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1900.9641Strengthening Grapevine Resistance by Pseudomonas fluorescens PTA-CT2 Relies on Distinct Defense Pathways in Susceptible and Partially Resistant Genotypes to Downy Mildew and Gray Mold Diseases. Downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola and gray mold caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea are among the highly threatening diseases in vineyards. The current strategy to control these diseases relies totally on the application of fungicides. The use of beneficial microbes is arising as a sustainable strategy in controlling various diseases. This can be achieved through the activation of the plants' own immune system, known as induced systemic resistance (ISR). We previously showed that bacteria-mediated ISR in grapevine involves activation of both immune response and priming state upon B. cinerea challenge. However, the effectiveness of beneficial bacteria against the oomycete P. viticola remains unknown, and mechanisms underpinning ISR against pathogens with different lifestyles need to be deciphered. In this study, we focused on the capacity of Pseudomonas fluorescens PTA-CT2 to induce ISR in grapevine against P. viticola and B. cinerea by using two grafted cultivars differing in their susceptibility to downy mildew, Pinot noir as susceptible and Solaris as partially resistant. On the basis of their contrasting phenotypes, we explored mechanisms underlying ISR before and upon pathogen infection. Our results provide evidence that in the absence of pathogen infection, PTA-CT2 does not elicit any consistent change of basal defenses, while it affects hormonal status and enhances photosynthetic efficiency in both genotypes. PTA-CT2 also induces ISR against P. viticola and B. cinerea by priming common and distinct defensive pathways. After P. viticola challenge, PTA-CT2 primes salicylic acid (SA)- and hypersensitive response (HR)-related genes in Solaris, but SA and abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation in Pinot noir. However, ISR against B. cinerea was associated with potentiated ethylene signaling in Pinot noir, but with primed expression of jasmonic acid (JA)- and SA-responsive genes in Solaris, together with downregulation of HR-related gene and accumulation of ABA and phytoalexins.201931620150
1810.9632Antivirulence effects of cell-free culture supernatant of endophytic bacteria against grapevine crown gall agent, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and induction of defense responses in plantlets via intact bacterial cells. BACKGROUND: Crown gall disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a very destructive affliction that affects grapevines. Endophytic bacteria have been discovered to control plant diseases via the use of several mechanisms. This research examined the potential for controlling crown gall by three endophytic bacteria that were previously isolated from healthy cultivated and wild grapevines including Pseudomonas kilonensis Ba35, Pseudomonas chlororaphis Ba47, and Serratia liquefaciens Ou55. RESULT: At various degrees, three endophytic bacteria suppressed the populations of A. tumefaciens Gh1 and greatly decreased the symptoms of crown gall. Furthermore, biofilm production and motility behaviors of A. tumefaciens Gh1were greatly inhibited by the Cell-free Culture Supernatant (CFCS) of endophytic bacteria. According to our findings, CFCS may reduce the adhesion of A. tumefaciens Gh1 cells to grapevine cv. Rashe root tissues as well as their chemotaxis motility toward the extract of the roots. When compared to the untreated control, statistical analysis showed that CFCS significantly reduced the swimming, twitching, and swarming motility of A. tumefaciens Gh1. The findings demonstrated that the endophytic bacteria effectively stimulated the production of plant defensive enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and total soluble phenols at different time intervals in grapevine inoculated with A. tumefaciens Gh1. The Ba47 strain markedly increased the expression levels of defense genes associated with plant resistance. The up-regulation of PR1, PR2, VvACO1, and GAD1 genes in grapevine leaves indicates the activation of SA and JA pathways, which play a role in enhancing resistance to pathogen invasion. The results showed that treating grapevine with Ba47 increased antioxidant defense activities and defense-related gene expression, which reduced oxidative damage caused by A. tumefaciens and decreased the incidence of crown gall disease. CONCLUSION: This is the first study on how A. tumefaciens, the grapevine crown gall agent, is affected by CFCS generated by endophytic bacteria in terms of growth and virulence features. To create safer plant disease management techniques, knowledge of the biocontrol processes mediated by CFCS during microbial interactions is crucial.202438336608
2120.9632miR159a modulates poplar resistance against different fungi and bacteria. Trees are inevitably attacked by different kinds of pathogens in their life. However, little is known about the regulatory factors in poplar response to different pathogen infections. MicroRNA159 (miR159) is a highly conserved microRNA (miRNA) in plants and regulates plant development and stress responses. Here, transgenic poplar overexpressing pto-miR159a (OX-159) showed antagonistic regulation mode to poplar stem disease caused by fungi Cytospora chrysosperma and bacteria Lonsdalea populi. OX-159 lines exhibited a higher susceptibility after inoculation with bacterium L. populi, whereas enhanced disease resistance to necrotrophic fungi C. chrysosperma compared with wild-type (WT) poplars. Intriguingly, further disease assay found that OX159 line rendered the poplar susceptible to hemi-biotrophic fungi Colletotrichum gloeosporioide, exhibiting larger necrosis and lower ROS accumulation than WT lines. Transcriptome analyses revealed that more down-regulated differentially expressed genes with disease-resistant domains in OX-159 line compared with WT line. Moreover, the central mediator NPR1 of salicylic acid (SA) pathway showed a decrease in expression level, while jasmonic acid/ethylene (JA/ET) signal pathway marker genes ERF, as well as PR3, MPK3, and MPK6 genes showed an increase level in OX159-2 and OX159-5 compared with WT lines. Further spatio-temporal expression analysis revealed JA/ET signaling was involved in the dynamic response process to C. gloeosporioides in WT and OX159 lines. These results demonstrate that overexpression of pto-miR159a resulted in the crosstalk changes of the downstream hub genes, thereby controlling the disease resistance of poplars, which provides clues for understanding pto-miR159a role in coordinating poplar-pathogen interactions.202337494825
516330.9631Multi-omics data elucidate parasite-host-microbiota interactions and resistance to Haemonchus contortus in sheep. BACKGROUND: The integration of molecular data from hosts, parasites, and microbiota can enhance our understanding of the complex biological interactions underlying the resistance of hosts to parasites. Haemonchus contortus, the predominant sheep gastrointestinal parasite species in the tropics, causes significant production and economic losses, which are further compounded by the diminishing efficiency of chemical control owing to anthelmintic resistance. Knowledge of how the host responds to infection and how the parasite, in combination with microbiota, modulates host immunity can guide selection decisions to breed animals with improved parasite resistance. This understanding will help refine management practices and advance the development of new therapeutics for long-term helminth control. METHODS: Eggs per gram (EPG) of feces were obtained from Morada Nova sheep subjected to two artificial infections with H. contortus and used as a proxy to select animals with high resistance or susceptibility for transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of the abomasum and 50 K single-nucleotide genotyping. Additionally, RNA-seq data for H. contortus were generated, and amplicon sequence variants (ASV) were obtained using polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of bacterial and archaeal 16S ribosomal RNA genes from sheep feces and rumen content. RESULTS: The heritability estimate for EPG was 0.12. GAST, GNLY, IL13, MGRN1, FGF14, and RORC genes and transcripts were differentially expressed between resistant and susceptible animals. A genome-wide association study identified regions on chromosomes 2 and 11 that harbor candidate genes for resistance, immune response, body weight, and adaptation. Trans-expression quantitative trait loci were found between significant variants and differentially expressed transcripts. Functional co-expression modules based on sheep genes and ASVs correlated with resistance to H. contortus, showing enrichment in pathways of response to bacteria, immune and inflammatory responses, and hub features of the Christensenellaceae, Bacteroides, and Methanobrevibacter genera; Prevotellaceae family; and Verrucomicrobiota phylum. In H. contortus, some mitochondrial, collagen-, and cuticle-related genes were expressed only in parasites isolated from susceptible sheep. CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified chromosome regions, genes, transcripts, and pathways involved in the elaborate interactions between the sheep host, its gastrointestinal microbiota, and the H. contortus parasite. These findings will assist in the development of animal selection strategies for parasite resistance and interdisciplinary approaches to control H. contortus infection in sheep.202438429820
1140.9630Diffusible signal factor primes plant immunity against Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) via JA signaling in Arabidopsis and Brassica oleracea. BACKGROUND: Many Gram-negative bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) signal molecules to monitor their local population density and to coordinate their collective behaviors. The diffusible signal factor (DSF) family represents an intriguing type of QS signal to mediate intraspecies and interspecies communication. Recently, accumulating evidence demonstrates the role of DSF in mediating inter-kingdom communication between DSF-producing bacteria and plants. However, the regulatory mechanism of DSF during the Xanthomonas-plant interactions remain unclear. METHODS: Plants were pretreated with different concentration of DSF and subsequent inoculated with pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc). Pathogenicity, phynotypic analysis, transcriptome combined with metabolome analysis, genetic analysis and gene expression analysis were used to evaluate the priming effects of DSF on plant disease resistance. RESULTS: We found that the low concentration of DSF could prime plant immunity against Xcc in both Brassica oleracea and Arabidopsis thaliana. Pretreatment with DSF and subsequent pathogen invasion triggered an augmented burst of ROS by DCFH-DA and DAB staining. CAT application could attenuate the level of ROS induced by DSF. The expression of RBOHD and RBOHF were up-regulated and the activities of antioxidases POD increased after DSF treatment followed by Xcc inoculation. Transcriptome combined with metabolome analysis showed that plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) signaling involved in DSF-primed resistance to Xcc in Arabidopsis. The expression of JA synthesis genes (AOC2, AOS, LOX2, OPR3 and JAR1), transportor gene (JAT1), regulator genes (JAZ1 and MYC2) and responsive genes (VSP2, PDF1.2 and Thi2.1) were up-regulated significantly by DSF upon Xcc challenge. The primed effects were not observed in JA relevant mutant coi1-1 and jar1-1. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that DSF-primed resistance against Xcc was dependent on the JA pathway. Our findings advanced the understanding of QS signal-mediated communication and provide a new strategy for the control of black rot in Brassica oleracea.202337404719
1750.9626Biocontrol Potential of Endophytic Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria against Phytopathogenic Viruses: Molecular Interaction with the Host Plant and Comparison with Chitosan. Endophytic plant-growth-promoting bacteria (ePGPB) are interesting tools for pest management strategies. However, the molecular interactions underlying specific biocontrol effects, particularly against phytopathogenic viruses, remain unexplored. Herein, we investigated the antiviral effects and triggers of induced systemic resistance mediated by four ePGPB (Paraburkholderia fungorum strain R8, Paenibacillus pasadenensis strain R16, Pantoea agglomerans strain 255-7, and Pseudomonas syringae strain 260-02) against four viruses (Cymbidium Ring Spot Virus-CymRSV; Cucumber Mosaic Virus-CMV; Potato Virus X-PVX; and Potato Virus Y-PVY) on Nicotiana benthamiana plants under controlled conditions and compared them with a chitosan-based resistance inducer product. Our studies indicated that ePGPB- and chitosan-treated plants presented well-defined biocontrol efficacy against CymRSV and CMV, unlike PVX and PVY. They exhibited significant reductions in symptom severity while promoting plant height compared to nontreated, virus-infected controls. However, these phenotypic traits showed no association with relative virus quantification. Moreover, the tested defense-related genes (Enhanced Disease Susceptibility-1 (EDS1), Non-expressor of Pathogenesis-related genes-1 (NPR1), and Pathogenesis-related protein-2B (PR2B)) implied the involvement of a salicylic-acid-related defense pathway triggered by EDS1 gene upregulation.202235805989
3360.9624Transgenic Silkworms Overexpressing Relish and Expressing Drosomycin Confer Enhanced Immunity to Multiple Pathogens. The sericulture industry faces substantial economic losses due to severe pathogenic infections caused by fungi, viruses, and bacteria. The development of transgenic silkworms against specific pathogens has been shown to enhance disease resistance against a particular infection. A single gene or its products that can confer protection against multiple pathogens is required. In an attempt to develop silkworms with enhanced immunity against multiple pathogens, we generated transgenic silkworm lines with an overexpressed NF-kB transcription factor, Relish 1, under two different promoters. Separately, a potent anti-fungal gene, Drosomycin, was also expressed in transgenic silkworms. Both Relish 1 and Drosomycin transgenic silkworms had single copy genomic integration, and their mRNA expression levels were highly increased after infection with silkworm pathogens. The overexpression of the Relish 1 in transgenic silkworms resulted in the upregulation of several defense-related genes, Cecropin B, Attacin, and Lebocin, and showed enhanced resistance to Nosema bombycis (microsporidian fungus), Nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), and bacteria. The Drosomycin expressing transgenic silkworms showed elevated resistance to N. bombycis and bacteria. These findings demonstrate the role of Relish 1 in long-lasting protection against multiple pathogens in silkworms. Further, the successful introduction of a foreign gene, Drosomycin, also led to improved disease resistance in silkworms.202235098482
1470.9622Unraveling Pinus massoniana's Defense Mechanisms Against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Under Aseptic Conditions: A Transcriptomic Analysis. Pine wilt disease (PWD) is caused by the pine wood nematode (PWN, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and significantly impacts pine forest ecosystems globally. This study focuses on Pinus massoniana, an important timber and oleoresin resource in China, which is highly susceptible to PWN. However, the defense mechanism of pine trees in response to PWN remains unclear. Addressing the complexities of PWD, influenced by diverse factors such as bacteria, fungi, and environment, we established a reciprocal system between PWN and P. massoniana seedlings under aseptic conditions. Utilizing combined second- and third-generation sequencing technologies, we identified 3,718 differentially expressed genes post PWN infection. Transcript analysis highlighted the activation of defense mechanisms via stilbenes, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid pathways, terpene synthesis, and induction of pathogenesis-related proteins and resistance genes, predominantly at 72 h postinfection. Notably, terpene synthesis pathways, particularly the mevalonate pathway, were crucial in defense, suggesting their significance in P. massoniana's response to PWN. This comprehensive transcriptome profiling offers insights into P. massoniana's intricate defense strategies against PWN under aseptic conditions, laying a foundation for future functional analyses of key resistance genes. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.202439283201
2680.9621Mutations of two FERONIA-like receptor genes enhance rice blast resistance without growth penalty. Genes that provide resistance to fungi and/or bacteria usually reduce plant growth and ultimately affect grain yield. Thus, crop breeding programs need to find genetic resources that balance disease resistance with growth. The receptor kinase FERONIA regulates cell growth and survival in Arabidopsis. Here, we investigate, in rice, the role of members of the FERONIA-like receptor (FLR) gene family in the balance between growth and the response to the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae (Pyricularia oryzae), which causes the most devastating disease in rice. We carried out genome-wide gene expression and functional screenings in rice via a gene knockout strategy, and we successfully knocked out 14 FLR genes in rice. Using these genetic resources, we found that mutations in the FLR2 and FLR11 genes provide resistance to rice blast without a profound growth penalty. Detailed analyses revealed that FLR2 mutation increased both defense-related gene expression and M. oryzae-triggered production of reactive oxygen species. Thus, our results highlight novel genetic tools for studying the underlying molecular mechanisms of enhancing disease resistance without growth penalty.202031986202
874390.9621Functional analysis of the Nep1-like proteins from Plasmopara viticola. Necrosis and ethylene-inducing peptide 1 (Nep1) -like proteins (NLP) are secreted by multiple taxonomically unrelated plant pathogens (bacteria, fungi, and oomycete) and are best known for inducing cell death and immune responses in dicotyledonous plants. A group of putative NLP genes from obligate biotrophic oomycete Plasmopara viticola were predicted by RNA-Seq in our previous study, but their activity has not been established. Therefore, we analyzed the P. viticola NLP (PvNLP) family and identified seven PvNLP genes. They all belong to type 1 NLP genes and form a P. viticola-specific cluster when compared with other pathogen NLP genes. The expression of PvNLPs was induced during early infection process and the expression patterns could be categorized into two groups. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient expression assays revealed that only PvNLP7 was cytotoxic and could induce Phytophthora capsici resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana. Functional analysis showed that PvNLP4, PvNLP5, PvNLP7, and PvNLP10 significantly improved disease resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana to Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis. Moreover, the four genes caused an inhibition of plant growth which is typically associated with enhanced immunity when over-expressed in Arabidopsis. Further research found that PvNLP7 could activate the expression of defense-related genes and its conserved NPP1 domain was critical for cell death- and immunity-inducing activity. This record of NLP genes from P. viticola showed a functional diversification, laying a foundation for further study on pathogenic mechanism of the devastating pathogen.202235152834
8728100.9619Identification of the defense-related gene VdWRKY53 from the wild grapevine Vitis davidii using RNA sequencing and ectopic expression analysis in Arabidopsis. BACKGROUND: Grapevine is an important fruit crop grown worldwide, and its cultivars are mostly derived from the European species Vitis vinifera, which has genes for high fruit quality and adaptation to a wide variety of climatic conditions. Disease resistance varies substantially across grapevine species; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying such variation remain uncharacterized. RESULTS: The anatomical structure and disease symptoms of grapevine leaves were analyzed for two grapevine species, and the critical period of resistance of grapevine to pathogenic bacteria was determined to be 12 h post inoculation (hpi). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from transcriptome analysis of leaf samples obtained at 12 and 36 hpi, and the transcripts in four pathways (cell wall genes, LRR receptor-like genes, WRKY genes, and pathogenesis-related (PR) genes) were classified into four co-expression groups by using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). The gene VdWRKY53, showing the highest transcript level, was introduced into Arabidopsis plants by using a vector containing the CaMV35S promoter. These procedures allowed identifying the key genes contributing to differences in disease resistance between a strongly resistant accession of a wild grapevine species Vitis davidii (VID) and a susceptible cultivar of V. vinifera, 'Manicure Finger' (VIV). Vitis davidii, but not VIV, showed a typical hypersensitive response after infection with a fungal pathogen (Coniella diplodiella) causing white rot disease. Further, 20 defense-related genes were identified, and their differential expression between the two grapevine species was confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. VdWRKY53, showing the highest transcript level, was selected for functional analysis and therefore over-expressed in Arabidopsis under the control of the CaMV35S promoter. The transgenic plants showed enhanced resistance to C. diplodiella and to two other pathogens, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and Golovinomyces cichoracearum. CONCLUSION: The consistency of the results in VID and transgenic Arabidopsis indicated that VdWRKY53 might be involved in the activation of defense-related genes that enhance the resistance of these plants to pathogens. Thus, the over-expression of VdWRKY53 in transgenic grapevines might improve their resistance to pathogens.201931057347
807110.9616Transcriptomic analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae upon honokiol treatment. Honokiol (HNK), one of the main medicinal components in Magnolia officinalis, possesses antimicrobial activity against a variety of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. However, little is known of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the antimicrobial activity. To explore the molecular mechanism of its antifungal activity, we determined the effects of HNK on the mRNA expression profile of Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a DNA microarray approach. HNK markedly induced the expression of genes related to iron uptake and homeostasis. Conversely, genes associated with respiratory electron transport were downregulated, mirroring the effects of iron starvation. Meanwhile, HNK-induced growth deficiency was partly rescued by iron supplementation and HNK reacted with iron, producing iron complexes that depleted iron. These results suggest that HNK treatment induced iron starvation. Additionally, HNK treatment resulted in the upregulation of genes involved in protein synthesis and drug resistance networks. Furthermore, the deletion of PDR5, a gene encoding the plasma membrane ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter, conferred sensitivity to HNK. Overexpression of PDR5 enhanced resistance of WT and pdr5Δ strains to HNK. Taken together, these findings suggest that HNK, which can be excluded by overexpression of Pdr5, functions in multiple cellular processes in S. cerevisiae, particularly in inducing iron starvation to inhibit cell growth.201728499955
20120.9616Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN triggers local and systemic transcriptional reprogramming in Arabidopsis thaliana and increases resistance against Botrytis cinerea. Fungal pathogens are one of the main causes of yield losses in many crops, severely affecting agricultural production worldwide. Among the various approaches to alleviate this problem, beneficial microorganisms emerge as an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative. In addition to direct biocontrol action against pathogens, certain plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) enhance the plant immune defense to control diseases through induced systemic resistance (ISR). Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN has been shown as an efficient biocontrol agent against diseases. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects at both local and systemic level remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional response of Arabidopsis thaliana at above- and below-ground levels upon interaction with P. phytofirmans PsJN, and after Botrytis cinerea infection. Our data clearly support the protective effect of P. phytofirmans PsJN through ISR against B. cinerea in plants grown in both soil and hydroponic conditions. The comparative transcriptome analysis of the mRNA and miRNA sequences revealed that PsJN modulates the expression of genes involved in abiotic stress responses, microbe-plant interactions and ISR, with ethylene signaling pathway genes standing out. In roots, PsJN predominantly downregulated the expression of genes related to microbe perception, signaling and immune response, indicating that PsJN locally provoked attenuation of defense responses to facilitate and support colonization and the maintenance of mutualistic relationship. In leaves, the increased expression of defense-related genes prior to infection in combination with the protective effect of PsJN observed in later stages of infection suggests that bacterial inoculation primes plants for enhanced systemic immune response after subsequent pathogen attack.202540530279
8400130.9616Transferring knowledge of bacterial protein interaction networks to predict pathogen targeted human genes and immune signaling pathways: a case study on M. tuberculosis. BACKGROUND: Bacterial invasive infection and host immune response is fundamental to the understanding of pathogen pathogenesis and the discovery of effective therapeutic drugs. However, there are very few experimental studies on the signaling cross-talks between bacteria and human host to date. METHODS: In this work, taking M. tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) that is co-evolving with its human host as an example, we propose a general computational framework that exploits the known bacterial pathogen protein interaction networks in STRING database to predict pathogen-host protein interactions and their signaling cross-talks. In this framework, significant interlogs are derived from the known pathogen protein interaction networks to train a predictive l(2)-regularized logistic regression model. RESULTS: The computational results show that the proposed method achieves excellent performance of cross validation as well as low predicted positive rates on the less significant interlogs and non-interlogs, indicating a low risk of false discovery. We further conduct gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses of the predicted pathogen-host protein interaction networks, which potentially provides insights into the machinery that M. tuberculosis H37Rv targets human genes and signaling pathways. In addition, we analyse the pathogen-host protein interactions related to drug resistance, inhibition of which potentially provides an alternative solution to M. tuberculosis H37Rv drug resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed machine learning framework has been verified effective for predicting bacteria-host protein interactions via known bacterial protein interaction networks. For a vast majority of bacterial pathogens that lacks experimental studies of bacteria-host protein interactions, this framework is supposed to achieve a general-purpose applicability. The predicted protein interaction networks between M. tuberculosis H37Rv and Homo sapiens, provided in the Additional files, promise to gain applications in the two fields: (1) providing an alternative solution to drug resistance; (2) revealing the patterns that M. tuberculosis H37Rv genes target human immune signaling pathways.201829954330
5098140.9614Feature selection and aggregation for antibiotic resistance GWAS in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a comparative study. INTRODUCTION: Drug resistance (DR) of pathogens remains a global healthcare concern. In contrast to other bacteria, acquiring mutations in the core genome is the main mechanism of drug resistance for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). For some antibiotics, the resistance of a particular isolate can be reliably predicted by identifying specific mutations, while for other antibiotics the knowledge of resistance mechanisms is limited. Statistical machine learning (ML) methods are used to infer new genes implicated in drug resistance leveraging large collections of isolates with known whole-genome sequences and phenotypic states for different drugs. However, high correlations between the phenotypic states for commonly used drugs complicate the inference of true associations of mutations with drug phenotypes by ML approaches. METHODS: Recently, several new methods have been developed to select a small subset of reliable predictors of the dependent variable, which may help reduce the number of spurious associations identified. In this study, we evaluated several such methods, namely, logistic regression with different regularization penalty functions, a recently introduced algorithm for solving the best-subset selection problem (ABESS) and "Hungry, Hungry SNPos" (HHS) a heuristic algorithm specifically developed to identify resistance-associated genetic variants in the presence of resistance co-occurrence. We assessed their ability to select known causal mutations for resistance to a specific drug while avoiding the selection of mutations in genes associated with resistance to other drugs, thus we compared selected ML models for their applicability for MTB genome wide association studies. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In our analysis, ABESS significantly outperformed the other methods, selecting more relevant sets of mutations. Additionally, we demonstrated that aggregating rare mutations within protein-coding genes into markers indicative of changes in PFAM domains improved prediction quality, and these markers were predominantly selected by ABESS, suggesting their high informativeness. However, ABESS yielded lower prediction accuracy compared to logistic regression methods with regularization.202540606161
27150.9614In silico comparison of transcript abundances during Arabidopsis thaliana and Glycine max resistance to Fusarium virguliforme. BACKGROUND: Sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) is an economically important disease, caused by the semi-biotrophic fungus Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, recently renamed Fusarium virguliforme (Fv). Due to the complexity and length of the soybean-Fusarium interaction, the molecular mechanisms underlying plant resistance and susceptibility to the pathogen are not fully understood. F. virguliforme has a very wide host range for the ability to cause root rot and a very narrow host range for the ability to cause a leaf scorch. Arabidopsis thaliana is a host for many types of phytopathogens including bacteria, fungi, viruses and nematodes. Deciphering the variations among transcript abundances (TAs) of functional orthologous genes of soybean and A. thaliana involved in the interaction will provide insights into plant resistance to F. viguliforme. RESULTS: In this study, we reported the analyses of microarrays measuring TA in whole plants after A. thaliana cv 'Columbia' was challenged with fungal pathogen F. virguliforme. Infection caused significant variations in TAs. The total number of increased transcripts was nearly four times more than that of decreased transcripts in abundance. A putative resistance pathway involved in responding to the pathogen infection in A. thaliana was identified and compared to that reported in soybean. CONCLUSION: Microarray experiments allow the interrogation of tens of thousands of transcripts simultaneously and thus, the identification of plant pathways is likely to be involved in plant resistance to Fusarial pathogens. Dissection of the set functional orthologous genes between soybean and A. thaliana enabled a broad view of the functional relationships and molecular interactions among plant genes involved in F. virguliforme resistance.200818831797
8768160.9614Selective regulation of endophytic bacteria and gene expression in soybean by water-soluble humic materials. BACKGROUND: As part of the plant microbiome, endophytic bacteria play an essential role in plant growth and resistance to stress. Water-soluble humic materials (WSHM) is widely used in sustainable agriculture as a natural and non-polluting plant growth regulator to promote the growth of plants and beneficial bacteria. However, the mechanisms of WSHM to promote plant growth and the evidence for commensal endophytic bacteria interaction with their host remain largely unknown. Here, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, transcriptomic analysis, and culture-based methods were used to reveal the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: WSHM reduced the alpha diversity of soybean endophytic bacteria, but increased the bacterial interactions and further selectively enriched the potentially beneficial bacteria. Meanwhile, WSHM regulated the expression of various genes related to the MAPK signaling pathway, plant-pathogen interaction, hormone signal transduction, and synthetic pathways in soybean root. Omics integration analysis showed that Sphingobium was the genus closest to the significantly changed genes in WSHM treatment. The inoculation of endophytic Sphingobium sp. TBBS4 isolated from soybean significantly improved soybean nodulation and growth by increasing della gene expression and reducing ethylene release. CONCLUSION: All the results revealed that WSHM promotes soybean nodulation and growth by selectively regulating soybean gene expression and regulating the endophytic bacterial community, Sphingobium was the key bacterium involved in plant-microbe interaction. These findings refined our understanding of the mechanism of WSHM promoting soybean nodulation and growth and provided novel evidence for plant-endophyte interaction.202438178261
95170.9613NtPR1a regulates resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum in Nicotiana tabacum via activating the defense-related genes. Pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) are associated with the development of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) against further infection enforced by fungi, bacteria and viruses. PR1a is the first PR-1 member that could be purified and characterized. Previous studies have reported its role in plants' resistance system against oomycete pathogens. However, the role of PR1a in Solanaceae plants against the bacterial wilt pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum remains unclear. To assess roles of NtPR1a in tobacco responding to R. solanacearum, we performed overexpression experiments in Yunyan 87 plants (a susceptible tobacco cultivar). The results illuminated that overexpression of NtPR1a contributed to improving resistance to R. solanacearum in tobacco Yunyan 87. Specifically speaking, NtPR1a gene could be induced by exogenous hormones like salicylic acid (SA) and pathogenic bacteria R. Solanacearum. Moreover, NtPR1a-overexpressing tobacco significantly reduced multiple of R. solanacearum and inhibited the development of disease symptoms compared with wild-type plants. Importantly, overexpression of NtPR1a activated a series of defense-related genes expression, including the hypersensitive response (HR)-associated genes NtHSR201 and NtHIN1, SA-, JA- and ET-associated genes NtPR2, NtCHN50, NtPR1b, NtEFE26, and Ntacc oxidase, and detoxification-associated gene NtGST1. In summary, our results suggested that NtPR1a-enhanced tobacco resistance to R. solanacearum may be mainly dependent on activation of the defense-related genes.201930545635
8133180.9613Symbiotic bacteria confer insecticide resistance by metabolizing buprofezin in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål). Buprofezin, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, is widely used to control several economically important insect crop pests. However, the overuse of buprofezin has led to the evolution of resistance and exposed off-target organisms present in agri-environments to this compound. As many as six different strains of bacteria isolated from these environments have been shown to degrade buprofezin. However, whether insects can acquire these buprofezin-degrading bacteria from soil and enhance their own resistance to buprofezin remains unknown. Here we show that field strains of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, have acquired a symbiotic bacteria, occurring naturally in soil and water, that provides them with resistance to buprofezin. We isolated a symbiotic bacterium, Serratia marcescens (Bup_Serratia), from buprofezin-resistant N. lugens and showed it has the capacity to degrade buprofezin. Buprofezin-susceptible N. lugens inoculated with Bup_Serratia became resistant to buprofezin, while antibiotic-treated N. lugens became susceptible to this insecticide, confirming the important role of Bup_Serratia in resistance. Sequencing of the Bup_Serratia genome identified a suite of candidate genes involved in the degradation of buprofezin, that were upregulated upon exposure to buprofezin. Our findings demonstrate that S. marcescens, an opportunistic pathogen of humans, can metabolize the insecticide buprofezin and form a mutualistic relationship with N. lugens to enhance host resistance to buprofezin. These results provide new insight into the mechanisms underlying insecticide resistance and the interactions between bacteria, insects and insecticides in the environment. From an applied perspective they also have implications for the control of highly damaging crop pests.202338091367
106190.9613Genomic evidence of the illumination response mechanism and evolutionary history of magnetotactic bacteria within the Rhodospirillaceae family. BACKGROUND: Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are ubiquitous in natural aquatic environments. MTB can produce intracellular magnetic particles, navigate along geomagnetic field, and respond to light. However, the potential mechanism by which MTB respond to illumination and their evolutionary relationship with photosynthetic bacteria remain elusive. RESULTS: We utilized genomes of the well-sequenced genus Magnetospirillum, including the newly sequenced MTB strain Magnetospirillum sp. XM-1 to perform a comprehensive genomic comparison with phototrophic bacteria within the family Rhodospirillaceae regarding the illumination response mechanism. First, photoreceptor genes were identified in the genomes of both MTB and phototrophic bacteria in the Rhodospirillaceae family, but no photosynthesis genes were found in the MTB genomes. Most of the photoreceptor genes in the MTB genomes from this family encode phytochrome-domain photoreceptors that likely induce red/far-red light phototaxis. Second, illumination also causes damage within the cell, and in Rhodospirillaceae, both MTB and phototrophic bacteria possess complex but similar sets of response and repair genes, such as oxidative stress response, iron homeostasis and DNA repair system genes. Lastly, phylogenomic analysis showed that MTB cluster closely with phototrophic bacteria in this family. One photoheterotrophic genus, Phaeospirillum, clustered within and displays high genomic similarity with Magnetospirillum. Moreover, the phylogenetic tree topologies of magnetosome synthesis genes in MTB and photosynthesis genes in phototrophic bacteria from the Rhodospirillaceae family were reasonably congruent with the phylogenomic tree, suggesting that these two traits were most likely vertically transferred during the evolution of their lineages. CONCLUSION: Our new genomic data indicate that MTB and phototrophic bacteria within the family Rhodospirillaceae possess diversified photoreceptors that may be responsible for phototaxis. Their genomes also contain comprehensive stress response genes to mediate the negative effects caused by illumination. Based on phylogenetic studies, most of MTB and phototrophic bacteria in the Rhodospirillaceae family evolved vertically with magnetosome synthesis and photosynthesis genes. The ancestor of Rhodospirillaceae was likely a magnetotactic phototrophic bacteria, however, gain or loss of magnetotaxis and phototrophic abilities might have occurred during the evolution of ancestral Rhodospirillaceae lineages.201931117953