Abstract: The invention is directed to novel probiotic bacterial strains that colonize animal tissues, and in particular the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of aquatic animals grown in aquaculture environments and may further be engineered to express and deliver interfering RNA molecules configured to downregulate expression of one or more pathogen, or endogenous host genes.

Abstract: The inventive technology includes novel systems, methods, and compositions for the generation of genetically engineered prokaryotic organisms configured to produce eukaryotic-like mRNA that may be introduced to, and translated in a eukaryotic host. Additional aspects may include novel eukaryotic-like nucleotide constructs and mRNA molecules, as well as methods and systems for the efficient delivery from prokaryotic cells to target eukaryotic hosts cells. Still further aspects of the invention include systems, methods and compositions for the the non-integrative transformation of eukaryotic cell.

Abstract: The inventive technology may include novel systems for regulation of the expression of bacterial genes through the introduction of antisense RNA (asRNA) that may disrupt expression of targeted pathogenic genes and/or their products (mRNA, proteins). In some embodiments, the inventive technology may include novel genetically engineered donor bacterial strains that are configured to efficiently and continuously deliver asRNA polynucleotides to a recipient pathogen and downregulate expression or one or more essential genes.

Abstract: The inventive technology relates to novel systems, methods, and strategies for the control of plant pathogens and herbivores. The inventive technology may specifically include novel compositions, systems, and methods configured to deliver inhibitory RNA molecules to a pathogen-infected plant. In a preferred embodiment, the invention may include genetically engineered endophytic bacteria configured to deliver one or more inhibitory RNA molecules to a pathogen-infected plant. One preferred embodiment may include a novel trans-kingdom delivery of hairpin RNA targeting viral encoded proteins resulting in the reduction of viral protein accumulation levels.