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Moll L, Badosa E, Planas M, Feliu L, Montesinos E, Bonaterra A. Antimicrobial Peptides With Antibiofilm Activity Against Xylella fastidiosa. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:753874. [PMID: 34819923 PMCID: PMC8606745 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.753874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa is a plant pathogen that was recently introduced in Europe and is causing havoc to its agriculture. This Gram-negative bacterium invades the host xylem, multiplies, and forms biofilm occluding the vessels and killing its host. In spite of the great research effort, there is no method that effectively prevents or cures hosts from infections. The main control strategies up to now are eradication, vector control, and pathogen-free plant material. Antimicrobial peptides have arisen as promising candidates to combat this bacterium due to their broad spectrum of activity and low environmental impact. In this work, peptides previously reported in the literature and newly designed analogs were studied for its bactericidal and antibiofilm activity against X. fastidiosa. Also, their hemolytic activity and effect on tobacco leaves when infiltrated were determined. To assess the activity of peptides, the strain IVIA 5387.2 with moderate growth, able to produce biofilm and susceptible to antimicrobial peptides, was selected among six representative strains found in the Mediterranean area (DD1, CFBP 8173, Temecula, IVIA 5387.2, IVIA 5770, and IVIA 5901.2). Two interesting groups of peptides were identified with bactericidal and/or antibiofilm activity and low-moderate toxicity. The peptides 1036 and RIJK2 with dual (bactericidal–antibiofilm) activity against the pathogen and moderate toxicity stand out as the best candidates to control X. fastidiosa diseases. Nevertheless, peptides with only antibiofilm activity and low toxicity are also promising agents as they could prevent the occlusion of xylem vessels caused by the pathogen. The present work contributes to provide novel compounds with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity that could lead to the development of new treatments against diseases caused by X. fastidiosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Moll
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology-CIDSAV-XaRTA, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Esther Badosa
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology-CIDSAV-XaRTA, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Marta Planas
- LIPPSO, Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Lidia Feliu
- LIPPSO, Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Emilio Montesinos
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology-CIDSAV-XaRTA, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Anna Bonaterra
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology-CIDSAV-XaRTA, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
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Scortichini M, Loreti S, Pucci N, Scala V, Tatulli G, Verweire D, Oehl M, Widmer U, Codina JM, Hertl P, Cesari G, De Caroli M, Angilè F, Migoni D, Del Coco L, Girelli CR, Dalessandro G, Fanizzi FP. Progress towards Sustainable Control of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca in Olive Groves of Salento (Apulia, Italy). Pathogens 2021; 10:668. [PMID: 34072394 PMCID: PMC8228964 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca is the causal agent of "olive quick decline syndrome" in Salento (Apulia, Italy). On April 2015, we started interdisciplinary studies to provide a sustainable control strategy for this pathogen that threatens the multi-millennial olive agroecosystem of Salento. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluorescence quantification showed that a zinc-copper-citric acid biocomplex-Dentamet®-reached the olive xylem tissue either after the spraying of the canopy or injection into the trunk, demonstrating its effective systemicity. The biocomplex showed in vitro bactericidal activity towards all X. fastidiosa subspecies. A mid-term evaluation of the control strategy performed in some olive groves of Salento indicated that this biocomplex significantly reduced both the symptoms and X. f. subsp. pauca cell concentration within the leaves of the local cultivars Ogliarola salentina and Cellina di Nardò. The treated trees started again to yield. A 1H-NMR metabolomic approach revealed, upon the treatments, a consistent increase in malic acid and γ-aminobutyrate for Ogliarola salentina and Cellina di Nardò trees, respectively. A novel endotherapy technique allowed injection of Dentamet® at low pressure directly into the vascular system of the tree and is currently under study for the promotion of resprouting in severely attacked trees. There are currently more than 700 ha of olive groves in Salento where this strategy is being applied to control X. f. subsp. pauca. These results collectively demonstrate an efficient, simple, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable strategy to control this pathogen in Salento.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Scortichini
- Research Centre for Olive, Fruit Trees and Citrus Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), 00134 Roma, Italy
| | - Stefania Loreti
- Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), 00156 Roma, Italy; (S.L.); (N.P.); (V.S.); (G.T.)
| | - Nicoletta Pucci
- Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), 00156 Roma, Italy; (S.L.); (N.P.); (V.S.); (G.T.)
| | - Valeria Scala
- Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), 00156 Roma, Italy; (S.L.); (N.P.); (V.S.); (G.T.)
| | - Giuseppe Tatulli
- Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), 00156 Roma, Italy; (S.L.); (N.P.); (V.S.); (G.T.)
| | - Dimitri Verweire
- Invaio Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; (D.V.); (M.O.); (U.W.); (J.M.C.); (P.H.)
| | - Michael Oehl
- Invaio Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; (D.V.); (M.O.); (U.W.); (J.M.C.); (P.H.)
| | - Urs Widmer
- Invaio Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; (D.V.); (M.O.); (U.W.); (J.M.C.); (P.H.)
| | - Josep Massana Codina
- Invaio Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; (D.V.); (M.O.); (U.W.); (J.M.C.); (P.H.)
| | - Peter Hertl
- Invaio Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; (D.V.); (M.O.); (U.W.); (J.M.C.); (P.H.)
| | | | - Monica De Caroli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Monteroni-Lecce, Italy; (M.D.C.); (F.A.); (D.M.); (L.D.C.); (C.R.G.); (G.D.); (F.P.F.)
| | - Federica Angilè
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Monteroni-Lecce, Italy; (M.D.C.); (F.A.); (D.M.); (L.D.C.); (C.R.G.); (G.D.); (F.P.F.)
| | - Danilo Migoni
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Monteroni-Lecce, Italy; (M.D.C.); (F.A.); (D.M.); (L.D.C.); (C.R.G.); (G.D.); (F.P.F.)
| | - Laura Del Coco
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Monteroni-Lecce, Italy; (M.D.C.); (F.A.); (D.M.); (L.D.C.); (C.R.G.); (G.D.); (F.P.F.)
| | - Chiara Roberta Girelli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Monteroni-Lecce, Italy; (M.D.C.); (F.A.); (D.M.); (L.D.C.); (C.R.G.); (G.D.); (F.P.F.)
| | - Giuseppe Dalessandro
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Monteroni-Lecce, Italy; (M.D.C.); (F.A.); (D.M.); (L.D.C.); (C.R.G.); (G.D.); (F.P.F.)
| | - Francesco Paolo Fanizzi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Monteroni-Lecce, Italy; (M.D.C.); (F.A.); (D.M.); (L.D.C.); (C.R.G.); (G.D.); (F.P.F.)
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Novel Virulent Bacteriophages Infecting Mediterranean Isolates of the Plant Pest Xylella fastidiosa and Xanthomonas albilineans. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050725. [PMID: 33919362 PMCID: PMC8143317 DOI: 10.3390/v13050725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a plant pathogen causing significant losses in agriculture worldwide. Originating from America, this bacterium caused recent epidemics in southern Europe and is thus considered an emerging pathogen. As the European regulations do not authorize antibiotic treatment in plants, alternative treatments are urgently needed to control the spread of the pathogen and eventually to cure infected crops. One such alternative is the use of phage therapy, developed more than 100 years ago to cure human dysentery and nowadays adapted to agriculture. The first step towards phage therapy is the isolation of the appropriate bacteriophages. With this goal, we searched for phages able to infect Xf strains that are endemic in the Mediterranean area. However, as Xf is truly a fastidious organism, we chose the phylogenetically closest and relatively fast-growing organism X. albineans as a surrogate host for the isolation step. Our results showed the isolation from various sources and preliminary characterization of several phages active on different Xf strains, namely, from the fastidiosa (Xff), multiplex (Xfm), and pauca (Xfp) subspecies, as well as on X. albilineans. We sequenced their genomes, described their genomic features, and provided a phylogeny analysis that allowed us to propose new taxonomic elements. Among the 14 genomes sequenced, we could identify two new phage species, belonging to two new genera of the Caudoviricetes order, namely, Usmevirus (Podoviridae family) and Subavirus (Siphoviridae family). Interestingly, no specific phages could be isolated from infected plant samples, whereas one was isolated from vector insects captured in a contaminated area, and several from surface and sewage waters from the Marseille area.
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Bleve G, Gallo A, Altomare C, Vurro M, Maiorano G, Cardinali A, D'Antuono I, Marchi G, Mita G. In vitro activity of antimicrobial compounds against Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of the olive quick decline syndrome in Apulia (Italy). FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019; 365:4780293. [PMID: 29390137 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) causes severe damages to the olive trees in Salento (Apulia, Italy) and poses a severe threat for the agriculture of Mediterranean countries. DNA-based typing methods have pointed out that OQDS is caused by a single outbreak strain of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca referred to as CoDiRO or ST53. Since no effective control measures are currently available, the objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro antimicrobial activities of different classes of compounds against Salento-1 isolated by an OQDS affected plant and classified as ST53. A bioassay based on agar disk diffusion method revealed that 17 out of the 32 tested antibiotics did not affect bacterial growth at a dose of 5 μg disk-1. When we assayed micro-, ultra- and nano-filtered fractions of olive mill wastewaters, we found that the micro-filtered fraction resulted to be the most effective against the bacterium. Moreover, some phenolics (4-methylcathecol, cathecol, veratric acid, caffeic acid, oleuropein) were active in their pure form. Noteworthy, also some fungal extracts and fungal toxins showed inhibitory effects on bacterial growth. Some of these compounds can be further explored as potential candidate in future applications for curative/preventive treating OQDS-affected or at-risk olive plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Bleve
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Antonia Gallo
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Claudio Altomare
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Maurizio Vurro
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Gabriele Maiorano
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Angela Cardinali
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Isabella D'Antuono
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Guido Marchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agroalimentari e dell'Ambiente, Sezione di Patologia Vegetale ed Entomologia, Università degli Studi, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - Giovanni Mita
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, 73100 Lecce, Italy
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