Butler, Toenjes and Goffena secured their initial patent for the research molecules in 2016. Research began with grants from the National Science Foundation and the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology.

Many MSUB students were key contributors to the lab work, Butler said. The researchers tested the inhibitor drug on the fungi — Grosmannia clavigera, Ophiostoma montium and Ceratocystiopsis.

The research worked; their inhibitor molecule slowed the growth of the fungi, and they received their patent. The professors are just beginning to announce the findings.

“One thing we haven’t done yet is publish any papers on it,” he said.

It’s still unclear how exactly the inhibitor drug might be used to curb beetle infestations. Field tests will be needed to see how the drug works in an infected tree.

Toenjes said that it shouldn’t be the intent to kill all bark beetles, which could have consequences in another part of the ecosystem. It’s also not their goal to kill all the fungi. Other types exist in the forest and help break down organic matter.

In short, Butler said that their intention is not a mass-scale forest debugger.

“It’s more targeted,” he said. “Protecting high-value trees.”

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