卵菌与真菌Argonaute家族基因的生物信息学分析

 Argonaute蛋白广泛存在于真核生物与原核生物中,可在非编码小RNA或DNA的引导下,对完全匹配或部分匹配的靶标进行切割、翻译抑制或染色体修饰。本研究利用生物信息学对127种卵菌与真菌的基因组进行分析,旨在了解各个物种中AGO家族基因的数量、蛋白结构域、进化关系及转录模式等。结果发现,大部分卵菌与真菌的基因组中(51%)含有2个AGO基因,而疫霉菌和壶菌等平均含有4个以上。卵菌与真菌的AGO基因在进化上相互独立,多拷贝AGO基因可能是通过基因复制形成;大部分AGO基因具有6个可预测的功能域(即:N端、Linker 1、PAZ、Linker 2、MID和PIWI),并且在PAZ和PIWI功能域上,与核酸5'和3'端结合及与催化活性相关的氨基酸位点整体相对保守,仅个别位点存在一定的差异。侵染大豆过程中,大豆疫霉和终极腐霉的两对同源AGO基因具有保守的表达模式,且基因表达水平相对较高,可能具有相似的生物学功能。上述结果将为深入解析AGO介导的RNA干扰机制及生物学功能奠定基础。     

大豆疫霉MAPK基因的鉴定与转录分析

 疫霉菌包括大豆疫霉等重要植物病原物,属于茸鞭生物界卵菌门,在进化上与真菌相差甚远;由于分离培养与遗传转化等相对困难,目前对其生长发育和致病机理的研究相对滞后。本研究综合运用基因组学和转录组学方法,首先对植物病原卵菌与真菌的蛋白激酶特别是MAPK进行了鉴定和比较,然后对大豆疫霉MAPK的基因结构、蛋白功能域以及转录模式等进行深入分析。结果表明,植物病原卵菌比真菌含有更多的蛋白激酶(包括MAPK),且卵菌及其近缘物种硅藻的MAPK与真菌在进化上相对独立;大豆疫霉的14个MAPK中,4个具有非典型的磷酸化唇序列,7个含有PH、C2、WW、PAS等与细胞信号转导相关的其它功能域;转录分析表明,大部分MAPK可能在大豆疫霉生长发育与致病的整个过程或特定过程中发挥重要作用。本文通过对蛋白激酶特别是MAPK的分析揭示了植物病原卵菌(与真菌相比)在细胞信号转导网络与机制上的独特性与复杂性,可为进一步研究疫霉菌MAPK的生物学功能及其信号调控机制提供参考。     

荔枝霜疫霉中双组分信号转导系统的鉴定与表达分析

 荔枝霜疫霉(Peronophythora litchii)隶属于茸鞭生物界卵菌门疫霉属,由其引起的荔枝霜疫病是目前荔枝生产上一种最重要的病害,严重影响荔枝产量和鲜果品质。双组分信号途径在微生物中参与多种生命活动,但是在卵菌中尚未有相关研究。本研究通过生物信息学分析在荔枝霜疫霉中鉴定到2个杂合型组氨酸激酶(PlHK1、PlHK2)和1个响应调控蛋白(PlRR1)。其在卵菌中是保守存在的,并且与真菌在进化上相对独立。功能域分析表明,PlHK1和PlHK2的C端额外的融合了1个磷酸转移功能域(Hpt),这与真菌和植物的存在显著差异。转录分析表明3个基因在荔枝霜疫霉侵染阶段上调表达,并且响应渗透胁迫和氧化胁迫。以上结果揭示了双组分信号系统可能在疫霉致病过程中发挥重要作用。     

荔枝霜疫霉中双组分信号转导系统的鉴定与表达分析

 荔枝霜疫霉(Peronophythora litchii)隶属于茸鞭生物界卵菌门疫霉属,由其引起的荔枝霜疫病是目前荔枝生产上一种最重要的病害,严重影响荔枝产量和鲜果品质。双组分信号途径在微生物中参与多种生命活动,但是在卵菌中尚未有相关研究。本研究通过生物信息学分析在荔枝霜疫霉中鉴定到2个杂合型组氨酸激酶(PlHK1、PlHK2)和1个响应调控蛋白(PlRR1)。其在卵菌中是保守存在的,并且与真菌在进化上相对独立。功能域分析表明,PlHK1和PlHK2的C端额外的融合了1个磷酸转移功能域(Hpt),这与真菌和植物的存在显著差异。转录分析表明3个基因在荔枝霜疫霉侵染阶段上调表达,并且响应渗透胁迫和氧化胁迫。以上结果揭示了双组分信号系统可能在疫霉致病过程中发挥重要作用。     

大豆疫霉RNA结合蛋白PsM90的基因功能研究

 真核生物的基因表达能够在转录与转录后等水平受到调控,以适应不同时空环境中的生长与发育等生物学过程,其中PUF家族RNA结合蛋白是一类具有保守PUM-HD(Pumilio homology domain)功能域的转录后调节因子,通过与靶标mRNA特异性结合控制其稳定性及翻译。本研究利用CRISPR/CAS9介导的疫霉菌基因组编辑技术,对大豆疫霉的PUF家族基因PsM90进行敲除和功能研究。结果表明,PsM90敲除突变体的卵孢子产量减少至野生型的32%,卵孢子壁明显变薄,卵孢子中的细胞器未能正常分化;游动孢子对大豆黄化苗下胚轴的致病力有所下降。此外,PsM90的敲除不影响营养菌丝生长、孢子囊发育、游动孢子释放和休止孢萌发等生物学性状。上述结果揭示了PsM90是大豆疫霉有性发育等过程的重要相关基因,为深入揭示卵菌中卵孢子发育这一独特生物学过程的分子调控机制奠定了基础。     

荔枝霜疫霉自噬相关基因的鉴定与表达分析

 细胞自噬(Autophagy)是一种真核生物中高度保守的胞内物质降解和循环再利用的生理过程,其调控细胞动态平衡、压力适应和细胞程序性死亡,与植物病原真菌生长发育、孢子形成、侵染等一系列过程密切相关。荔枝霜疫霉(Peronophythora litchii)侵染引起的荔枝霜疫病严重危害荔枝生产及采后贮藏。本研究利用模式物种中已知的自噬相关蛋白,采用同源比对的方法在荔枝霜疫霉基因组数据库中鉴定到19个同源蛋白,分属16种蛋白类型。分析基因结构和蛋白保守功能域,发现荔枝霜疫霉自噬相关基因均具有内含子,且数目差异明显;所鉴定候选蛋白都具有相应分组的保守功能域,而PlATG1a在C端具有2个额外的ATG11功能域,PlATG11则在其N端包含1个APG17功能域。进一步对具有核心功能且多成员的自噬相关蛋白ATG1、ATG6、ATG8和ATG18进行系统进化和序列模块分析发现,这些蛋白在不同物种之间十分保守,但是其同源蛋白间存在分化。通过转录组数据分析和qRT-PCR验证结果显示,荔枝霜疫霉中自噬相关基因在生长发育和侵染阶段均有表达,与菌丝阶段相比,PlATG1a、 PlATG2、PlATG3、PlATG6a、PlATG8、PlATG18a基因在游动孢子阶段特异上调表达,其中PlATG8最为显著;PlVPS34在孢子囊阶段特异诱导表达,PlATG1b、PlATG12、PlATG17在孢子囊与游动孢子阶段上调表达但是在侵染阶段下调表达;PlATG6b、PlATG9、PlATG10、PlATG13、PlATG14及PlVPS15基因在生长发育和侵染阶段均表现出不同程度的上调表达,PlATG7、PlATG11、PlATG18b 则在侵染阶段显著下调表达。结果表明,细胞自噬可能参与调控荔枝霜疫霉的生长发育及致病过程。     

三类植物卵菌的全基因组比较

为有效防治由不同类型卵菌引起的植物病害,该研究对数据库中的霜霉、疫霉和腐霉3类不同卵菌的全基因组数据进行序列特征分析、同源性分析和共线性分析以及同源差异基因富集通路分析。结果显示,霜霉、疫霉和腐霉来自独立的谱系,且疫霉与霜霉的亲缘关系较近;疫霉的致病相关基因数量最多,主要有RxLR、CRN、NPP、NF和PcF基因家族,霜霉的致病相关基因数量次之,腐霉的致病相关基因数量最少;3类卵菌共确定了13 392个同源基因,其中3类卵菌均共有的同源基因为3 786个,不同菌种的同源基因数量差异较大,整体表现为疫霉>霜霉>腐霉;同源差异基因富集程度最高的前20个通路主要是基础代谢的通路和中间代谢通路,其中抗坏血酸和藻酸盐代谢、ABC转运蛋白和果糖和甘露糖代谢相对富集程度较高,基因数目也较多。     

利用基因YKT6鉴定疫霉属的不同种

 利用分子标记或对特异位点的碱基序列进行分析是植物病原物分子检测的基础,可以在属和种的水平上对物种进行区分和鉴定。对疫霉属的不同种已有一系列的分子检测方法。SNARE蛋白相关基因YKT6拥有保守的侧翼编码区,适于设计疫霉属特异性的PCR引物,同时其内含子所具有的多态性可开发出几乎所有疫霉种的分子标记。利用疫霉属特异性引物对P-YKT6-F/P-YKT6-R可在31个疫霉种中特异地扩增出一条约600 bp的条带,而在腐霉或其他真菌中不能扩增出该条带。利用大豆疫霉的引物对Ps-YKT6-F/ Ps-YKT6-R和辣椒疫霉的引物对Pc-YKT6-F/Pc-YKT6-R,能分别从大豆疫霉菌株和辣椒疫霉菌株中扩增出一条399 bp和282 bp的条带,常规PCR和巢式PCR的灵敏度分别达到100 pg和10 fg。利用这些引物也可从土壤和病组织中检测到目标病原菌。此外,利用上述特异性引物开发出了大豆疫霉和辣椒疫霉的实时定量PCR检测方法。基于YKT6基因的分子标记和检测方法可用于疫霉种的调查检测和法定定量检测。     

利用基因YKT6鉴定疫霉属的不同种（英文）

利用分子标记或对特异位点的碱基序列进行分析是植物病原物分子检测的基础,可以在属和种的水平上对物种进行区分和鉴定。对疫霉属的不同种已有一系列的分子检测方法。SNARE蛋白相关基因YKT6拥有保守的侧翼编码区,适于设计疫霉属特异性的PCR引物,同时其内含子所具有的多态性可开发出几乎所有疫霉种的分子标记。利用疫霉属特异性引物对P-YKT6-F/P-YKT6-R可在31个疫霉种中特异地扩增出一条约600 bp的条带,而在腐霉或其他真菌中不能扩增出该条带。利用大豆疫霉的引物对Ps-YKT6-F/Ps-YKT6-R和辣椒疫霉的引物对Pc-YKT6-F/Pc-YKT6-R,能分别从大豆疫霉菌株和辣椒疫霉菌株中扩增出一条399 bp和282 bp的条带,常规PCR和巢式PCR的灵敏度分别达到100 pg和10 fg。利用这些引物也可从土壤和病组织中检测到目标病原菌。此外,利用上述特异性引物开发出了大豆疫霉和辣椒疫霉的实时定量PCR检测方法。基于YKT6基因的分子标记和检测方法可用于疫霉种的调查检测和法定定量检测。     

大豆疫霉细胞凋亡相关基因的鉴定与表达分析

为探讨大豆疫霉Phytophthora sojae细胞凋亡潜在的调控机制,根据已知的细胞凋亡蛋白,利用在线工具BLASTP、pFAM和SMART在大豆疫霉蛋白组数据库中鉴定细胞凋亡同源蛋白并构建其进化树,通过转录组数据和实时荧光定量PCR技术分析细胞凋亡相关基因在大豆疫霉生长、发育及侵染不同时期的表达情况。结果显示:在大豆疫霉中共鉴定到13个细胞凋亡同源蛋白,包括核酸内切酶G(PsNUC1)、细胞色素c(PsCYCS)、凋亡诱导因子(PsAIF)、丝氨酸蛋白酶(PsHtrA-1、PsHtrA-2和PsHtrA-3)、多聚ADP核糖聚合酶(PsPARP-1、PsPARP-2和PsPARP-3)和TatD核酸酶(PsTatD1、PsTatD2、PsTatD3和PsTatD4)。在进化上,PsNUC1、PsCYCS、PsAIF、PsHtrA-1、PsPARP-1、PsPARP-2、PsPARP-3、PsTatD1和PsTatD2与人及秀丽隐杆线虫Caenorhabditis elegans的同源蛋白亲缘关系较近,而与真菌相关蛋白亲缘关系较远,PsHtrA-2、PsHtrA-3、PsTatD3和PsTatD4与酿酒酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae相关蛋白相似度更高,说明大豆疫霉细胞凋亡蛋白在进化中发生了较大变异。大豆疫霉细胞凋亡相关基因PsHtrA-1和PsRARP-1在孢子囊阶段诱导表达,PsHtrA-2和PsRARP-2在游动孢子阶段上调表达,PsAIF、PsHtrA-3、PsRARP-1和PsRARP-2在侵染阶段明显诱导表达,PsCYCS在侵染阶段下调表达。细胞凋亡相关基因在大豆疫霉不同阶段的表达模式有较大差异,说明细胞凋亡在大豆疫霉生长、发育及致病过程中具有重要作用。     

Ultrastructural and Cytochemical Aspects of the Interaction Between the Mycoparasite Pythium oligandrum and Soilborne Plant Pathogens

ABSTRACT The interaction between the oomycete Pythium oligandrum and various soilborne oomycete and fungal plant pathogens (P. ultimum, P. aphanidermatum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, Verticillium albo-atrum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Phytophthora megasperma) was studied by light and electron microscopy in order to assess the relative contribution of mycoparasitism and antibiosis in the antagonistic process. Scanning electron microscope investigations of the interaction regions showed that structural alterations of all pathogenic fungi and oomycetes (except for Phytophthora megasperma) occurred soon after contact with the antagonist. Light and transmission electron microscope studies of the interaction region between the antagonist and P. ultimum revealed that intimate contact between both partners preceded a sequence of degradation events including aggregation of host cytoplasm and penetration of altered host hyphae. Localization of the host wall cellulose component showed that cellulose was altered at potential penetration sites. A similar scheme of events was observed during the interaction between P. oligandrum and F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, with the exception that complete loss of host protoplasm was associated with antagonist invasion. The interaction between P. oligandrum and R. solani resulted in an abnormal deposition of a wall-like material at potential penetration sites for the antagonist. However, the antagonist displayed the ability to circumvent this barrier and penetrate host hyphae by locally altering the chitin component of the host hyphal wall. Interestingly, antagonist cells also showed extensive alteration as evidenced by the frequent occurrence of empty hyphal shells. In the case of Phytophthora megasperma, hyphal interactions did not occur, but hyphae of the plant pathogen were damaged severely. At least two distinct mechanisms appear to be involved in the process of oomycete and fungal attack by P. oligandrum: (i) mycoparasitism, mediated by intimate hyphal interactions, and (ii) antibiosis, with alteration of the host hyphae prior to contact with the antagonist. However, the possibility that the antagonistic process may rely on the dual action of antibiotics and hydrolytic enzymes is discussed.     

In vitro antimicrobial and in vivo antioomycete activities of the novel antibiotic thiobutacin

BACKGROUND: A number of synthetic fungicides are not effective when confronted by oomycete pathogens because many fungicide targets are absent from oomycetes. Moreover, resistance to fungicides has already arisen in oomycete species, and thus development of new, effective and safe compounds for use in oomycete disease control is necessary.RESULTS: Zoospore lysis began at 10 microg mL(-1) of thiobutacin, and most of the zoospores were collapsed at 50 microg mL(-1). Thiobutacin also revealed inhibitory activity against the cyst germination and hyphal growth of Phytophthora capsici at 50 microg mL(-1). Treatment with thiobutacin exhibited protective activity against development of Phytophthora disease on pepper plants.CONCLUSION: The authors verified in vitro antioomycete activity of thiobutacin against P. capsici and its control efficacy against Phytophthora blight in vivo. This is the first report to demonstrate in vivo antioomycete activity of the novel antibiotic thiobutacin against P. capsici infection.     

Mapping of easy to screen SSR markers for selection of RFLP markers-bracketed downy mildew resistance QTLs in pearl millet

There is a growing necessity to replace chemical agents with ecofriendly materials, arising from the impact on the environment and/or human health, which calls for the design of new broad-spectrum fungicides. In this work, chitosan oligomers (COs), propolis (Ps) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) mixtures in solution were assessed to control the growth of different phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes in vitro. Binary solutions of COs-Ps and COs-AgNPs evinced the highest antifungal effect against Fusarium circinatum and Diplodia pinea fungi, respectively, with a ca. 80% reduction in their mycelial growth. The COs solution by itself also proved to be greatly effective against Gremmeniella abietina, Cryphonectria parasitica and Heterobasidion annosum fungi, causing a reduction of 78%, 86% and 93% in their growth rate, respectively. Likewise, COs also attained a 100% growth inhibition on the oomycete Phytophthora cambivora. On the other hand, Ps inhibited totally the growth of Phytophthora ×alni and Phytophthora plurivora. The application of AgNPs reduced the mycelial growth of F. circinatum and D. pinea. However, the AgNPs in some binary and ternary mixtures had a counter-productive effect on the anti-fungal/oomycete activity. In spite of the fact that the anti-fungal/oomycete activity of the different treatments showed a dependence on the particular type of microorganism, these solutions based on natural compounds can be deemed as a promising tool for control of tree diseases.     

Phytophthora pinifolia sp. nov. associated with a serious needle disease of Pinus radiata in Chile

During the course of the past three years, a new disease of Pinus radiata , referred to as 'Daño Foliar del Pino' (DFP) has appeared in the Arauco province of Chile and subsequently spread to other areas. The disease is typified by needle infections, exudation of resin at the bases of the needle brachyblasts and, in younger trees, necrotic lesions in the cambium, which eventually girdle the branches. The disease causes the death of young seedlings and mature trees can also succumb after a few years of successive infection, probably hastened by opportunistic fungi such as Diplodia pinea . Isolations on selective medium for Phytophthora spp. led to the consistent isolation of a Phytophthora sp. from needle tissue. DNA sequence comparisons for the ITS rDNA and cox II gene regions, and morphological observation showed that this oomycete represents a previously undescribed species for which the name Phytophthora pinifolia sp. nov. is provided. This new species is characterized by unbranched sporangiophores, and non-papillate, sub-globose to ovoid sporangia that are occasionally free from the sporangiophore with medium length pedicels. Despite using a number of oospore inducing techniques, oogonia/antheridia were not observed in isolates of P. pinifolia . Pathogenicity trials with P. pinifolia showed that it is pathogenic to P. radiata and causes rapid death of the succulent apical parts of young plants. Phytophthora pinifolia is the first Phytophthora known to be associated with needles and shoots of a Pinus sp. and its aerial habit is well matched with the occurrence and symptoms of DFP in Chile.