Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joseph W. Saelens, Mollie I. Sweeney, Gopinath Viswanathan, Ana Maria Xet-Mull, Kristen L. Jurcic Smith, Dana M. Sisk, Daniel D. Hu, Rachel M. Cronin, Erika J. Hughes, W. Jared Brewer, Jorn Coers, Matthew M. Champion, Patricia A. Champion, Craig B. Lowe, Clare M. Smith, Sunhee Lee, Jason E. Stout, David M. Tobin
Summary: The human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis can cause lung disease and disseminate to other tissues. This study identified an outbreak of M. tuberculosis with high rates of extrapulmonary dissemination and bone disease. The causal strain carried a full-length ancestral version of the effector protein EsxM, which exacerbated dissemination through enhancement of macrophage motility and egress from granulomas, as well as alterations in macrophage actin dynamics. Reconstitution of ancestral EsxM in a modern attenuated strain altered the migratory mode of infected macrophages and promoted bone disease in a zebrafish model. The presence of a derived nonsense variant in EsxM in major M. tuberculosis lineages suggests a role for EsxM in regulating dissemination.
Article
Plant Sciences
Joffrey Mejias, Jeremie Bazin, Nhat-My Truong, Yongpan Chen, Nathalie Marteu, Nathalie Bouteiller, Shinichiro Sawa, Martin D. Crespi, Herve Vaucheret, Pierre Abad, Bruno Favery, Michael Quentin
Summary: The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita secretes specific effectors (MiEFF) that induce the redifferentiation of plant root cells into multinucleate feeding 'giant cells'. MiEFF18 protein is localized in salivary glands and nuclei of giant cells, affecting alternative splicing and proteome diversity by interacting with the nuclear ribonucleoprotein SmD1. Moreover, MiEFF18 modulates SmD1 functions to facilitate giant cell formation, affecting the susceptibility of Arabidopsis smd1b mutants to nematode infection and leading to developmental defects in giant cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adrian Herod, Jean-Guillaume Emond-Rheault, Sandeep Tamber, Lawrence Goodridge, Roger C. Levesque, John Rohde
Summary: Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen with genetic heterogeneity among its serovars, resulting in varying health outcomes. The pathogenicity of Salmonella is associated with certain genetic elements, but many remain uncharacterized. A newly discovered gene, sspH3, may have significant implications for the pathogenicity of Salmonella.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Daniel Tchelet, Kinga Keppel, Eran Bosis, Dor Salomon
Summary: In this study, proteomics was used to identify antibacterial effectors in the secretome of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains. The results revealed two conserved effectors and other effectors that are only present in subsets of strains, suggesting a core and accessory effector repertoire of the T6SS2 system. A conserved Rhs effector was also discovered to be required for T6SS2 activity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Reira Suzuki, Mizuki Yamada, Takumi Higaki, Mitsuhiro Aida, Minoru Kubo, Allen Yi-Lun Tsai, Shinichiro Sawa
Summary: Parasitic root-knot nematodes transform host vascular cells into feeding giant cells to extract nutrients. The transcription factor PUCHI plays a crucial role in giant cell development, potentially regulating it through fatty acid synthesis.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Li Song, Junfeng Pan, Yantao Yang, Zhenxing Zhang, Rui Cui, Shuangkai Jia, Zhuo Wang, Changxing Yang, Lei Xu, Tao G. Dong, Yao Wang, Xihui Shen
Summary: Bacteria can utilize T6SS to inject toxic effector proteins into adjacent cells in a contact-dependent manner, but there is also a contact-independent killing mechanism where Tce1 is secreted into the extracellular milieu and taken up by other bacterial cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Reneida Aparecida Godinho Mendes, Marcos Fernando Basso, Bruno Paes de Melo, Thuanne Pires Ribeiro, Rayane Nunes Lima, Janaina Fernandes de Araujo, Maira Grossi-de-Sa, Vanessa da Silva Mattos, Roberto Coiti Togawa, Erika Valeria Saliba Albuquerque, Maria Eugenia Lisei-de-Sa, Maria Cristina Mattar da Silva, Leonardo Lima Pepino Macedo, Rodrigo da Rocha Fragoso, Diana Fernandez, Florence Vignols, Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa
Summary: Meloidogyne incognita is the most frequently reported root-knot nematode worldwide, interacting with host plants through suppression of defense response and promotion of parasitism, potentially affecting plant development and morphology.
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xin Qin, Bowen Xue, Haiyang Tian, Chenjie Fang, Jiarong Yu, Cong Chen, Qing Xue, John Jones, Xuan Wang
Summary: Mi-ISC-1, a novel isochorismatase effector from root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, suppresses host immunity for successful parasitism. The effector is expressed in parasitic-stage juveniles and has enzymatic activity confirmed in vitro.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joris J. M. van Steenbrugge, Sven van den Elsen, Martijn Holterman, Mark G. Sterken, Peter Thorpe, Aska Goverse, Geert Smant, Johannes Helder
Summary: This study generated two novel reference genomes of G. rostochiensis, providing copy number variations for 19 effector families and investigating four effector families in detail. The results demonstrate differences in effector composition among different pathotypes, laying the foundation for an effectorome-based virulence scheme for this notorious pathogen.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Dan Lin, Lan Lan, Tingting Zheng, Peng Shi, Jinshan Xu, Jun Li
Summary: The genome of the Himalayan giant honeybee, A. laboriosa, is 226.1 Mbp long, with 8,404 gene families, has undergone stronger positive selection and more duplication/loss events compared to its closely related species, Apis dorsata. The study reveals potential molecular mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in A. laboriosa.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tiffany M. Halvorsen, Fernando Garza-Sanchez, Zachary C. Ruhe, Nicholas L. Bartelli, Nicole A. Chan, Josephine Y. Nguyen, David A. Low, Christopher S. Hayes
Summary: Contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) systems allow Gram-negative bacteria to transfer protein toxins directly. A new family of CdiA proteins using lipopolysaccharide as a receptor to identify target bacteria has been discovered, with the CdiC enzyme playing a critical role in target cell killing activity. This study provides insights into the competition process between bacteria.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Catalina Rodriguez-Puerto, Rupak Chakraborty, Raksha Singh, Perla Rocha-Loyola, Clemencia M. Rojas
Summary: The plant pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) is capable of suppressing plant defense responses and promoting pathogenicity through its type III secretion system and a mitochondrial-localized effector, HopG1. HopG1 triggers necrotic cell death and interacts with a plant immunity-related protein, AtNHR2B, which attenuates its virulence functions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ines Serrano Pereira, Sara Vilela Pais, Vitor Borges, Maria Jose Borrego, Joao Paulo Gomes, Luis Jaime Mota
Summary: A study revealed that the CteG effector protein of Chlamydia trachomatis is involved in the lytic exit of host cells. Cells infected with wild-type C. trachomatis released more infectious chlamydiae in the culture supernatant compared to cells infected with a CteG-deficient strain. CteG also played a role in host cell cytotoxicity. Furthermore, CteG and Pgp4 were found to participate in a cascade of events leading to host cell lysis and release of infectious chlamydiae.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Valdeir Junio Vaz Moreira, Isabela Tristan Lourenco-Tessutti, Marcos Fernando Basso, Maria Eugenia Lisei-de-Sa, Carolina Vianna Morgante, Bruno Paes-de-Melo, Fabricio Barbosa Monteiro Arraes, Diogo Martins-de-Sa, Maria Cristina Mattar Silva, Janice de Almeida Engler, Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa
Summary: This study successfully downregulated the expression of the Minc03328 effector gene during nematode parasitism using in planta RNA interference strategy, significantly reducing plant susceptibility to Meloidogyne incognita. The results confirm the importance of the Minc03328 gene in parasitism and demonstrate the potential for developing crop species that can efficiently control RKN.
Article
Plant Sciences
Bin Guo, Borong Lin, Qiuling Huang, Zhiwen Li, Kan Zhuo, Jinling Liao
Summary: This study found that the effector MeTCTP of Meloidogyne enterolobii can form homodimers and bind calcium ions, leading to inhibition of cytosolic free calcium concentration and suppression of plant immune responses. These findings reveal a novel mechanism used by plant pathogens to suppress plant immunity.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paulo Vieira, Claudia S. L. Vicente, Jordana Branco, Gary Buchan, Manuel Mota, Lev G. Nemchinov
Summary: The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is a migratory species that attacks a broad range of crops by utilizing secreted protein effectors. In this study, a candidate effector designated as Ppen10370 displayed pleiotropic phenotypes substantially different from wild type infection. Cross-species comparative analysis of Ppen10370 identified homolog gene sequences in five other Pratylenchus species, and silencing this effector resulted in a significant reduction of nematode reproduction, highlighting its important role for parasitism.
MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS
(2021)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matan Shelomi, Etienne G. J. Danchin, David Heckel, Benjamin Wipfler, Sven Bradler, Xin Zhou, Yannick Pauchet
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Paulo Vieira, Roxana Y. Myers, Clement Pellegrin, Catherine Wram, Cedar Hesse, Thomas R. Maier, Jonathan Shao, Georgios D. Koutsovoulos, Inga Zasada, Tracie Matsumoto, Etienne G. J. Danchin, Thomas J. Baum, Sebastian Eves-van den Akker, Lev G. Nemchinov
Summary: The economically important plant-parasitic nematode Radopholus similis has a diverse repertoire of effectors, with many pioneer genes being especially abundant during host interaction. The analysis also identified a potential gland promoter motif associated with spatial regulation of these effectors. Additionally, a GH62 gene, potentially acquired through lateral gene transfer, was discovered for the first time in any metazoan, suggesting evolutionary events have shaped the nematode's effector genes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paul Simion, Jitendra Narayan, Antoine Houtain, Alessandro Derzelle, Lyam Baudry, Emilien Nicolas, Rohan Arora, Marie Cariou, Corinne Cruaud, Florence Rodriguez Gaudray, Clement Gilbert, Nadege Guiglielmoni, Boris Hespeels, Djampa K. L. Kozlowski, Karine Labadie, Antoine Limasset, Marc Lliros, Martial Marbouty, Matthieu Terwagne, Julie Virgo, Richard Cordaux, Etienne G. J. Danchin, Bernard Hallet, Romain Koszul, Thomas Lenormand, Jean-Francois Flot, Karine Van Doninck
Summary: This study presented the first high-quality chromosome-level genome assemblies for the bdelloid Adineta vaga, revealing potential recombination events during mitosis and modified meiosis, as well as the structural diversity in dynamic subtelomeric regions. These results prompt a reevaluation of meiotic processes in bdelloid rotifers and contribute to understanding the factors underlying their long-term asexual evolutionary success.
Article
Cell Biology
Rahim Hassanaly-Goulamhoussen, Ronaldo De Carvalho Augusto, Nathalie Marteu-Garello, Arthur Pere, Bruno Favery, Martine Da Rocha, Etienne G. J. Danchin, Pierre Abad, Christoph Grunau, Laetitia Perfus-Barbeoch
Summary: The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita adapts rapidly to unfavorable conditions through epigenetic mechanisms, impacting gene expression and sharing similar epigenetic signatures with the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The H3K4me3 histone modification is strongly correlated with high expression of genes during specific developmental stages, providing insights into the dynamic regulation of parasitism genes.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lev G. Nemchinov, Brian M. Irish, Samuel Grinstead, Jonathan Shao, Paulo Vieira
Summary: Alfalfa, one of the most extensively cultivated forage legumes in the world, is highly susceptible to infectious diseases. This study characterized the diversity of viral populations in commercial alfalfa production fields in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and identified 45 distinct viruses. Further research is needed to determine the impact of these newly identified viruses on alfalfa and whether they should be considered pathogens of this crop.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yara Noureddine, Joffrey Mejias, Martine da Rocha, Sebastien Thomine, Michael Quentin, Pierre Abad, Bruno Favery, Stephanie Jaubert-Possamai
Summary: The SPL7/MIR408/MIR398 module plays a crucial role in regulating the development of nematode-induced feeding cells. These microRNAs form a complex network with their regulator and targets. This study reveals the regulatory mechanism of plant copper homeostasis in nematode-induced reprogramming of root cells.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carole Belliardo, Georgios D. Koutsovoulos, Corinne Rancurel, Mathilde Clement, Justine Lipuma, Marc Bailly-Bechet, Etienne G. J. Danchin
Summary: Metagenomics has revealed the diversity of microorganisms in environmental and host-associated samples. However, current annotation pipelines are not optimized for eukaryotic contigs, leading to inaccurate annotations. By using a tailored bioinformatics pipeline, we were able to improve the quality and reliability of taxonomic annotation for eukaryotic proteins in soil metagenomes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shahid Siddique, Zoran S. Radakovic, Clarissa Hiltl, Clement Pellegrin, Thomas J. Baum, Helen Beasley, Andrew F. Bent, Oliver Chitambo, Divykriti Chopra, Etienne G. J. Danchin, Eric Grenier, Samer S. Habash, M. Shamim Hasan, Johannes Helder, Tarek Hewezi, Julia Holbein, Martijn Holterman, Slawomir Janakowski, Georgios D. Koutsovoulos, Olaf P. Kranse, Jose L. Lozano-Torres, Tom R. Maier, Rick E. Masonbrink, Badou Mendy, Esther Riemer, Miroslaw Sobczak, Unnati Sonawala, Mark G. Sterken, Peter Thorpe, Joris J. M. van Steenbrugge, Nageena Zahid, Florian Grundler, Sebastian Eves-van den Akker
Summary: Plant-parasitic nematodes pose a major threat to crop production in agriculture. This study provides a high-quality phased genome of the model cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii, enabling a system-wide analysis of host and parasite gene expression. The study reveals that a horizontal gene transfer from bacteria enables the parasitic nematode to complete the biosynthesis of vitamin B5, which is crucial for full pathogenicity. These findings contribute to our understanding of plant-parasitism by nematodes and offer potential targets for developing nematode-resistant crops.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Paulo Vieira, Mihail R. Kantor, Carmen M. Medina-Mora, Monique L. Sakalidis, Zafar A. Handoo
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Georgios D. Koutsovoulos, Solene Granjeon Noriot, Marc Bailly-Bechet, Etienne G. J. Danchin, Corinne Rancurel
Summary: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the transfer of genes between species outside the transmission from parent to offspring. AvP is an automated tool that can quickly identify candidate HGTs within a phylogenetic framework, providing a more comprehensive view of their origin and evolutionary history.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Paulo Vieira, Sergei A. Subbotin, Nadim Alkharouf, Jonathan Eisenback, Lev G. Nemchinov
Summary: In recent years, newly discovered viruses infecting nematodes have been described. However, comprehensive research on the virome of soil nematode communities has not been carried out. This study reveals a diverse range of RNA viruses in the soil environment, including potentially new virus species. These findings enrich our understanding of this complex part of the natural ecosystem.
Article
Horticulture
Joana Figueiredo, Paulo Vieira, Isabel Abrantes, Ivania Esteves
Summary: This study assessed the susceptibility of commercial potato cultivars to the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. The results showed that the cultivar Laura had a lower susceptibility index, indicating stronger resistance to the nematode, while cultivars Camel and Picasso had higher susceptibility indices. There were variations in the susceptibility of potato cultivars to the nematode, but there were no significant differences in the number or weight of tubers produced by infected and non-infected plants.
Article
Zoology
Andrea M. Skantar, Zafar A. Handoo, Sergei A. Subbotin, Mihail R. Kantor, Paulo Vieira, Paula Agudelo, Maria N. Hult, Stephen Rogers
Summary: A high number of second stage juveniles of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne hispanica were found in soil samples from a corn field in Pickens County, South Carolina, USA in 2019. Morphological and molecular examination confirmed the identification of the nematodes. This discovery represents the first report of Meloidogyne hispanica in the USA and North America.
JOURNAL OF NEMATOLOGY
(2021)