The peroxisomal matrix shuttling receptor Pex5 plays a role in FB1 production and virulence in Fusarium verticillioides

The peroxisomal matrix oxidase, catalase and peroxidase are imported peroxisomes through the shuttling receptors, which regulates the cellular oxidative homeostasis and function. Here, we report that PTS1 shuttling receptor FvPex5 is involved in the localization of PTS1, utilization of carbon sources and lipids, elimination ROS, cell wall stress, conidiation, fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) production, and virulence in maize pathogen Fusarium verticillioides. Significantly, differential expression of PTS1-, PTS2-, PEX- and FB₁ toxin-related genes in wild type and ΔFvpex5 mutant were examined by RNA-Seq analyses and confirmed by RT-PCR assay. In addition, different expression of PTS1 and PTS2 genes of the ΔFvpex5 mutant were enriched in diverse biochemical pathways, such as carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, lipid metabolism and the oxidation balance by combining GO and KEGG annotations. Overall, we showed that FvPex5 is involved in the regulation of genes associated with PTS, thereby affecting the oxidation balance, FB₁ and virulence in F. verticillioides. The results help to clarify the functional divergence of Pex5 orthologs, and may provide a possible target for controlling F. verticillioides infections and FB₁ biosynthesis.     

Horizontal gene transfer of a syp homolog contributes to the virulence of Burkholderia glumae

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been proved a major driving force in prokaryotic evolution. However, the molecular functions of these transferred genes in pathogenic bacteria especially plant pathogenic bacteria are still not fully investigated. In this study, the whole-genome in silico analysis was performed and found a syringopeptin synthetase (syp) homolog in Burkholderia glumae, which can cause bacterial panicle blight in rice, was predicted to be horizontally transferred from Pseudomonas ancestor with solid confidence by phylogenetic analysis. The comprehensive molecular experiments were performed to study the potential role of this gene in B. glumae. Inoculation of rice panicles with the syp mutant resulted in 60% lower disease index compared with the wild type (WT) parent strain, suggesting the requirement of syp for the full virulence of B. glumae. Chromatography analysis of exudates from B. glumae showed suppression of synthesis of metabolites analogous to syringopeptin in the mutants. All these data raise the possibility of HGT phenomenon in shaping the virulence and adaptation of B. glumae over evolutionary time.     

Identification of a Resistance Gene bls1 to Bacterial Leaf Streak in Wild Rice Oryza rufipogon Griff.

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) of rice, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) is a worldwide destructive disease. Development of resistant varieties is considered to be one of the most effective and eco-friendly ways to control the disease. However, only a few genes/QTLs having resistance to BLS have been identified in rice until now. In the present study, we have identified and primarily mapped a BLS-resistance gene, bls1, from a rice line DP3, derived from the wild rice species Oryza rufipogon Griff. A BC₂F₂ (9311/DP3//9311) population was constructed to map BLS-resistance gene in the rice line DP3. The segregation of the resistant and susceptible plants in BC₂F₂ in 1:3 ratio (χ²=0.009, χ²_{0.05, 1}=3.84, P>0.05), suggested that a recessive gene confers BLS resistance in DP3. In bulked segregant analysis (BSA), two SSR markers RM8116 and RM584 were identified to be polymorphic in resistant and susceptible DNA bulks. For further mapping the resistance gene, six polymorphic markers around the target region were applied to analyze the genotypes of the BC₂F₂ individuals. As a result, the BLS-resistant gene, designated as bls1, was mapped in a 4.0-cM region flanked by RM587 and RM510 on chromosome 6.     

鳙鱼维氏气单胞菌的分离鉴定及其毒力基因检测

从患病鳙鱼中分离纯化得到一株优势菌株AH-YS,通过革兰氏染色、氧化酶试验、生化鉴定以及16S r RNA基因扩增、测序和系统进化分析等操作,结果显示,分离到的细菌为维氏气单胞菌。药敏试验显示,在使用的11种抗菌药物中,该菌株对氧氟沙星、诺氟沙星和恩诺沙星等9种药物敏感,对甲氧苄氨嘧啶和氨苄西林耐药。对9种毒力基因的扩增结果显示,可以检测到气溶素、细胞毒性肠毒素、鞭毛、弹性蛋白酶和酯酶5种。     

Molecular Taxonomy of Conogethes punctiferalis and Conogethes pinicolalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was originally considered as one species with fruit-feeding type (FFT) and pinaceae-feeding type (PFT), but it has subsequently been divided into two different species of Conogethes punctiferalis and Conogethes pinicolalis. The relationship between the two species was investigated by phylogenetic reconstruction using maximum-likelihood (ML) parameter estimations. The phylogenetic tree and network were constructed based upon sequence data from concatenation of three genes of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunits I, II and cytochrome b which were derived from 118 samples of C. punctiferalis and 24 samples of C. pinicolalis. The phylogenetic tree and network showed that conspecific sequences were clustering together despite intraspecific variability. Here we report the results of a combined analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences from three genes and morphological data representing powerful evidence that C. pinicolalis and C. punctiferalis are significantly different.     

Construction and Virulence of Filamentous Hemagglutinin Protein B1 Mutant of Pasteurella multocida in Chickens

Pasteurella multocida, a Gram-negative nonmotile coccobacillus, is the causative agent of fowl cholera, bovine hemorrhagic septicemia, enzoonotic pneumonia and swine atropic rhinitis. Two filamentous hemagglutinin genes, fhaB1 and JhaB2, are the potential virulence factors. In this study, an inactivationfhaB1 mutant ofP. multocida in avian strain C48-102 was constructed by a kanamycin-resistance cassette. The virulence of thefhaB1 mutant and the wild type strain was assessed in chickens by intranasal and intramuscular challenge. The inactivation offhaB1 resulted in a high degree of attenuation when the chickens were challenged intranasally and a lesser degree when challenged intramuscularly. ThefhaB1 mutant and the wild type strain were investigated their sensitivity to the antibody-dependent classical complement-mediated killing pathway in 90% convalescent chicken serum. ThefhaB1 mutant was serum sensitive as the viability has reduced between untreated serum and heat inactivated chicken serum （P〈0.007）. These results confirmed that FhaB1 played the critical roles in the bacterial pathogenesis and further studies were needed to investigate the mechanism which caused reduced virulence of the fhaB1 mutant.     

Mutagenesis of Arachidonic Acid-producing Mortierella Isabellina and Analyses of △6-desaturase Role by qPCR

Arachidonic acid （AA or ARA）, an essential to-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid （PUFA）, can be produced by Mortierella isabellina. Mutagenesis on Mortierella isabellina As3.3410 was induced to raise ARA production. The mutant strain of YZ-124 had the highest ARA of 4.72 g. L-1, which was 5.5 times higher than that of the original strain 3.3410. mRNA expression level of △ 6- desaturase was determined in five different kinds of ARA-producing Mortierella isabellina after cultured for 7 days, and in the mutant strain YZ-124 over a 3-8 day time-course. In addition, the desaturase activity and ARA content were measured at the selected time points. The lowest expression of △6-desaturase was observed in the original strain and the highest expression in the mutant strain YZ-124, which increased with increasing time in culture. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the expression levels of △6-desaturase and ARA content. Based on this, △6-desaturase played a significant role in ARA synthesis pathway in Mortierella isabellina.     

产河鲀毒素细菌水平转移相关基因的鉴定

多种进化关系并不密切的细菌均能合成河鲀毒素,揭示了产河鲀毒素细菌间可能存在水平基因转移现象,但通过何种途径并不清楚。为调查产河鲀毒素的气单胞菌(Aeromonas sp.)质粒中是否存在与水平基因转移相关的元件,通过PCR扩增分别发现该质粒中存在tra,rum及vird4基因,扩增出的906 bp的tra,681bp的rum及1 319 bp的vird4,分别与多种菌株的转座酶、松弛酶和Ⅳ型分泌系统中的ATP酶基因具有高度的序列同源性,并具有这些酶的保守结构域,结果表明产河鲀毒素的气单胞菌具有通过接合转移和转座方式转移基因的能力,同时具有转移河鲀毒素至宿主的能力。对于进一步了解产河鲀毒素细菌之间以及产河鲀毒素细菌与河鲀之间的关系有重要的帮助。研究亮点:本研究首次在产河鲀毒素的气单胞菌质粒中明确鉴定出与水平转移相关的基因,表明该细菌不但具有通过接合转移和转座方式转移基因的能力,而且具有转移河鲀毒素至宿主的能力。     

FgHAT2 is involved in regulating vegetative growth,conidiation, DNA damage repair,DON production and virulence in Fusarium graminearum

Histone lysine acetylation is catalyzed by acetyltransferases(HATs), which is important in regulating gene expression and physiological function in eukaryotic cells. HATs can be classified into two main types: A-and B-type HATs. Recently, in Fusarium graminearum, it has been reported that A-type HATs are involved in hyphal development, conidiation, sexual reproduction and virulence. However, the biological roles of B-type HATs are unknown. Here we report the identification and characterization of two B-type HATs(FgHat1 and FgHat2) in F. graminearum. Targeted deletion of FgHAT1 did not result in any detectable phenotypes. However, ΔFghat2 mutants were severely defective in vegetative growth, conidia production and morphogenesis, deoxynivalenol(DON) biosynthesis and virulence. Interestingly, deletion of Fg HAT2 resulted in significantly increased sensitivity to the DNA-damaging agent methyl methanesulfonate(MMS). Furthermore, double deletion mutants(ΔFghat1ΔFghat2) displayed similar phenotypes to the ΔFghat2 mutants. Taken together, we conclude that FgHat2 but not FgHat1 plays essential roles in regulating morphogenesis, DNA damage repair, DON production and virulence in F. graminearum.     

The Twin-Arginine Translocation （Tat） Pathway Is Essential for Virulence,Flagellation, and Chemotaxis in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola Strain RsGD42

Bacterial leaf streak, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, is an important disease of rice （Oryza sativa）. Genetic determinants （tatABC genes） of the twin-arginine translocation （Tat） pathway from X. oryzae pv. oryzicola strain RsGD42 were cloned and characterized, meanwhile, a tatC disruption mutant was generated. The tatC mutant lacked detectable flagella and was highly impaired in motility and chemotaxis. Furthermore, it was observed that the tatC mutant exhibited a reduced production of extracellular polysaccharide （EPS） and a significant reduction of virulence on adult rice plants compared to wild type strain. However, the tatC mutation in X. oryzae pv. oryzieola strain RsGD42 did not affect the growth rate and the ability to induce hypersensitive response （HR） in nonhost tobacco （Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun）. In conclusion, the data indicated that the Tat pathway significantly contributed to the virulence of X. oryzae pv. oryzicola.     

水稻基腐病菌HrpX/HrpY在致病性中的功能分析

【目的】由Dickeya zeae引起的水稻基腐病是水稻上重要细菌病害之一,迄今对该病原细菌的致病性调控研究尚不完善。论文旨在分析水稻基腐病菌（Dickeya zeae）双组分调控系统HrpX/HrpY的序列特征,研究该系统在水稻基腐细菌中的功能作用以及与下游基因的调控关系。【方法】对HrpX/HrpY序列进行生物信息学分析,构建带有反向筛选标记基因scaB的自杀重组质粒pKNG-ΔhrpX和pKNG-ΔhrpY,通过三亲转化方法分别将重组质粒导入野生型菌株EC1中,通过2次等位基因同源重组筛选获得基因缺失突变体ΔhrpX和ΔhrpY;比较突变体与野生菌的生长速率、胞外酶活性、毒素活性、运动性、菌膜形成能力,以及对水稻的致病性和对烟草的过敏性反应（HR）;进一步提取细菌总RNA,采用实时荧光定量PCR研究HrpX/HrpY双组分系统对下游基因表达量的影响。【结果】水稻基腐病菌EC1基因组中,hrpX和hrpY均为单拷贝,hrpX编码区长1 473 bp,编码490个氨基酸,hrpY长642 bp,编码213个氨基酸,hrpX和hrpY两者之间相隔32 bp,具有相同的转录方向,在功能上具有相关性。其中,HrpX是一个结合在膜上的组氨酸蛋白激酶,HrpY是存在细胞质中的效应调节蛋白,HrpX/HrpY两者构成双组分系统,并对下游hrp基因的表达具有调控作用。进一步通过遗传操作手段,成功构建了基因缺失突变体ΔhrpX和ΔhrpY,表型测定结果表明,突变体ΔhrpX和ΔhrpY的运动性减弱、菌膜形成能力降低、对水稻种子萌发的抑制作用减弱,且降低了对水稻的致病力,但ΔhrpX和ΔhrpY的生长速率、胞外酶和毒素的活性变化不明显,也不影响其在烟草上的HR。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,突变体菌株ΔhrpX和ΔhrpY相对野生菌EC1表达量明显下降的基因有hrpA、hrpF和hrpN,而对毒素合成基因zmsA表达量的差异不明显,HrpX/HrpY双组分系统对hrp基因簇中大部分下游基因都有正调控作用,且HrpY的调控作用更加明显。【结论】HrpX/HrpY是水稻基腐病细菌中的一个双组分系统,调节病原细菌的运动性、菌膜的形成和病菌的致病力,正向调控一些下游hrp基因的表达。     

田间灰飞虱抗药性相关细胞色素P450基因和酯酶基因的筛选

利用毒死蜱、吡虫啉和溴氰菊酯等3类不同药剂,通过毒力生测首先确定了田间灰飞虱对杀虫剂的低水平多重抗性特性;其次通过解毒酶活力测定,发现抗性品系的细胞色素P450氧化酶和酯酶明显升高;进而根据灰飞虱转录组数据进行引物设计,通过PCR克隆对转录组中的细胞色素P450及酯酶基因进行验证,在得到53条细胞色素P450基因序列及72条酯酶基因序列的基础上,利用半定量PCR比较这些基因在灰飞虱田间抗性品系和敏感品系间的表达差异。结果发现:细胞色素P450的CYP6家族中有10条,CYP4家族中有6条,这16条基因序列在抗性品系中的表达量明显高于敏感品系;酯酶中也有12条基因系列在抗性品系中的表达量明显高于敏感品系,它们中3条来自羧酸酯酶家族,8条来自磷酸酯酶家族,1条来自其他酯酶家族。提示:解毒酶基因的过量表达是灰飞虱田间低水平多重抗性的主要机制,也是抗药性发展初期的关键因素,利用分子生物学技术进行田间监测,有利于了解田间灰飞虱的抗药性发展。     

CrxV对水稻白叶枯病菌致病力的调控

为分析GGDEF和EAL结构域的蛋白CrxV对水稻黄单胞菌（Xanthomonas oryzaepv.oryzae,Xoo）致病性及相关致病因子的影响,通过同源重组法构建了crxV的突变体及其互补菌株;采用剪叶法比较了突变体、野生型和互补菌株对水稻叶片的侵染能力;分析了这3个菌株产生相关致病因子（运动性、胞外多糖、生物被膜和胞外酶）的能力。结果显示,crxV突变体的致病力比野生型和互补菌株的低。crxV突变导致病原菌生物被膜含量显著升高,但对运动性、胞外多糖和胞外酶均无明显影响。结果表明,CrxV可能通过负调控生物被膜影响Xoo的致病性。     

A novel glycoside hydrolase 74 xyloglucanase CvGH74A is a virulence factor in Coniella vitis

Grape white rot is a destructive fungal disease occurring worldwide. Recently, Coniella vitis was identified as the predominant pathogen causing this disease in China. As the periderms of grape shoots are severely degraded by C. vitis, it was speculated that cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) might play a key role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the hydrolytic activity of the CWDEs of C. vitis. The results showed that xylanase (Xy) and xyloglucanase (XEG) had high levels of hydrolytic activity both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, a high-virulence fungal strain exhibited higher levels of Xy and XEG activities compared with a low-virulence strain. The genome of the fungus was found to harbor two XEG-coding genes CvGH74A and CvGH74B, which belonged to the glycoside hydrolase (GH)74 family. The expression level of CvGH74A was found to be high during pathogen infection. CvGH74A gene deletion mutants were generated using the split-marker method. The deletion of CvGH74A decreased both the hydrolytic activities of XEG and Xy and also the ability of the fungus to infect the grape leaves. No differences in the hyphal growth, morphology of colonies, or conidiation were found between the ΔCvGH74A mutant strains and the wild-type strain. Together, these results suggested that CvGH74A acted as an important virulence factor, and its enzymatic activity might regulate the virulence of the pathogen. This study was novel in reporting that GH74 XEG acted as a virulence factor in C. vitis.     

氧化还原失衡对单增李斯特菌毒力基因转录水平的影响

保持氧化还原平衡对生物体维持其正常生理活动具有重要作用。单增李斯特菌是可以自身合成谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)的革兰氏阳性菌,GSH可影响该菌毒力基因的转录。为了研究氧化还原平衡对于单增李斯特菌毒力基因转录水平的影响,利用氧化剂H_2O_2和还原剂GSH分别对单增李斯特菌进行氧化和还原应激,qRT-PCR检测毒力基因hly、actA和plcB的转录水平变化,结果表明,22 mmol/L H_2O_2和10 mmol/L低浓度GSH均能诱导毒力基因转录水平的显著上调,而22 mmol/L高浓度GSH则抑制毒力基因的转录,表明在单增李斯特菌的氧化还原平衡调节能力范围之内,有效打破其氧化还原平衡,无论是氧化应激,还是还原应激,都可以促进其毒力基因的转录。     

水稻黄单胞菌avrBs3/PthA家族基因研究进展

 水稻黄单胞菌白叶枯致病变种（Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae，Xoo）和稻生致病变种（X.oryzae pv.oryzicola，Xooc）分别引起水稻白叶枯病（bacterial blight，BB）和水稻细菌性条斑病（bacterial leaf streak，BLS），对中国和世界水稻产量造成较大损失。基因组学揭示，Xoo和Xooc不同小种中存在15～30个数量不等的avrBs3/PthA（avr/pth）家族基因。新近研究结果表明，avr/pth基因既是毒性基因，又是寄主植物先天免疫的抑制因子，还是与抗病基因（R）匹配的无毒基因。Xooc中虽然存在avr/pth基因，但因存在能够抑制avr/pth无毒基因功能的抑制因子，故而未在水稻中发现抗BLS的R基因。除结构上的共有特征外，avr/pth基因间的差异主要表现在102 bp重复单元在每个avr/pth基因中的重复数多少上。avr/pth基因的进化可能由简单进化为复杂，这可能是Xoo和Xooc致病性变异的主要原因。