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A two-component regulatory system VfmIH modulates multiple virulence traits in Dickeya zeae
Mingfa Lv1,2, Ming Hu1,2, Peng Li3
1Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
Molecular Microbiology
|March 3, 2019
Summary
A novel two-component system (TCS) regulates bacterial virulence in Dickeya zeae EC1. This TCS controls the production of zeamines and other virulence factors, impacting pathogenicity on plants.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Plant Pathology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Dickeya zeae EC1 causes significant plant damage through phytotoxin production.
- Zeamines, produced by the zms gene cluster, are key virulence factors in D. zeae.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of a novel two-component system (TCS) in regulating zeamine production and virulence in Dickeya zeae EC1.
- To identify the specific genes regulated by this TCS.
Main Methods:
- Genetic manipulation (Tn5 insertion, gene deletion) to create mutants.
- Biochemical assays to measure zeamine and cell wall degrading enzyme (CWDE) production.
- Virulence assays on rice seeds and potato tubers.
- Promoter binding assays.
- RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) for global gene expression analysis.
Main Results:
- A zeamine-deficient mutant was identified with a Tn5 insertion in vfmI, encoding a TCS sensor histidine kinase (HK) and vfmH, encoding a response regulator (RR).
- Deletion of vfmI or vfmH significantly reduced zeamine and CWDE production, and decreased virulence.
- The VfmH response regulator binds to the promoters of zeamine synthesis genes (vfmA, vfmE, vfmF).
- RNA-seq revealed that the TCS positively regulates diverse virulence genes, including secretion systems (T1SS, T2SS, T3SS, T6SS), flagellar genes, and CWDEs.
Conclusions:
- The VfmIH TCS is a crucial positive regulator of virulence in Dickeya zeae EC1.
- This TCS controls the expression of multiple virulence factors, including zeamines and secretion systems, thereby impacting overall pathogenicity.
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