64 research outputs found
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE FOODBORNE PATHOGEN (SALMONELLA ENTERICA SUBSP. ENTERICA SEROVAR ORANIENBURG AND ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7) AND SOFT-ROT PECTOBACTERIA (DICKEYA SPP.) ON ONIONS (ALLIUM CEPA): IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD SAFETY
M.S
Studies on plant regeneration and transformation efficiency of Agrobacterium mediated transformation using neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) and glucuronidase (GUS) as a reporter gene
Plant transformation mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soil plant pathogenic bacterium, is the most used method for the introduction of foreign genes into plant cells and the subsequent regeneration of transgenic plants. We have standardized the tissue culture media for the regeneration and transformation with the vector LBA 4404 (pCAMBIA 2301), so that in future, this system may be exploited for the expression of antibody fragment (single chain variable fragment) in plants (plantibody). The transformed green shoots tested positive for neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene and glucuronidase (GUS) were screened, rooted on MS medium and subsequently hardened to harvest seeds. The transformation frequency of Agrobacterium (LBA 4404) with the binary vector pCAMBIA 2301 on the basis of GUS resistance was found to be 2.9%.Key words: Agrobacterium, transformation, Nicotiana tabacum, tobacco, transformation frequency
Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Research on Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex: A Complex Pathogen with Extraordinary Economic Consequences
The bacterial wilt pathogen, first known as Bacillus solanacearum, has undergone numerous taxonomic changes since its first description in 1896. The history and significance of this pathogen is covered in this review with an emphasis on the advances in technology that were used to support each reclassification that finally led to the current separation of Ralstonia solanacearum into three genomic species. Frequent name changes occurred as methodology transitioned from phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular studies, to genomics and functional genomics. The diversity, wide host range, and geographical distribution of the bacterial wilt pathogen resulted in its division into three species as genomic analyses elucidated phylogenetic relationships among strains. Current advances in phylogenetics and functional genomics now open new avenues for research into epidemiology and control of the devastating bacterial wilt disease
Three new species, Xanthomonas hawaiiensis sp. nov., Stenotrophomonas aracearum sp. nov., and Stenotrophomonas oahuensis sp. nov., isolated from the Araceae family
Xanthomonas and Stenotrophomonas are closely related genera in the family Lysobacteraceae. In our previous study of aroid-associated bacterial strains, most strains isolated from anthurium and other aroids were reclassified as X. phaseoli and other Xanthomonas species. However, two strains isolated from Spathiphyllum and Colocasia were phylogenetically distant from other strains in the Xanthomonas clade and two strains isolated from Anthurium clustered within the Stenotrophomonas clade. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA and nine housekeeping genes placed the former strains with the type strain of X. sacchari from sugarcane and the latter strains with the type strain of S. bentonitica from bentonite. In pairwise comparisons with type strains, the overall genomic relatedness indices required delineation of new species; digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values were lower than 70 and 95%, respectively. Hence, three new species are proposed: S. aracearum sp. nov. and S. oahuensis sp. nov. for two strains from anthurium and X. hawaiiensis sp. nov. for the strains from spathiphyllum and colocasia, respectively. The genome size of X. hawaiiensis sp. nov. is ~4.88 Mbp and higher than S. aracearum sp. nov. (4.33 Mbp) and S. oahuensis sp. nov. (4.68 Mbp). Gene content analysis revealed 425 and 576 core genes present in 40 xanthomonads and 25 stenotrophomonads, respectively. The average number of unique genes in Stenotrophomonas spp. was higher than in Xanthomonas spp., implying higher genetic diversity in Stenotrophomonas
Phylogenetic Analyses of Xanthomonads Causing Bacterial Leaf Spot of Tomato and Pepper: Xanthomonas euvesicatoria Revealed Homologous Populations Despite Distant Geographical Distribution
Bacterial leaf spot of tomato and pepper (BLS), an economically important bacterial disease caused by four species of Xanthomonas (X. euvesicatoria (Xe), X. vesicatoria (Xv), X. gardneri (Xg), and X. perforans (Xp)), is a global problem and can cause over 50% crop loss under unfavorable conditions. Among the four species, Xe and Xv are prevalent worldwide. Characterization of the pathogens is crucial for disease management and regulatory purposes. In this study, we performed a multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with six genes (hrcN, dnaA gyrB, gapA, pdg, and hmbs) on BLS strains. Other Xanthomonas species were included to determine phylogenetic relationships within and among the tested strains. Four BLS species comprising 76 strains from different serological groups and diverse geographical locations were resolved into three major clades. BLS xanthomonads formed distinct clusters in the phylogenetic analyses. Three other xanthomonads, including X. albilineans, X. sacchari, and X. translucens pv. undolusa revealed less than 85%, 88%, and 89% average nucleotide identity (ANI), respectively, with the other species of Xanthomonas included in this study. Both antibody and MLSA data showed that Xv was clearly separated from Xe and that the latter strains were remarkably clonal, even though they originated from distant geographical locations. The Xe strains formed two separate phylogenetic groups; Xe group A1 consisted only of tomato strains, whereas Xe group A2 included strains from pepper and tomato. In contrast, the Xv group showed greater heterogeneity. Some Xv strains from South America were closely related to strains from California, while others grouped closer to a strain from Indiana and more distantly to a strain from Hawaii. Using this information molecular tests can now be devised to track distribution of clonal populations that may be introduced into new geographic areas through seeds and other infected plant materials
High-Quality Complete Genome Sequence of Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. dieffenbachiae Outbreak Strain D182: The Causative Agent of Anthurium Bacterial Blight in Hawaii
Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. dieffenbachiae (Xpd), the causal agent of anthurium blight, is classified as an A2 quarantine organism on the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) list due to its devastating impact on the anthurium industry. In this study, we sequenced strain D182, representative of the Hawaiian anthurium blight outbreak (1981 to 1986), using PacBio RS II SMRT technology. High-quality de novo assembly of 5,217,888 bp (65% GC) was generated with a mean coverage of 351× using HGAP v4. Strain D182 harbors one plasmid (73.5 kb, 60.8% GC). Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values of 99.86 and 98.9%, respectively, showed close phylogenetic relationships with Xpd strain LMG 695PT. The genome information will be useful in providing insights into the genomic biology, virulence mechanisms, and evolutionary relationships of Xpd and other strains associated with anthurium blight outbreaks worldwide. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license
RSSC-Lineage Multiplex PCR Assay Detects and Differentiates Ralstonia solanacearum, R. pseudosolanacearum, R. syzygii, and the R3bv2 Subgroup
Bacterial wilt strains in the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) pose serious threats to economically important crops worldwide. In 2014, Safni et al. proposed the reclassification of the RSSC into three genomospecies: R. solanacearum (Rsol), R. pseudosolanacearum (Rpseu), and R. syzygii (Rsyz). The revision requires the proper identification of strains for diagnostic and epidemiological studies. In response, we developed the inexpensive and user-friendly RSSC-Lineage Multiplex PCR, which effectively detects plant-pathogenic Ralstonia strains in general and also distinguishes between Rpseu, Rsol, Rsyz, and the high-security Select Agent “race 3 biovar 2” subgroup of Rsol, also known as the phylotype IIB-1 potato brown rot pandemic lineage. Genomes were retrieved from the NCBI GenBank database and screened for unique gene regions using OrthoMCL and other comparative genomic approaches. Specific primers were designed for each genomospecies, Ralstonia in general, and “race 3 biovar 2.” AT-rich flaps were added at the 5ʹ position of each primer to optimize the reaction thermodynamics. The specificity was tested in silico using the NCBI GenBank genome database and an in-house database. The in vitro specificity and accuracy of the tool was validated with 113 representative Ralstonia strains and 24 strains from other genera. The assay is highly specific, generating neither false positives nor false negatives. Primer set detection limits ranged from 10 to 100 pg. The assay also detected and differentiated strains from naturally and artificially inoculated plant hosts. This tool is highly specific, reliable, and economical for culture characterization, diagnostics, surveys, quarantine decisions, and epidemiological studies. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license
Surface survival and internalization of salmonella through natural cracks on developing cantaloupe fruits, alone or in the presence of the melon wilt pathogen Erwinia tracheiphila.
Outbreaks of foodborne illness attributed to the consumption of Salmonella-tainted cantaloupe have occurred repeatedly, but understanding of the ecology of Salmonella on cantaloupe fruit surfaces is limited. We investigated the interactions between Salmonella enterica Poona, the plant pathogenic bacterium Erwinia tracheiphila, and cantaloupe fruit. Fruit surfaces were inoculated at the natural cracking stage by spreading S. enterica and E. tracheiphila, 20 µl at 107 cfu/ml, independently or together, over a 2×2 cm rind area containing a crack. Microbial and microscopic analyses were performed at 0, 9 and 24 days post inoculation (DPI). Even at 24 DPI (fruit maturity) S. enterica was detected on 14% and 40% of the fruit inoculated with S. enterica alone and the two-pathogen mixture, respectively. However, the population of S. enterica declined gradually after initial inoculation. E. tracheiphila, inoculated alone or together with Salmonella, caused watersoaked lesions on cantaloupe fruit; but we could not conclude in this study that S. enterica survival on the fruit surface was enhanced by the presence of those lesions. Of fruit inoculated with E. tracheiphila alone and sampled at 24 DPI, 61% had watersoaked lesions on the surface. In nearly half of those symptomatic fruits the watersoaking extended into the sub-rind mesocarp, and E. tracheiphila was recovered from that tissue in 50% of the symptomatic fruit. In this work, E. tracheiphila internalized through natural cracks on developing fruits. S. enterica was never detected in the fruit interior (ca. 2-3 mm below rind surface) under the limited conditions of our experiments, but the possibility that it, or other human pathogens that contaminate fresh produce, might also do so should be investigated under a wider range of conditions and produce types
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