AGROALNEXT LISIN-XF Project: Use of phage endolysins for the optimization of integrated control of Xylella fastidiosa

Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterium capable of causing disease in various plant crops, including almond trees. By multiplying within the almond's vascular system, it can clog the sap, obstructing its flow. This leads to water and nutrient deficiencies and damages the plant, initially reducing its productivity and, if the disease progresses, causing its death. This pathogen can be naturally destroyed by bacteriophages, or phages, a type of virus that infects bacteria. Specifically, phages can induce bacteria to synthesize molecules that subsequently cause their self-destruction. These molecules are endolysins, enzymes that rupture the cell wall, a process known as lysis.