Biological control agents - IM
Microbial larvicides are widely used worldwide for the biological control of mosquitoes and crop pests. As with any other insecticide, the release of a biological control agent requires an evaluation of its potential impact on public health and the environment. Several factors have to be considered in the microbiological risk assessment of a biological control agent, including host range, impact on non-target organisms (including sub-lethal effects), dispersion capacity and pathways, persistence and replication, potential for genetic material transfer (such as the transmission or acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes), and interference with aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
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Study on the persistence of spores for mosquito control
Research on the dynamics and persistence of spores of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis and Lysinibacillus sphaericus used for mosquito control in wetland and urban environments.
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Study on biopesticide contamination (MicRisk2030)
Assessment of passive contamination (spillover) of biopesticides on food crops.
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Microbial risk analysis for biopesticides and biodiversity
Evaluation of concepts used to assess the impact of microbial biopesticides on biodiversity and the development of a new risk analysis concept allowing for a dynamic assessment and management of microbial risks, using Bacillus cereus sensu lato as a model.