Greg Lowry, Professor of Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA, and Deputy Director of the Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), and his research colleagues present in Environmental Science & Technology in July a research paper on nanomaterials and the impact in the environment.

Gregory V. Lowry, Kelvin B. Gregory, Simon C. Apte, and Jamie R. Lead: Transformations of Nanomaterials in the Environment, In: Environmental Science & Technology, Volume 46, Issue 13, July 13, 2012, Pages 6893-6899, DOI:10.1021/es300839e: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es300839e

Yissum Research and Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, introduces a novel biocontrol agent that is based on naturally-occurring fungi that increase the plant‘s resistance to fungal and bacterial infestations as well as enhances growth. The new biocontrol agent has a complex mode of action that reduces pathogens‘ ability to develop resistance. The invention was patented by Yissum, which is currently searching for an appropriate partner for the further development and commercialization of the product.

The novel biocontrol agent is environmentally-friendly, non-toxic and effective for a large variety of plants and was developed by Dr. Maggie Levy, from the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Hebrew University. It is based on a species of the epiphytic yeast Pseudozyma that is isolated from strawberry leaves. Dr. Levy and her team showed that this yeast secretes substances which inhibit several fungal and bacterial pathogens.