Reclamation Information Sharing Environment (RISE)

The primary objective of this Phase I research project was to develop and determine the viability of a bioengineered, chimeric protein biopesticide for the treatment of zebra and quagga mussel infestations. To achieve this goal, Environmental Quality Operations (EQO) utilized previously developed monoclonal antibodies, specific to quagga mussels, as expressed by hybridoma cell lines. Antibody expressing hybridoma cell lines were developed by Reclamation and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in an earlier research project (Final Report ST-2014-9640-01). Hybridoma ribonucleic acid (RNA) was isolated to determine the binding regions of the expressed antibodies. Once binding regions were successfully identified, biotherapeutic agents were constructed by combining the single-chain variable fragment (scFv) binding regions with a Pseudomonas exotoxin-A based backbone, connected by hinge sequences between the light and heavy chain, and between the scFv and the toxin backbone to avoid interactions between the subunits that could cause diminishment of the binding efficiency. Once chimeric biotherapeutic agents are created, a methodology for reliable transformation of a microalgae, for use as both a biotherapeutic production and delivery vectors, will be created and validated during Phase II of this research project.