Major Breakthrough in Protein Stability Engineering

Yngvi Bio's research team has achieved a significant milestone in protein engineering, successfully developing field-stable formulations that maintain their effectiveness under real-world agricultural conditions. This breakthrough addresses one of the most critical challenges in bringing biological pest control solutions to market.

The Challenge of Field Stability

One of the biggest hurdles in developing protein-based agricultural solutions has been maintaining biological activity under field conditions. Unlike chemical pesticides, proteins are naturally sensitive to:

• Temperature fluctuations during storage and application
• UV radiation from sunlight exposure
• pH variations in different soil and water conditions
• Moisture levels that can cause degradation

Traditional Limitations

"Most biological products require cold chain storage and have limited shelf life, making them impractical for many agricultural applications," explains Eva Maria Rebrova, Ph.D., Yngvi Bio's Chief Technology Officer. "Our goal was to engineer proteins that work as reliably as traditional pesticides but without the environmental drawbacks."

Engineering Solutions from Nature

Our breakthrough approach combines several innovative strategies:

Advanced Protein Design

• Thermostable variants that maintain activity at elevated temperatures
• UV-resistant modifications that protect against solar radiation damage
• pH-buffered formulations that work across different soil conditions
• Protective carriers that shield active proteins during application

Computational Optimization

Using advanced modeling techniques, our team has:

• Identified critical stability-determining regions in target proteins
• Designed mutations that enhance stability without affecting specificity
• Optimized formulation chemistry for maximum protection
• Validated performance through extensive laboratory testing

Real-World Performance

Laboratory Validation

Extensive testing has demonstrated remarkable improvements:

• >95% activity retention after 6 months storage at room temperature
• 90% efficacy maintained after UV exposure equivalent to 30 days of field conditions
• Stable performance across pH range of 5.5-8.5
• Consistent results across temperature range of 5-40°C

Field Trial Preparation

"These stability improvements mean our products can be stored, transported, and applied just like conventional pesticides," notes Kenneth Veland Halberg, Ph.D., Co-founder and CSO. "This removes a major barrier to adoption and makes sustainable pest control accessible to farmers worldwide."

Technology Platform Advantages

Protein Machines

Our protein stability engineering enhances the performance of our core protein machine technology:

• Nano-needle structure remains intact under field conditions
• Targeting specificity preserved throughout storage and application
• Delivery efficiency maintained for optimal pest control
• Safety profile unchanged with enhanced stability

Scalable Production

The stability improvements also enable:

• Cost-effective manufacturing without expensive cold chain requirements
• Global distribution to agricultural markets worldwide
• Extended shelf life reducing waste and inventory costs
• Simplified logistics for farmers and distributors

Market Impact

Addressing Industry Needs

This breakthrough directly addresses key requirements identified by our agricultural partners:

1. Performance reliability comparable to chemical alternatives
2. Practical storage and handling for existing farm operations
3. Consistent efficacy across diverse environmental conditions
4. Economic viability for commercial adoption

Competitive Advantage

"Our stability engineering gives us a significant competitive advantage in the biological pest control market," explains Icíar de la Fuente, Business Developer. "We can now offer farmers the environmental benefits of biological solutions with the reliability they expect from conventional products."

Scientific Collaboration

University Partnerships

This research builds on ongoing collaboration with:

• University of Copenhagen — fundamental protein science
• Technical University of Denmark — formulation chemistry
• International partners — field validation studies

Publication Pipeline

Our findings will be submitted to leading scientific journals, contributing to the broader scientific understanding of protein stability engineering for agricultural applications.

Looking Forward

Product Development Pipeline

This stability breakthrough accelerates development of our lead product candidates:

• Beetle-specific formulations for stored grain protection
• Lepidopteran control for field crop applications
• Specialized solutions for greenhouse and organic agriculture

Regulatory Advancement

Enhanced stability profiles support our regulatory strategy:

• Simplified safety testing with stable formulations
• Reduced environmental impact assessments
• Streamlined registration processes globally

The Bigger Picture

Sustainable Agriculture

"This breakthrough brings us significantly closer to our vision of sustainable pest control that doesn't compromise on performance," concludes Dr. Rebrova. "We're proving that biological solutions can be just as reliable and effective as conventional chemicals, but without the environmental cost."

Global Food Security

With improved stability, our technology platform can now address pest control challenges in:

• Developing countries lacking cold storage infrastructure
• Remote agricultural areas with limited logistics support
• Organic farming operations seeking certified biological solutions
• Climate-stressed regions with extreme temperature conditions

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This breakthrough represents a crucial step toward making sustainable pest control accessible to farmers worldwide. Learn more about our technology platform and development pipeline at [yngvi.bio/technology](/technology).

Research Team:

Eva Maria Rebrova (Lead), Kenneth Veland Halberg, Muhammad Tayyib Naseem, and collaborating scientists from University of Copenhagen.