochemical basis for antibiotic production in Streptomyces. As an HHMI Fellow of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, he worked with Chris Voigt at MIT to develop a pipeline for engineering complex genetic systems, including antibiotic biosynthetic pathways. His current lab is develop enabling technologies to engineer biology in ways that address challenges in medicine, agriculture, and the environment. He has been recognized for his research accomplishments with the Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists (2015), DARPA Young Faculty Award (2017), University of Minnesota McKnight Land Grant Professorship (2019), and DARPA Director’s Fellowship (2019).