Aspectos nutricionais na produção e qualidade da goma xantana produzida por Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Sobrevivência de Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris no solo, no filoplano e na rizosfera de plantas daninhas

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA

Otimização de marcadores desenvolvidos para PCR convencional para uso em qPCR visando a diagnose de Xanthomonas campestris pv viticola em videira.

No Brasil, Xanthomonas campestris pv. viticola (Xcv), causadora do cancro bacteriano em videira, é uma praga quarentenária A2, com ocorrência no Semiárido Nordestino. A bactéria pode ser disseminada de plantas assintomáticas pela distribuição de material propagativo e ocorrências restritas da doença em outras regiões foram identificadas. Para diagnose confiável por PCR convencional, o DNA deve ser extraído de culturas de bactérias isoladas de tecido com sintomas suspeitos. Com a técnica, é possível detectar até 0,25 pg de DNA bacteriano total. Atualmente, métodos que empregam tecidos assintomáticos não estão disponíveis. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um protocolo sensível à detecção de Xcv por qPCR, empregando iniciadores disponíveis da técnica convencional.

Métodos para detecção de Clavibacter michiganense subsp. michiganense e Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria em sementes de tomate.

Visando detectar Clavibacter michiganense subsp. michiganense (Cm) e Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv) em sementes de tomate, duas técnicas foram comparadas: meio semi-seletivo e planta indicadora. Os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: soluções extratoras de Cm e Xcv de sementes inteiras e moídas, especificidade e sensibilidade. Os resultados mostraram que os meios semi-seletivos MB1M (MB1 + telurito de potássio, ácido borico e benomil) e TAM (peptona, brometo de potássio, cloreto de cálcio, agar + Tween 80, cefalexina e clorotalonil), foram mais eficientes para detecção de Cm e Xcv, a partir de sementes moídas em tampão fosfato do que os meios disponíveis e, apresentaram maior especificidade e sensibilidade, detectando 10(2) - 10(3) ufc/ml de Cme Xcv em comparacao a 10(3) - 10(4) ufc/ml da inoculação em plântulas de tomateiro (cvs. Angela Gigante e Santa Cruz).

Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli em sementes de feijão. I. Detecção por serologia.

Foram comparadas quatro técnicas de extração e dois métodos serológicos para a detecção de xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcph) e do "Strain" fuscans (Xcphf) em sementes de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris). As técnicas de extração incluíram sementes moídas e inteiras, com ou sem assepsia superficial, imersas em água destilada ou meio liquido (3g extrato de levedura/L) esterilizados e incubação por 2 horas, a temperatura ambiente (sementes moídas) ou 18-24 hs, a 5-10 .C (sementes inteiras). Para a identificação do patógeno, foram comparadas as técnicas serológicas de microprecipitina em placas e dupla difusao em gel-de-agar. A melhor técnica de extração foi a imersão de sementes inteiras em água destilada esterilizada, por 18-24 horas, a 5-10 .C. O método damicroprecipitina apresentou maior sensibilidade, mas menor especificidade que a dupla difusão em gel-de-agar. O antissoro do "Strain" fuscans reagiu tanto com o antígeno homólogo (Xcphf) como com o heterólogo (Xcph). Sob o ponto de vista prático este antissoro pode ser usado para a detecção dos patógenos causadores do crestamento bacteriano do feijoeiro. A sensibilidade do método da dupla difusão não foi suficiente para a detecção segura de baixas incidências do patógeno em amostras de sementes de feijão.

Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli: método para detecção em semente de feijão.

1992

Detecção de Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli e fungos em sementes de feijão produzidas no Estado de São Paulo.

Foi pesquisada a presença de Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli e de fungos em sementes certificadas de feijão produzidas pela Secretaria da Agricultura do Estado de São Paulo nas safras da seca e inverno de 1991 e 1993. A bactéria foi detectada através do método de inoculação em planta indicadora de feijoeiro da cultivar CNF 0010. A incidência de fungos foi determinada pelo método do papel de filtro. Quanto a bactéria, foram examinadas amostras de 188 lotes em 1991 e 124 em 1993. Para os fungos foram analisadas amostras de 147 lotes no ano de 1991. Em 1991, a bacteria foi detectada somente nas amostras de Aracatuba (16,7%), Paraguacu Paulista (18,2%) e Sao Jose do Rio Preto (4%) com incidental mínima de (0,5%). No ano de 1993, X. camperstris pv. phaseoli foi encontrada nas amostras de Araçatuba (6,3%), Bauru (20%), Fernandópolis (12,7%), Lucelia (33,3%), Marilia (12,5%), Paraguacu Paulista (50,0%), Presidente Prudente (46,7%), Ribeirao Preto (16,7%), Santo Anastacio (66,7%), Sao José do Rio Preto (40,0%). Em 1991, a bactéria foi detectada em apenas 5,3% das amostras analisadas, ocorrendo em 1993 um aumento da incidência do patogeno, que foi detectado em 30,6% das amostras, provavelmente devido as condicoes climaticas favoraveis ao crestamento bacteriano. Foram encontrados os fungos Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Phaeoisariopsis griseola e Alternaria spp.. As regiões de Aguaí, Aracatuba, Avaré e Lucélia apresentaram maior incidência destes fungos. Entre as 147 amostras analisadas, R. solani foi detectada em Araçatuba em 28,6% das amostras, Bauru (50,0%), Fernadópolis (8,7%), Lucélia (27,0%) e Marília (7,5%) e C. lindemuthianum em Araçatuba (3,3%), Avaré (25,0%) e Lucélia(5,5%). Os demais fungos foram detectados em baixas incidências podendo-se concluir que com relação a presença de fungos, os lotes analisados apresentaram boa qualidade sanitária. Os resultados mostraram que houve alta contaminação das sementes por X. campestris pv. phaseoli em 1993, o que ocorreu aumento do inoculo nas sementes de 1991 para 1993, destacando-se os municípios P. Paulista, S. José da Rio Preto, Santo Anastácio e Presidente Prudente como os que apresentam maior infecção das sementes.

Identification of the causal agent of pistachio dieback in Australia

Symptoms associated with pistachio dieback in Australia include decline (little or no current season growth), xylem staining in shoots two or more years old, trunk mu and limb lesions (often covered by black, superficial fungal growth), excessive exudation of resin, dieback and death of the tree. Bacteria belonging to the genus Xanthomonas have been suggested as the causal agent. To confirm the constant association between these bacteria and the disease syndrome, the absence of other pathogens and the identity of the pathogen, we performed a series of isolations and pathogenicity tests. The only microorganism consistently isolated from diseased tissue was a bacterium that produced yellow, mucoid colonies and displayed morphological and cultural characteristics typical of the genus Xanthomonas. Database comparisons of the fatty acid and whole-cell protein profiles of five representative pistachio isolates indicated that they all belonged to X. translucens, but it was not possible to allocate the isolates to pathovar. Pathogenicity tests on cereals and grasses supported this identification. However, Koch's postulates have been only partially fulfilled because not all symptoms associated with pistachio dieback were reproduced on inoculated two-year-old pistachio trees. While discolouration was observed, dieback, excessive resinous exudate and trunk and limb lesions were not produced; expression of these symptoms may be delayed, and long-term monitoring of a small number of inoculated trees is in progress.

Clonagem e expressão do gene engXCA de Xanthomonas campestri pv. campestris em Saccharmyces cerevisiae e estudos das endoglucanases nativa e recombinante

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Characterization of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli isolates

A simple, quick and easy protocol was standardized for extraction of total DNA of the bacteria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. The DNA obtained by this method had high quality and the quantity was enough for the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) reactions with random primers, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with primers of the hypersensitivity and pathogenicity gene (hrp). The DNA obtained was free of contamination by proteins or carbohydrates. The ratio 260nm/380nm of the DNA extracted ranged from 1.7 to 1.8. The hrp gene cluster is required by bacterial plant pathogen to produce symptoms on susceptible hosts and hypersensitive reaction on resistant hosts. This gene has been found in different bacteria as well as in Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (9). The primers RST21 and RST22 (9) were used to amplify the hrp gene of nine different isolates of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli from Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, and one isolate, "Davis". PCR amplified products were obtained in all isolates pathogenic to beans.

Cell-cell signal-dependent dynamic interactions between HD-GYP and GGDEF domain proteins mediate virulence in Xanthomonas campestris

RpfG is a paradigm for a class of widespread bacterial two-component regulators with a CheY-like receiver domain attached to a histidine-aspartic acid-glycine-tyrosine-proline (HD-GYP) cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase domain. In the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), a two-component system comprising RpfG and the complex sensor kinase RpfC is implicated in sensing and responding to the diffusible signaling factor (DSF), which is essential for cell-cell signaling. RpfF is involved in synthesizing DSF, and mutations of rpfF, rpfG, or rpfC lead to a coordinate reduction in the synthesis of virulence factors such as extracellular enzymes, biofilm structure, and motility. Using yeast two-hybrid analysis and fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments in Xcc, we show that the physical interaction of RpfG with two proteins with diguanylate cyclase (GGDEF) domains controls a subset of RpfG-regulated virulence functions. RpfG interactions were abolished by alanine substitutions of the three residues of the conserved GYP motif in the HD-GYP domain. Changing the GYP motif or deletion of the two GGDEF-domain proteins reduced Xcc motility but not the synthesis of extracellular enzymes or biofilm formation. RpfG-GGDEF interactions are dynamic and depend on DSF signaling, being reduced in the rpfF mutant but restored by DSF addition. The results are consistent with a model in which DSF signal transduction controlling motility depends on a highly regulated, dynamic interaction of proteins that influence the localized expression of cyclic di-GMP.

Molecular signals required for type III secretion and translocation of the Xanthomonas campestris AvrBs2 protein to pepper plants

Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv) carrying avrBs2 are specifically recognized by Bs2 pepper plants, resulting in localized cell death and plant resistance. Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of the Xcv avrBs2 gene in plant cells results in Bs2-dependent cell death, indicating that the AvrBs2 protein alone is sufficient for the activation of disease resistance-mediated cell death in planta. We now provide evidence that AvrBs2 is secreted from Xcv and that secretion is type III (hrp) dependent. N- and C-terminal deletion analysis of AvrBs2 has identified the effector domain of AvrBs2 recognized by Bs2 pepper plants. By using a truncated Pseudomonas syringae AvrRpt2 effector reporter devoid of type III signal sequences, we have localized the minimal region of AvrBs2 required for type III secretion in Xcv. Furthermore, we have identified the region of AvrBs2 required for both type III secretion and translocation to host plants. The mapping of AvrBs2 sequences sufficient for type III delivery also revealed the presence of a potential mRNA secretion signal.

A Component of the Xanthomonadaceae Type IV Secretion System Combines a VirB7 Motif with a N0 Domain Found in Outer Membrane Transport Proteins

Type IV secretion systems (T4SS) are used by Gram-negative bacteria to translocate protein and DNA substrates across the cell envelope and into target cells. Translocation across the outer membrane is achieved via a ringed tetradecameric outer membrane complex made up of a small VirB7 lipoprotein (normally 30 to 45 residues in the mature form) and the C-terminal domains of the VirB9 and VirB10 subunits. Several species from the genera of Xanthomonas phytopathogens possess an uncharacterized type IV secretion system with some distinguishing features, one of which is an unusually large VirB7 subunit (118 residues in the mature form). Here, we report the NMR and 1.0 angstrom X-ray structures of the VirB7 subunit from Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (VirB7(XAC2622)) and its interaction with VirB9. NMR solution studies show that residues 27-41 of the disordered flexible N-terminal region of VirB7(XAC2622) interact specifically with the VirB9 C-terminal domain, resulting in a significant reduction in the conformational freedom of both regions. VirB7(XAC2622) has a unique C-terminal domain whose topology is strikingly similar to that of N0 domains found in proteins from different systems involved in transport across the bacterial outer membrane. We show that VirB7(XAC2622) oligomerizes through interactions involving conserved residues in the N0 domain and residues 42-49 within the flexible N-terminal region and that these homotropic interactions can persist in the presence of heterotropic interactions with VirB9. Finally, we propose that VirB(7XAC2622) oligomerization is compatible with the core complex structure in a manner such that the N0 domains form an extra layer on the perimeter of the tetradecameric ring.

Structure-Function Analysis of the HrpB2-HrcU Interaction in the Xanthomonas citri Type III Secretion System

Bacterial type III secretion systems deliver protein virulence factors to host cells. Here we characterize the interaction between HrpB2, a small protein secreted by the Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri type III secretion system, and the cytosolic domain of the inner membrane protein HrcU, a paralog of the flagellar protein FlhB. We show that a recombinant fragment corresponding to the C-terminal cytosolic domain of HrcU produced in E. coli suffers cleavage within a conserved Asn264-Pro265-Thr266-His267 (NPTH) sequence. A recombinant HrcU cytosolic domain with N264A, P265A, T266A mutations at the cleavage site (HrcU(AAAH)) was not cleaved and interacted with HrpB2. Furthermore, a polypeptide corresponding to the sequence following the NPTH cleavage site also interacted with HrpB2 indicating that the site for interaction is located after the NPTH site. Non-polar deletion mutants of the hrcU and hrpB2 genes resulted in a total loss of pathogenicity in susceptible citrus plants and disease symptoms could be recovered by expression of HrpB2 and HrcU from extrachromossomal plasmids. Complementation of the Delta hrcU mutant with HrcU(AAAH) produced canker lesions similar to those observed when complemented with wild-type HrcU. HrpB2 secretion however, was significantly reduced in the Delta hrcU mutant complemented with HrcU(AAAH), suggesting that an intact and cleavable NPTH site in HrcU is necessary for total functionally of T3SS in X. citri subsp. citri. Complementation of the Delta hrpB2 X. citri subsp. citri strain with a series of hrpB2 gene mutants revealed that the highly conserved HrpB2 C-terminus is essential for T3SS-dependent development of citrus canker symptoms in planta.

New genes of Xanthomonas citri subsp citri involved in pathogenesis and adaptation revealed by a transposon-based mutant library

Background: Citrus canker is a disease caused by the phytopathogens Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. aurantifolli and Xanthomonas alfalfae subsp. citrumelonis. The first of the three species, which causes citrus bacterial canker type A, is the most widely spread and severe, attacking all citrus species. In Brazil, this species is the most important, being found in practically all areas where citrus canker has been detected. Like most phytobacterioses, there is no efficient way to control citrus canker. Considering the importance of the disease worldwide, investigation is needed to accurately detect which genes are related to the pathogen-host adaptation process and which are associated with pathogenesis. Results: Through transposon insertion mutagenesis, 10,000 mutants of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri strain 306 (Xcc) were obtained, and 3,300 were inoculated in Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia) leaves. Their ability to cause citrus canker was analyzed every 3 days until 21 days after inoculation; a set of 44 mutants showed altered virulence, with 8 presenting a complete loss of causing citrus canker symptoms. Sequencing of the insertion site in all 44 mutants revealed that 35 different ORFs were hit, since some ORFs were hit in more than one mutant, with mutants for the same ORF presenting the same phenotype. An analysis of these ORFs showed that some encoded genes were previously known as related to pathogenicity in phytobacteria and, more interestingly, revealed new genes never implicated with Xanthomonas pathogenicity before, including hypothetical ORFs. Among the 8 mutants with no canker symptoms are the hrpB4 and hrpX genes, two genes that belong to type III secretion system (TTSS), two hypothetical ORFS and, surprisingly, the htrA gene, a gene reported as involved with the virulence process in animal-pathogenic bacteria but not described as involved in phytobacteria virulence. Nucleic acid hybridization using labeled cDNA probes showed that some of the mutated genes are differentially expressed when the bacterium is grown in citrus leaves. Finally, comparative genomic analysis revealed that 5 mutated ORFs are in new putative pathogenicity islands. Conclusion: The identification of these new genes related with Xcc infection and virulence is a great step towards the understanding of plant-pathogen interactions and could allow the development of strategies to control citrus canker.