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Ferreira MM, Farias KS, Zugaib M, Alves AMM, Amaral GV, Santos MLDC, Freitas ADS, Santana BCG, dos Santos Júnior SL, Mora-Ocampo IY, Santos AS, da Silva MF, Andrade BS, Pirovani CP. TcSERPIN, an inhibitor that interacts with cocoa defense proteins and has biotechnological potential against human pathogens. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1337750. [PMID: 38348273 PMCID: PMC10859438 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1337750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
In plants, serpins are a superfamily of serine and cysteine protease inhibitors involved in stress and defense mechanisms, with potential for controlling agricultural pests, making them important biotechnological tools. The objective of this study was to characterize a serpin from Theobroma cacao, called TcSERPIN, to identify its endogenous targets and determine its function and biotechnological potential. TcSERPIN has 390 amino acid residues and shows conservation of the main active site, RCL. Cis-elements related to light, stress, hormones, anaerobic induction, cell cycle regulation and defense have been identified in the gene's regulatory region. TcSERPIN transcripts are accumulated in different tissues of Theobroma cacao. Furthermore, in plants infected with Moniliophtora perniciosa and Phytophthora palmivora, the expression of TcSERPIN was positively regulated. The protein spectrum, rTcSERPIN, reveals a typical β-sheet pattern and is thermostable at pH 8, but loses its structure with temperature increases above 66°C at pH 7. At the molar ratios of 0.65 and 0.49, rTcSERPIN inhibited 55 and 28% of the activity of papain from Carica papaya and trypsin from Sus scrofa, respectively. The protease trap containing immobilized rTcSERPIN captured endogenous defense proteins from cocoa extracts that are related to metabolic pathways, stress and defense. The evaluation of the biotechnological potential against geohelminth larvae showed that rTcSERPIN and rTcCYS4 (Theobroma cacao cystatin 4) reduced the movement of larvae after 24 hours. The results of this work show that TcSERPIN has ideal biochemical characteristics for biotechnological applications, as well as potential for studies of resistance to phytopathogens of agricultural crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monaliza Macêdo Ferreira
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Keilane Silva Farias
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Maria Zugaib
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Akyla Maria Martins Alves
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Geiseane Velozo Amaral
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Maria Luíza do Carmo Santos
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Andria dos Santos Freitas
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Brenda Conceição Guimarães Santana
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Liberato dos Santos Júnior
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Irma Yuliana Mora-Ocampo
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Ariana Silva Santos
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Fernandes da Silva
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Bruno Silva Andrade
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Química Computacional (LBQC), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia (UESB), Jequié, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Carlos Priminho Pirovani
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
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Ramos-Lizardo GN, Mucherino-Muñoz JJ, Aguiar ERGR, Pirovani CP, Corrêa RX. A repertoire of candidate effector proteins of the fungus Ceratocystis cacaofunesta. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16368. [PMID: 37773261 PMCID: PMC10542334 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43117-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Ceratocystis includes many phytopathogenic fungi that affect different plant species. One of these is Ceratocystis cacaofunesta, which is pathogenic to the cocoa tree and causes Ceratocystis wilt, a lethal disease for the crop. However, little is known about how this pathogen interacts with its host. The knowledge and identification of possible genes encoding effector proteins are essential to understanding this pathosystem. The present work aimed to predict genes that code effector proteins of C. cacaofunesta from a comparative analysis of the genomes of five Ceratocystis species available in databases. We performed a new genome annotation through an in-silico analysis. We analyzed the secretome and effectorome of C. cacaofunesta using the characteristics of the peptides, such as the presence of signal peptide for secretion, absence of transmembrane domain, and richness of cysteine residues. We identified 160 candidate effector proteins in the C. cacaofunesta proteome that could be classified as cytoplasmic (102) or apoplastic (58). Of the total number of candidate effector proteins, 146 were expressed, presenting an average of 206.56 transcripts per million. Our database was created using a robust bioinformatics strategy, followed by manual curation, generating information on pathogenicity-related genes involved in plant interactions, including CAZymes, hydrolases, lyases, and oxidoreductases. Comparing proteins already characterized as effectors in Sordariomycetes species revealed five groups of protein sequences homologous to C. cacaofunesta. These data provide a valuable resource for studying the infection mechanisms of these pathogens in their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela N Ramos-Lizardo
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas (DCB), Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil
| | - Jonathan J Mucherino-Muñoz
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas (DCB), Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil
| | - Eric R G R Aguiar
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas (DCB), Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil
| | - Carlos Priminho Pirovani
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas (DCB), Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil
| | - Ronan Xavier Corrêa
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas (DCB), Centro de Biotecnologia e Genética (CBG), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil.
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de Novais DPS, Batista TM, Costa EA, Pirovani CP. Genomic and Pathogenicity Mechanisms of the Main Theobroma cacao L. Eukaryotic Pathogens: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1567. [PMID: 37375069 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A set of diseases caused by fungi and oomycetes are responsible for large losses in annual world cocoa production. Managing the impact caused by these diseases is very complex because a common solution has yet to be found for different pathogens. In this context, the systematic knowledge of Theobroma cacao L. pathogens' molecular characteristics may help researchers understand the possibilities and limitations of cocoa disease management strategies. This work systematically organized and summarized the main findings of omics studies of T. cacao eukaryotic pathogens, focusing on the plant-pathogen interaction and production dynamics. Using the PRISMA protocol and a semiautomated process, we selected papers from the Scopus and Web of Science databases and collected data from the selected papers. From the initial 3169 studies, 149 were selected. The first author's affiliations were mostly from two countries, Brazil (55%) and the USA (22%). The most frequent genera were Moniliophthora (105 studies), Phytophthora (59 studies) and Ceratocystis (13 studies). The systematic review database includes papers reporting the whole-genome sequence from six cocoa pathogens and evidence of some necrosis-inducing-like proteins, which are common in T. cacao pathogen genomes. This review contributes to the knowledge about T. cacao diseases, providing an integrated discussion of T. cacao pathogens' molecular characteristics, common mechanisms of pathogenicity and how this knowledge is produced worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Pereira Silva de Novais
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Genetics, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil
- Bahia Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology (IFBA), Porto Seguro 45810-000, BA, Brazil
| | - Thiago Mafra Batista
- Environmental Science Training Center, Federal University of Southern Bahia (UFSB), Porto Seguro 45810-000, BA, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Almeida Costa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Genetics, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil
| | - Carlos Priminho Pirovani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Genetics, State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil
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Uncovering a Complex Virome Associated with the Cacao Pathogens Ceratocystis cacaofunesta and Ceratocystis fimbriata. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020287. [PMID: 36839559 PMCID: PMC9967352 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Theobroma cacao is one of the main crops of economic importance in the world as the source of raw material for producing chocolate and derivatives. The crop is the main source of income for thousands of small farmers, who produce more than 80% of the world's cocoa supply. However, the emergence, re-emergence and proliferation of pathogens, such as Ceratocystis spp., the causative agent of Ceratocystis wilt disease and canker disease, have been affecting the sustainability of many crops. Fungal control is laborious, often depending on fungicides that are expensive and/or toxic to humans, prompting researchers to look for new solutions to counteract the proliferation of these pathogens, including the use of biological agents such as mycoviruses. In this study, we investigated the diversity of microorganisms associated with the T. cacao pathogens Ceratocystis cacaofunesta and Ceratocystis fimbriata with a focus on the virome using RNA sequencing data available in public databases. We used a comprehensive bioinformatics pipeline containing several steps for viral sequence enrichment and took advantage of an integrated assembly step composed of different assemblers followed by sequence similarity searches using NCBI nonredundant databases. Our strategy was able to identify four putative C. cacaofunesta viruses (hypovirus, sclerotimonavirus, alphapartitivirus and narnavirus) and six C. fimbriata viruses (three alphaendornaviruses, one victorivirus and two mitoviruses). All the viral sequences identified showed similarity to viral genomes in public databases only at the amino acid level, likely representing new viral species. Of note, we present the first report of viruses associated with the cacao pathogens C. cacaofunesta and C. fimbriata and the second report of viral species infecting members of the Ceratocystidaceae family. Our findings highlight the need for further prospective studies to uncover the real diversity of fungus-infecting viruses that can contribute to the development of new management strategies.
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Reyes BMD, Fonseca PLC, Heming NM, Conceição LBDA, Nascimento KTDS, Gramacho KP, Arevalo-Gardini E, Pirovani CP, Aguiar ERGR. Characterization of the microbiota dynamics associated with Moniliophthora roreri, causal agent of cocoa frosty pod rot disease, reveals new viral species. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1053562. [PMID: 36817107 PMCID: PMC9936985 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1053562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Theobroma cacao, the cocoa tree, is a target for pathogens, such as fungi from the genera Phytophthora, Moniliophthora, Colletotrichum, Ceratocystis, among others. Some cacao pathogens are restricted to specific regions of the world, such as the Cacao swollen shoot virus (CSSV) in West African countries, while others are expanding geographically, such as Moniliophthora roreri in the Americas. M. roreri is one of the most threatening cacao pathogens since it directly attacks the cacao pods driving a significant reduction in production, and therefore economic losses. Despite its importance, the knowledge about the microenvironment of this pathogen and the cocoa pods is still poorly characterized. Methods Herein we performed RNA sequencing of spores in differential stages of culture in a medium supplemented with cacao pod extract and mycelium collected of the susceptible variety ICT 7121 naturally infected by the pathogen to evaluate the diversity and transcriptional activity of microorganisms associated with the in vitro sporulation of M. roreri. Results Our data revealed a great variety of fungi and bacteria associated with M. roreri, with an exceptional diversity of individuals from the genus Trichoderma sp. Interestingly, the dynamics of microorganisms from different kingdoms varied proportionally, suggesting they are somehow affected by M. roreri culture time. We also identified three sequences similar to viral genomes from the Narnaviridae family, posteriorly confirmed by phylogenetic analysis as members of the genus Narnavirus. Screening of M. roreri public datasets indicated the virus sequences circulating in samples from Ecuador, suggesting a wide spread of these elements. Of note, we did not identify traces of the viral sequences in the M. roreri genome or DNA sequencing, restricting the possibility of these sequences representing endogenized elements. Discussion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of viruses infecting the fungus of the genus Moniliophthora and only the third description of viruses that are able to parasite elements from the Marasmiaceae family.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula Luize Camargos Fonseca
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil,Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Neander Marcel Heming
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | | | | | - Karina Peres Gramacho
- Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, Comissão Executivo do Plano da Lavoura Cacaueira, CEPEC/CEPLAC, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Enrique Arevalo-Gardini
- Instituto de Cultivos Tropicales, Tarapoto, Peru,Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Alto Amazonas, Yurimaguas, Peru
| | | | - Eric Roberto Guimarães Rocha Aguiar
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil,*Correspondence: Eric Roberto Guimarães Rocha Aguiar, ✉
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