Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
07:33
Agroinfiltration and PVX Agroinfection in Potato and Nicotiana benthamiana
Published on: January 3, 2014
Moving targets: rapid evolution of oomycete effectors
Darren M Soanes1, Nicholas J Talbot
1School of Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
Trends in Microbiology
|September 30, 2008
Summary
Plant pathogenic microbes use RXLR-EER effectors to suppress host defenses by entering plant cells. These rapidly evolving proteins are crucial for oomycete pathogens, driving significant research interest.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Molecular biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Plant pathogenic microbes secrete effector proteins to suppress host plant defenses.
- Oomycete pathogens utilize RXLR-EER motif-containing effectors for entry into host plant cells.
- Numerous putative effectors have been identified in oomycete genomes, with evidence of diversifying selection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in the characterization of RXLR-EER effectors.
- To discuss the evolutionary pressures leading to the abundance of these rapidly evolving proteins in oomycete genomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on RXLR-EER effectors.
- Bioinformatic analysis of oomycete effector sequences to identify conserved motifs and selection pressures.
Main Results:
- RXLREER effectors are essential for oomycete pathogenicity, facilitating host immune suppression.
- Sequence analysis reveals diversifying selection at the C-terminus of many oomycete effectors.
- The study highlights the dynamic evolution of these effector proteins.
Conclusions:
- RXLREER effectors are key virulence factors in oomycete plant pathogens.
- Rapid evolution of effectors is driven by host-pathogen interactions and immune evasion.
- Understanding these effectors is critical for developing disease-resistant crops.
More Related Videos
11:30Unravelling the Function of a Bacterial Effector from a Non-cultivable Plant Pathogen Using a Yeast Two-hybrid Screen
Published on: January 20, 2017
07:40Identification of Host Pathways Targeted by Bacterial Effector Proteins using Yeast Toxicity and Suppressor Screens
Published on: October 25, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:24Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
01:28Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
01:18Mutations in Microorganisms
Mutations are heritable changes in an organism’s genome involving alterations in the base sequence of DNA or RNA. These changes can influence cellular processes and phenotypic traits, potentially transforming the unaltered wild type into a mutant form. Such changes, termed forward mutations, are pivotal in shaping the genetic diversity of organisms.RNA viruses exhibit the highest mutation rates due to the absence of robust proofreading mechanisms during genome replication. In contrast,...
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
01:26Evolutionary Processes in Microbes
Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...
01:20Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence
Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...