Review
Microbiology
Xinyu Lu, Jinlu Miao, Danyu Shen, Daolong Dou
Summary: Anthracnose caused by plant pathogenic Colletotrichum fungi results in significant economic losses in global field crop production. Understanding the effector proteins of Colletotrichum pathogens is crucial for resistance breeding and disease management strategies. Genomic and bioinformatics tools have identified a large repertoire of putative effectors in Colletotrichum genomes.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qikai Xing, Xiangui Zhou, Yang Cao, Junbo Peng, Wei Zhang, Xuncheng Wang, Jiahong Wu, Xinghong Li, Jiye Yan
Summary: In this study, the researchers identified an effector protein, LtCre1, in Lasiodiplodia theobromae that interacts with the grapevine protein VvRHIP1, disrupting the formation of the VvRHIP1-VvRGS1 complex. This interference inhibits sugar signaling and suppresses the expression of genes related to plant immunity.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhiyuan Yin, Nan Wang, Weiwei Duan, Lei Pi, Danyu Shen, Daolong Dou
Summary: The CBM1 family is predominantly found in fungi and oomycetes, playing crucial roles in plant-microbe interactions. PcCBP3, identified in Phytophthora capsici, is an apoplastic effector that induces cell death in plants, suggesting its importance in the virulence of the pathogen.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
He Sun, Xinlu Zhu, Chuanxi Li, Zhiming Ma, Xiao Han, Yuanyuan Luo, Liang Yang, Jing Yu, Yansong Miao
Summary: The study reveals a mechanism by which bacterial T3Es subvert the host actin cytoskeleton through liquid-liquid phase separation, providing insight into the sophisticated strategies pathogens use to manipulate host cell processes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Soumya Basu, Aniket Naha, Balaji Veeraraghavan, Sudha Ramaiah, Anand Anbarasu
Summary: BAG3 is a co-chaperone protein with diverse functionalities related to cardiac diseases, cancers, and viral pathogenesis, characterized by functional regions like BAG, WW, IPV, and PXXP domains. The experimental 3D structure of BAG3 protein was predicted through in silico modelling and validated through computational tools and molecular dynamics simulation studies. The WW and PXXP domains were found to be associated with cellular cytoskeleton rearrangement and adhesion-mediated response, potentially involved in BAG3-related intracellular bacterial proliferation.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Shuqing Wang, Wenqiang Xia, Yani Li, Yuyan Peng, Yafen Zhang, Jintian Tang, Haifeng Cui, Lisi Qu, Tongfu Yao, Zetao Yu, Zihong Ye
Summary: The Ue943 protein plays a crucial role in the biotrophic phase of Ustilago esculenta and may be involved in ROS suppression or evasion of the plant immune system. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of Ue943 and its significance in the virulence of smut fungi.
Article
Immunology
Jhalak Singhal, Evanka Madan, Ayushi Chaurasiya, Pallavi Srivastava, Niharika Singh, Shikha Kaushik, Amandeep Kaur Kahlon, Mukesh Kumar Maurya, Manisha Marothia, Prerna Joshi, Anand Ranganathan, Shailja Singh
Summary: SUMOylation is involved in the infection process of Leishmania donovani by hijacking the host immune responses and facilitating host autophagy. Targeting the SUMOylation pathway may provide a potential therapeutic intervention for leishmaniasis.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Javier Macho Rendon, Rocio Rebollido-Rios, Marc Torrent Burgas
Summary: Protein-protein interactions play important roles in cellular processes. To address the limited knowledge of host-pathogen interactomes, we developed HPIPred, a numerical encoding-based host-pathogen PPI prediction tool. Through screening the entire proteomes of Homo sapiens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, we generated a highly connected network topology of host-pathogen interactome using HPIPred.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yugo Kitazawa, Nozomu Iwabuchi, Kensaku Maejima, Oki Matsumoto, Masato Suzuki, Juri Matsuyama, Hiroaki Koinuma, Kenro Oshima, Shigetou Namba, Yasuyuki Yamaji
Summary: To gain a deeper understanding of protein function, it is crucial to identify its physical interactions with its target. Through random mutagenesis using error-prone PCR, we comprehensively studied the interface residues between phyllogen and MTF. Two novel residues were identified, which enhanced the affinity of phyllogen to MTF through mutations. These residues, along with other known interaction-involved residues, are clustered on the surface of the protein structure of phyllogen, suggesting their involvement in the interaction. In silico structural prediction using ColabFold revealed that phyllogen interacts with the K domain of MTF through the putative interface. Our study contributes to the understanding of the interaction mechanisms between phyllogen and MTF.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Toby E. Newman, Haseong Kim, Yuphin Khentry, Kee Hoon Sohn, Mark C. Derbyshire, Lars G. Kamphuis
Summary: This study identified five necrosis-inducing effectors with different subcellular localization patterns in host cells. One effector, SsINE1, enters host cells using an RxLR-like motif, while another effector, SsINE5, induces necrosis through an NLR protein. These findings enhance our understanding of the virulence mechanisms of S. sclerotiorum and open up potential strategies for genetic resistance against this harmful fungal pathogen.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yangchun Frank Chen, Yu Xia
Summary: This study focused on the potential of bacterial protein structural components to engage in or target eukaryote-specific domain-domain interactions (DDIs). It found that effectors are more likely to contain host-like domains and target host DDIs, as well as harbor a higher variety and density of short linear motifs targeting host domains. These insights provide a quantitative understanding of effector-induced perturbation of host-endogenous PPIs and may aid in the design of selective inhibitors of host-pathogen interactions.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jordi Gomez Borrego, Marc Torrent Burgas
Summary: Adhesion and colonization of host cells by pathogenic bacteria rely on protein-protein interactions (PPIs). This study developed a filtering process to obtain a reliable list of domains and motifs participating in PPIs between bacteria and human cells. Structural analysis revealed that human proteins involved in these interactions are rich in alpha helix and disordered regions. The most significant domain-domain interactions were validated, but verifying domain-motif interactions was more challenging. Post-translational modifications, especially phosphorylation, also play a role in these interactions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Doulin C. Shepherd, Somavally Dalvi, Debnath Ghosal
Summary: Electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) has become a powerful tool in structural biology and cell biology, bridging the resolution gap between the two fields. It has revolutionized our understanding of pathogen biology, host-pathogen interaction, and structure-based drug discovery. The unique ability of cryo-EM to provide information at various spatial resolution scales has led to significant advancements in these areas.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Feng Kong, Li Yang
Summary: As sessile organisms, plants have evolved physical barriers, chemical defenses, and inducible immunity to defend against pathogens. Pathogens, on the other hand, use various strategies to colonize and cause diseases. This review focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathogen-induced changes in plant development and how pathogens shape plant development to increase their virulence and cause diseases. Research in this area may provide novel insights into plant disease control.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Darcy A. B. Jones, Paula M. Moolhuijzen, James K. Hane
Summary: Fungal plant diseases are typically initiated by molecular interactions between effector molecules released by pathogens and receptor molecules on or within the plant host cell, with these interactions directly determining host resistance or susceptibility. A novel comparison method called RemEff is capable of identifying protein families with greater sensitivity than traditional homology-inference methods, enabling the prediction of novel fungal effector candidates through protein family association.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gui Xiao, Wenjuan Wang, Muxing Liu, Ya Li, Jianbin Liu, Marina Franceschetti, Zhaofeng Yi, Xiaoyuan Zhu, Zhengguang Zhang, Guodong Lu, Mark J. Banfield, Jun Wu, Bo Zhou
Summary: The arms race between plants and pathogens has led to the development of sophisticated recognition mechanisms between host immune receptors and pathogen effectors. Different alleles of immune receptors in the host display distinct recognition against pathogen effectors. The Piks allele of the rice immune receptor Pik does not recognize any known AvrPik variants, unlike other Pik alleles. The amino acid residue Glu229 in Piks-1 is critical for breaking the canonical Pik/AvrPik recognition pattern.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mauricio P. Contreras, Hsuan Pai, Yasin Tumtas, Cian Duggan, Enoch Lok Him Yuen, Angel Vergara Cruces, Jiorgos Kourelis, Hee-Kyung Ahn, Kim-Teng Lee, Chih-Hang Wu, Tolga O. Bozkurt, Lida Derevnina, Sophien Kamoun
Summary: Nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptors are important components of plant and metazoan innate immunity. In asterid plant species, the NLR required for cell death (NRC) immune receptor network is composed of multiple resistance protein sensors and downstream helpers. The study reveals the activation and release model for NLRs in the NRC immune receptor network and provides insights into the activation mechanisms of plant paired NLRs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hee-Kyung Ahn, Xiao Lin, Andrea Carolina Olave-Achury, Lida Derevnina, Mauricio P. Contreras, Jiorgos Kourelis, Chih-Hang Wu, Sophien Kamoun, Jonathan D. G. Jones
Summary: Plant pathogens affect crop yields. Plants have evolved innate immunity based on NLR immune receptors that detect pathogen-derived effectors. Helper NLRs support the function of sensor NLRs, but the mechanism is not fully understood. This study uncovers the formation of resistosomes by Rpi-amr3 sensor NLR and helper NLRs NRC2 and NRC4, highlighting the importance of NRC resistosome formation in developing disease-resistant crops.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu Sugihara, Yoshiko Abe, Hiroki Takagi, Akira Abe, Motoki Shimizu, Kazue Ito, Eiko Kanzaki, Kaori Oikawa, Jiorgos Kourelis, Thorsten Langner, Joe Win, Aleksandra Bialas, Daniel Ludke, Mauricio P. Contreras, Izumi Chuma, Hiromasa Saitoh, Michie Kobayashi, Shuan Zheng, Yukio Tosa, Mark J. Banfield, Sophien Kamoun, Ryohei Terauchi, Koki Fujisaki
Summary: Studies integrating genetic analyses of rice and rice blast fungus have discovered a new pathogen recognition specificity in the immune receptor Pik, which mediates resistance to the fungus. The resistance is triggered by the recognition of a previously unidentified effector protein encoded by the avirulence gene AVR-Mgk1. This discovery highlights the complexity of host-pathogen gene-for-gene interactions and the coevolution between the immune receptor and effector proteins.
Review
Plant Sciences
Enoch Lok Him Yuen, Samuel Shepherd, Tolga O. Bozkurt
Summary: Membrane trafficking pathways are crucial for plant immunity, but pathogens have evolved to interfere with these pathways to subvert plant defenses. This review focuses on how plant pathogens reprogram host vesicle trafficking and highlights key questions for future research.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Mark J. Banfield
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Soohyun Oh, Sejun Kim, Hyo-Jeong oPark, Myung-Shin Kim, Min-Ki Seo, Chih-Hang Wu, Hyun-Ah Lee, Hyun-Soon Kim, Sophien Kamoun, Doil Choi
Summary: In this study, multiple functional NLRs were identified from nonhost pepper that can recognize effectors of the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans and confer disease resistance in a surrogate system. These findings suggest that nonhost NLRs could be a valuable resource for developing crops with durable resistance against fast-evolving pathogens.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiorgos Kourelis, Clemence Marchal, Andres Posbeyikian, Adeline Harant, Sophien Kamoun
Summary: Plant pathogens pose a threat to crop yield and global food security. Modifying natural components has limitations and can be ineffective against new pathogen strains. Made-to-order synthetic plant immune receptors offer the potential to tailor resistance to specific pathogen genotypes.
Article
Biology
Josephine H. R. Maidment, Motoki Shimizu, Adam R. Bentham, Sham Vera, Marina Franceschetti, Apinya Longya, Clare E. M. Stevenson, Juan Carlos De la Concepcion, Aleksandra Bialas, Sophien Kamoun, Ryohei Terauchi, Mark J. Banfield, Jian-Min Zhou
Summary: A subset of plant intracellular NLR immune receptors can detect effector proteins secreted by phytopathogens through unconventional integrated domains resembling the effectors' host targets, activating plant defenses. This study engineered novel Pik-1 variants using knowledge of the biochemical interactions between the effector AVR-Pik and its host target, resulting in disease resistance in transgenic rice against blast fungus isolates carrying AVR-PikC/F. This demonstrates that effector target-guided engineering of NLR receptors can provide new-to-nature disease resistance in crops.
Review
Plant Sciences
Rafal Zdrzalek, Caroline Stone, Juan Carlos De la Concepcion, Mark J. Banfield, Adam R. Bentham
Summary: Factors such as climate change and increased global trade will worsen the prevalence of plant diseases, posing a significant threat to global food security. Developing new methods of pathogen control is crucial to effectively combat crop losses and protect plant health.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Samuel Shepherd, Enoch Lok Him Yuen, Philip Carella, Tolga O. Bozkurt
Summary: Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins are intracellular immune receptors that restrict plant invasion by pathogens. They exhibit remarkable mobility and structural plasticity during the innate immune response. The dynamic nature of NLRs is crucial for their effective immune response.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mauricio P. Contreras, Daniel Ludke, Hsuan Pai, AmirAli Toghani, Sophien Kamoun
Summary: Plants use both cell-surface and intracellular immune receptors to detect pathogens and activate an immune response. The intracellular recognition process is mainly mediated by immune receptors called nucleotide binding and leucine rich-repeat (NLR) proteins. NLRs trigger a strong immune reaction upon pathogen detection, often leading to programmed cell death. They can function as singleton receptors or form more complex networks. This article provides an overview of plant NLR biology, focusing on NLR networks and discussing recent advances in structure, function, and activation, as well as emerging topics like modulator NLRs, pathogen suppression, and NLR bioengineering.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hiroaki Adachi, Toshiyuki Sakai, Jiorgos Kourelis, Hsuan Pai, Jose L. Gonzalez Hernandez, Yoshinori Utsumi, Motoaki Seki, Abbas Maqbool, Sophien Kamoun
Summary: The evolutionary history of ZAR1, an immune receptor in plants, can be traced back to early flowering plant lineages. Through sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis, we discovered 120 orthologs of ZAR1 in various plant species and identified highly conserved features as well as novel molecular features of ZAR1.
Article
Biology
Zhangli Zuo, Milena E. Roux, Jonathan R. Chevalier, Yasin F. Dagdas, Takafumi Yamashino, Emilie Knight, Lars Ostergaard, Soren Hojgaard, Eleazar Rodriguez, Morten Petersen
Summary: Multicellular organisms perceive and transduce multiple cues to optimize development. Key transcription factors and RNA processing both contribute to tissue development. In this study, it is discovered that the mRNA decay machinery directly targets ASL9 transcripts for decay, possibly interfering with cytokinin/auxin responses during development. These findings shed light on the importance of RNA processing in development.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
