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Calia G, Porracciolo P, Chen Y, Kozlowski D, Schuler H, Cestaro A, Quentin M, Favery B, Danchin EGJ, Bottini S. Identification and characterization of specific motifs in effector proteins of plant parasites using MOnSTER. Commun Biol 2024; 7:850. [PMID: 38992096 PMCID: PMC11239862 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06515-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant pathogens cause billions of dollars of crop loss every year and are a major threat to global food security. Identifying and characterizing pathogens effectors is crucial towards their improved control. Because of their poor sequence conservation, effector identification is challenging, and current methods generate too many candidates without indication for prioritizing experimental studies. In most phyla, effectors contain specific sequence motifs which influence their localization and targets in the plant. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop bioinformatics tools tailored for pathogen effectors. To circumvent these limitations, we have developed MOnSTER a specific tool that identifies clusters of motifs of protein sequences (CLUMPs). MOnSTER can be fed with motifs identified by de novo tools or from databases such as Pfam and InterProScan. The advantage of MOnSTER is the reduction of motif redundancy by clustering them and associating a score. This score encompasses the physicochemical properties of AAs and the motif occurrences. We built up our method to identify discriminant CLUMPs in oomycetes effectors. Consequently, we applied MOnSTER on plant parasitic nematodes and identified six CLUMPs in about 60% of the known nematode candidate parasitism proteins. Furthermore, we found co-occurrences of CLUMPs with protein domains important for invasion and pathogenicity. The potentiality of this tool goes beyond the effector characterization and can be used to easily cluster motifs and calculate the CLUMP-score on any set of protein sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Calia
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural Environmental and Food Science, Bolzano, Italy
- Fondazione Edmund Mach, Research and Innovation Centre, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- INRAE, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Paola Porracciolo
- INRAE, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France
- Université Côte d'Azur, Center of Modeling, Simulation and Interactions, Nice, France
| | - Yongpan Chen
- INRAE, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France
- Department of Plant Pathology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Djampa Kozlowski
- INRAE, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France
- Université Côte d'Azur, Center of Modeling, Simulation and Interactions, Nice, France
| | - Hannes Schuler
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural Environmental and Food Science, Bolzano, Italy
- Free University of Bolzano, Competence Centre for Plant Health, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cestaro
- Fondazione Edmund Mach, Research and Innovation Centre, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM), National Research Council (CNR), Bari, Italy
| | - Michaël Quentin
- INRAE, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Bruno Favery
- INRAE, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Etienne G J Danchin
- INRAE, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Silvia Bottini
- INRAE, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France.
- Université Côte d'Azur, Center of Modeling, Simulation and Interactions, Nice, France.
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2
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Stojilković B, Xiang H, Chen Y, Maulana MI, Bauters L, Van de Put H, Steppe K, Liao J, de Almeida Engler J, Gheysen G. The nematode effector Mj-NEROSs interacts with Rieske's iron-sulfur protein influencing plastid ROS production to suppress plant immunity. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:2787-2802. [PMID: 38693568 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKN; Meloidogyne species) are plant pathogens that introduce several effectors in their hosts to facilitate infection. The actual targets and functioning mechanism of these effectors largely remain unexplored. This study illuminates the role and interplay of the Meloidogyne javanica nematode effector ROS suppressor (Mj-NEROSs) within the host plant environment. Mj-NEROSs suppresses INF1-induced cell death as well as flg22-induced callose deposition and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. A transcriptome analysis highlighted the downregulation of ROS-related genes upon Mj-NEROSs expression. NEROSs interacts with the plant Rieske's iron-sulfur protein (ISP) as shown by yeast-two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Secreted from the subventral pharyngeal glands into giant cells, Mj-NEROSs localizes in the plastids where it interacts with ISP, subsequently altering electron transport rates and ROS production. Moreover, our results demonstrate that isp Arabidopsis thaliana mutants exhibit increased susceptibility to M. javanica, indicating ISP importance for plant immunity. The interaction of a nematode effector with a plastid protein highlights the possible role of root plastids in plant defense, prompting many questions on the details of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Stojilković
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
- Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Hui Xiang
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Yujin Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Muhammad Iqbal Maulana
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Flora, Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
| | - Lander Bauters
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Hans Van de Put
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Kathy Steppe
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jinling Liao
- Laboratory of Plant Nematology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Vocational College of Ecological Engineering, Guangzhou, 510520, China
| | | | - Godelieve Gheysen
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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Ko I, Kranse OP, Senatori B, Eves-van den Akker S. A Critical Appraisal of DNA Transfer from Plants to Parasitic Cyst Nematodes. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae030. [PMID: 38366574 PMCID: PMC10899095 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae030] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes are one of the most economically important pests of crops. It is widely accepted that horizontal gene transfer-the natural acquisition of foreign genes in parasitic nematodes-contributes to parasitism. However, an apparent paradox has emerged from horizontal gene transfer analyses: On the one hand, distantly related organisms with very dissimilar genetic structures (i.e. bacteria), and only transient interactions with nematodes as far as we know, dominate the list of putative donors, while on the other hand, considerably more closely related organisms (i.e. the host plant), with similar genetic structure (i.e. introns) and documented long-term associations with nematodes, are rare among the list of putative donors. Given that these nematodes ingest cytoplasm from a living plant cell for several weeks, there seems to be a conspicuous absence of plant-derived cases. Here, we used comparative genomic approaches to evaluate possible plant-derived horizontal gene transfer events in plant parasitic nematodes. Our evidence supports a cautionary message for plant-derived horizontal gene transfer cases in the sugar beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii. We propose a 4-step model for horizontal gene transfer from plant to parasite in order to evaluate why the absence of plant-derived horizontal gene transfer cases is observed. We find that the plant genome is mobilized by the nematode during infection, but that uptake of the said "mobilome" is the first major barrier to horizontal gene transfer from host to nematode. These results provide new insight into our understanding of the prevalence/role of nucleic acid exchange in the arms race between plants and plant parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itsuhiro Ko
- Department of Plant Sciences, The Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
- Present address: Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99163, USA
| | - Olaf Prosper Kranse
- Department of Plant Sciences, The Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Beatrice Senatori
- Department of Plant Sciences, The Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
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4
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Macharia TN, Duong TA, Moleleki LN. In silico secretome analyses of the polyphagous root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica: a resource for studying M. javanica secreted proteins. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:296. [PMID: 37264326 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09366-6] [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: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) that cause most damage include root-knot nematodes (RKNs) which are a major impediment to crop production. Root-knot nematodes, like other parasites, secrete proteins which are required for parasite proliferation and survival within the host during the infection process. RESULTS Here, we used various computational tools to predict and identify classically and non-classically secreted proteins encoded in the Meloidogyne javanica genome. Furthermore, functional annotation analysis was performed using various integrated bioinformatic tools to determine the biological significance of the predicted secretome. In total, 7,458 proteins were identified as secreted ones. A large percentage of this secretome is comprised of small proteins of ≤ 300 aa sequence length. Functional analyses showed that M. javanica secretome comprises cell wall degrading enzymes for facilitating nematode invasion, and migration by disintegrating the complex plant cell wall components. In addition, peptidases and peptidase inhibitors are an important category of M. javanica secretome involved in compatible host-nematode interactions. CONCLUSION This study identifies the putative secretome encoded in the M. javanica genome. Future experimental validation analyses can greatly benefit from this global analysis of M. javanica secretome. Equally, our analyses will advance knowledge of the interaction between plants and nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresia Nyambura Macharia
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Tuan A Duong
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Lucy Novungayo Moleleki
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
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5
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Rocha RO, Hussey RS, Pepi LE, Azadi P, Mitchum MG. Discovery of Novel Effector Protein Candidates Produced in the Dorsal Gland of Adult Female Root-Knot Nematodes. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2023; 36:372-380. [PMID: 36847650 PMCID: PMC11321544 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-11-22-0232-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKN) (Meloidogyne spp.) represent one of the most damaging groups of plant-parasitic nematodes. They secrete effector proteins through a protrusible stylet to manipulate host cells for their benefit. Stylet-secreted effector proteins are produced within specialized secretory esophageal gland cells, one dorsal gland (DG) and two subventral glands (SvG), whose activity differ throughout the nematode life cycle. Previous gland transcriptomic profiling studies identified dozens of candidate RKN effectors but were focused on the juvenile stages of the nematode, when the SvGs are most active. We developed a new approach to enrich for the active DGs of M. incognita adult female RKN for RNA and protein extraction. Female heads were manually cut from the body, and a combination of sonication and vortexing was used to dislodge contents inside the heads. DG-enriched fractions were collected by filtering, using cell strainers. Comparative transcriptome profiling of pre-parasitic second-stage juveniles, female heads, and DG-enriched samples was conducted using RNA sequencing. Application of an established effector mining pipeline led to the identification of 83 candidate effector genes upregulated in DG-enriched samples of adult females that code for proteins with a predicted signal peptide but lack transmembrane domains or homology to proteins in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In situ hybridization resulted in the identification of 14 new DG-specific candidate effectors expressed in adult females. Taken together, we have identified novel candidate Meloidogyne effector genes that may have essential roles during later stages of parasitism. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel O. Rocha
- Department of Plant Pathology and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, U.S.A
| | - Richard S. Hussey
- Department of Plant Pathology and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, U.S.A
| | - Lauren E. Pepi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, U.S.A
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, U.S.A
| | - Melissa G. Mitchum
- Department of Plant Pathology and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, U.S.A
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Lai CK, Lee YC, Ke HM, Lu MR, Liu WA, Lee HH, Liu YC, Yoshiga T, Kikuchi T, Chen PJ, Tsai IJ. The Aphelenchoides genomes reveal substantial horizontal gene transfers in the last common ancestor of free-living and major plant-parasitic nematodes. Mol Ecol Resour 2023; 23:905-919. [PMID: 36597348 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Aphelenchoides besseyi is a plant-parasitic nematode (PPN) in the family Aphelenchoididae capable of infecting more than 200 plant species. A. besseyi is also a species complex with strains exhibiting varying pathogenicity to plants. We present the genome and annotations of six Aphelenchoides species, four of which belonged to the A. besseyi species complex. Most Aphelenchoides genomes have a size of 44.7-47.4 Mb and are among the smallest in clade IV, with the exception of A. fujianensis, which has a size of 143.8 Mb and is one of the largest. Phylogenomic analysis successfully delimited the species complex into A. oryzae and A. pseudobesseyi and revealed a reduction of transposon elements in the last common ancestor of Aphelenchoides. Synteny analyses between reference genomes indicated that three chromosomes in A. besseyi were derived from fission and fusion events. A systematic identification of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) genes across 27 representative nematodes allowed us to identify two major episodes of acquisition corresponding to the last common ancestor of clade IV or major PPNs, respectively. These genes were mostly lost and differentially retained between clades or strains. Most HGT events were acquired from bacteria, followed by fungi, and also from plants; plant HGT was especially prevalent in Bursaphelenchus mucronatus. Our results comprehensively improve the understanding of HGT in nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Kuo Lai
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chien Lee
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huei-Mien Ke
- Department of Microbiology, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Min R Lu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-An Liu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Han Lee
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ching Liu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Taisei Kikuchi
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Peichen J Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Isheng Jason Tsai
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
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7
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Siddique S, Radakovic ZS, Hiltl C, Pellegrin C, Baum TJ, Beasley H, Bent AF, Chitambo O, Chopra D, Danchin EGJ, Grenier E, Habash SS, Hasan MS, Helder J, Hewezi T, Holbein J, Holterman M, Janakowski S, Koutsovoulos GD, Kranse OP, Lozano-Torres JL, Maier TR, Masonbrink RE, Mendy B, Riemer E, Sobczak M, Sonawala U, Sterken MG, Thorpe P, van Steenbrugge JJM, Zahid N, Grundler F, Eves-van den Akker S. The genome and lifestage-specific transcriptomes of a plant-parasitic nematode and its host reveal susceptibility genes involved in trans-kingdom synthesis of vitamin B5. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6190. [PMID: 36261416 PMCID: PMC9582021 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33769-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes are a major threat to crop production in all agricultural systems. The scarcity of classical resistance genes highlights a pressing need to find new ways to develop nematode-resistant germplasm. Here, we sequence and assemble a high-quality phased genome of the model cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii to provide a platform for the first system-wide dual analysis of host and parasite gene expression over time, covering all major parasitism stages. Analysis of the hologenome of the plant-nematode infection site identified metabolic pathways that were incomplete in the parasite but complemented by the host. Using a combination of bioinformatic, genetic, and biochemical approaches, we show that a highly atypical completion of vitamin B5 biosynthesis by the parasitic animal, putatively enabled by a horizontal gene transfer from a bacterium, is required for full pathogenicity. Knockout of either plant-encoded or now nematode-encoded steps in the pathway significantly reduces parasitic success. Our experiments establish a reference for cyst nematodes, further our understanding of the evolution of plant-parasitism by nematodes, and show that congruent differential expression of metabolic pathways in the infection hologenome represents a new way to find nematode susceptibility genes. The approach identifies genome-editing-amenable targets for future development of nematode-resistant crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Siddique
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Zoran S Radakovic
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
- P.H. Petersen Saatzucht Lundsgaard GmbH, D-24977, Grundhof, Germany
| | - Clarissa Hiltl
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Clement Pellegrin
- The Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Thomas J Baum
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Helen Beasley
- The Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Andrew F Bent
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Oliver Chitambo
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Divykriti Chopra
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Etienne G J Danchin
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Eric Grenier
- IGEPP, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
| | - Samer S Habash
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
- BASF Vegetable Seeds, Napoleonsweg 152, 6083, AB, Nunhem, The Netherlands
| | - M Shamim Hasan
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Johannes Helder
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tarek Hewezi
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Julia Holbein
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Martijn Holterman
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Solynta, Dreijenlaan 2, 6703, HA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sławomir Janakowski
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159, 02-787, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Olaf P Kranse
- The Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Jose L Lozano-Torres
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tom R Maier
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Rick E Masonbrink
- Genome Informatics Facility, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50010, USA
| | - Badou Mendy
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Esther Riemer
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mirosław Sobczak
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159, 02-787, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Unnati Sonawala
- The Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Mark G Sterken
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Thorpe
- Mackenzie Institute for Early Diagnosis, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK
| | - Joris J M van Steenbrugge
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nageena Zahid
- Institute for Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, D-53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Florian Grundler
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, INRES - Molecular Phytomedicine, Karlrobert- Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany.
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8
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Abstract
Peptide signaling is an emerging paradigm in molecular plant-microbe interactions with vast implications for our understanding of plant-nematode interactions and beyond. Plant-like peptide hormones, first discovered in cyst nematodes, are now recognized as an important class of peptide effectors mediating several different types of pathogenic and symbiotic interactions. Here, we summarize what has been learned about nematode-secreted CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED (CLE) peptide effectors since the last comprehensive review on this topic a decade ago. We also highlight new discoveries of a diverse array of peptide effectors that go beyond the CLE peptide effector family in not only phytonematodes but in organisms beyond the phylum Nematoda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa G Mitchum
- Department of Plant Pathology and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; ,
| | - Xunliang Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; ,
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9
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Pu W, Xiao K, Luo S, Zhu H, Yuan Z, Gao C, Hu J. Characterization of Five Meloidogyne incognita Effectors Associated with PsoRPM3. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031498. [PMID: 35163425 PMCID: PMC8836280 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are devastating parasites that invade thousands of plants. In this study, five RKN effectors, which might interact with Prunussogdiana resistance protein PsoRPM3, were screened and identified. In situ hybridisation results showed that MiCal, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh and MiACPS are expressed in the subventral oesophageal glands (SvG), and MiTSPc hybridization signals are found in the dorsal esophageal gland (DG) of Meloidogyne incognita in the pre-J2. RT-qPCR data indicated that the expression of MiCal, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, and MiACPS genes are highly expressed in M. incognita of pra-J2 and J3/J4 stages. The expression of MiTSPc increased significantly in the female stage of M. incognita. Moreover, all effectors found in this study localize in the cytoplasm and nucleus when transiently expressed in plant cells. In addition, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, MiACPS and MiTSPc can elicit the ROS burst and strong hypersensitive response (HR), as well as significant ion leakage. Our data suggest that MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, MiACPS and MiTSPc effectors may be involved in triggering the immune response of the host plant.
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10
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Ahmed M, Roberts NG, Adediran F, Smythe AB, Kocot KM, Holovachov O. Phylogenomic Analysis of the Phylum Nematoda: Conflicts and Congruences With Morphology, 18S rRNA, and Mitogenomes. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.769565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Phylogenetic relationships within many lineages of the phylum Nematoda remain unresolved, despite numerous morphology-based and molecular analyses. We performed several phylogenomic analyses using 286 published genomes and transcriptomes and 19 new transcriptomes by focusing on Trichinellida, Spirurina, Rhabditina, and Tylenchina separately, and by analyzing a selection of species from the whole phylum Nematoda. The phylogeny of Trichinellida supported the division of Trichinella into encapsulated and non-encapsulated species and placed them as sister to Trichuris. The Spirurina subtree supported the clades formed by species from Ascaridomorpha and Spiruromorpha respectively, but did not support Dracunculoidea. The analysis of Tylenchina supported a clade that included all sampled species from Tylenchomorpha and placed it as sister to clades that included sampled species from Cephalobomorpha and Panagrolaimomorpha, supporting the hypothesis that postulates the single origin of the stomatostylet. The Rhabditina subtree placed a clade composed of all sampled species from Diplogastridae as sister to a lineage consisting of paraphyletic Rhabditidae, a single representative of Heterorhabditidae and a clade composed of sampled species belonging to Strongylida. It also strongly supported all suborders within Strongylida. In the phylum-wide analysis, a clade composed of all sampled species belonging to Enoplia were consistently placed as sister to Dorylaimia + Chromadoria. The topology of the Nematoda backbone was consistent with previous studies, including polyphyletic placement of sampled representatives of Monhysterida and Araeolaimida.
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11
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Jagdale S, Rao U, Giri AP. Effectors of Root-Knot Nematodes: An Arsenal for Successful Parasitism. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:800030. [PMID: 35003188 PMCID: PMC8727514 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.800030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are notorious plant-parasitic nematodes first recorded in 1855 in cucumber plants. They are microscopic, obligate endoparasites that cause severe losses in agriculture and horticulture. They evade plant immunity, hijack the plant cell cycle, and metabolism to modify healthy cells into giant cells (GCs) - RKN feeding sites. RKNs secrete various effector molecules which suppress the plant defence and tamper with plant cellular and molecular biology. These effectors originate mainly from sub-ventral and dorsal oesophageal glands. Recently, a few non-oesophageal gland secreted effectors have been discovered. Effectors are essential for the entry of RKNs in plants, subsequently formation and maintenance of the GCs during the parasitism. In the past two decades, advanced genomic and post-genomic techniques identified many effectors, out of which only a few are well characterized. In this review, we provide molecular and functional details of RKN effectors secreted during parasitism. We list the known effectors and pinpoint their molecular functions. Moreover, we attempt to provide a comprehensive insight into RKN effectors concerning their implications on overall plant and nematode biology. Since effectors are the primary and prime molecular weapons of RKNs to invade the plant, it is imperative to understand their intriguing and complex functions to design counter-strategies against RKN infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shounak Jagdale
- Plant Molecular Biology Unit, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Uma Rao
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashok P. Giri
- Plant Molecular Biology Unit, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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12
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Zhao J, Sun Q, Quentin M, Ling J, Abad P, Zhang X, Li Y, Yang Y, Favery B, Mao Z, Xie B. A Meloidogyne incognita C-type lectin effector targets plant catalases to promote parasitism. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 232:2124-2137. [PMID: 34449897 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., secrete effectors to modulate plant immune responses and establish a parasitic relationship with host plants. However, the functions and plant targets of C-type lectin (CTL)-like effectors of Meloidogyne incognita remain unknown. Here, we characterized a CTL-like effector of M. incognita, MiCTL1a, and identified its target and role in nematode parasitism. In situ hybridization demonstrated the expression of MiCTL1 in the subventral glands; and in planta, immunolocalization showed its secretion during M. incognita parasitism. Virus-induced gene silencing of the MiCTL1 reduced the infection ability of M. incognita in Nicotiana benthamiana. The ectopic expression in Arabidopsis not only increased susceptibility to M. incognita but also promoted root growth. Yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that MiCTL1a interacts with Arabidopsis catalases, which play essential roles in hydrogen peroxide homeostasis. Knockout or overexpression of catalases showed either increased or reduced susceptibility to M. incognita, respectively. Moreover, MiCTL1a not only reduced catalase activity in vitro and in planta but also modulated stress-related gene expressions in Arabidopsis. Our data suggest that MiCTL1a interacts with plant catalases and interferes with catalase activity, allowing M. incognita to establish a parasitic relationship with its host by fine-tuning responses mediated by reactive oxygen species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianlong Zhao
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Qinghua Sun
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Michaël Quentin
- INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, F-06903, France
| | - Jian Ling
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Pierre Abad
- INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, F-06903, France
| | - Xiaoping Zhang
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, 100081, China
- Chifeng University, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, 024099, China
| | - Yan Li
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yuhong Yang
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Bruno Favery
- INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, F-06903, France
| | - Zhenchuan Mao
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Bingyan Xie
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, 100081, China
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13
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Vieira P, Myers RY, Pellegrin C, Wram C, Hesse C, Maier TR, Shao J, Koutsovoulos GD, Zasada I, Matsumoto T, Danchin EGJ, Baum TJ, Eves-van den Akker S, Nemchinov LG. Targeted transcriptomics reveals signatures of large-scale independent origins and concerted regulation of effector genes in Radopholus similis. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010036. [PMID: 34748609 PMCID: PMC8601627 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, is an economically important plant-parasitic nematode that inflicts damage and yield loss to a wide range of crops. This migratory endoparasite is widely distributed in warmer regions and causes extensive destruction to the root systems of important food crops (e.g., citrus, banana). Despite the economic importance of this nematode, little is known about the repertoire of effectors owned by this species. Here we combined spatially and temporally resolved next-generation sequencing datasets of R. similis to select a list of candidates for the identification of effector genes for this species. We confirmed spatial expression of transcripts of 30 new candidate effectors within the esophageal glands of R. similis by in situ hybridization, revealing a large number of pioneer genes specific to this nematode. We identify a gland promoter motif specifically associated with the subventral glands (named Rs-SUG box), a putative hallmark of spatial and concerted regulation of these effectors. Nematode transcriptome analyses confirmed the expression of these effectors during the interaction with the host, with a large number of pioneer genes being especially abundant. Our data revealed that R. similis holds a diverse and emergent repertoire of effectors, which has been shaped by various evolutionary events, including neofunctionalization, horizontal gene transfer, and possibly by de novo gene birth. In addition, we also report the first GH62 gene so far discovered for any metazoan and putatively acquired by lateral gene transfer from a bacterial donor. Considering the economic damage caused by R. similis, this information provides valuable data to elucidate the mode of parasitism of this nematode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Vieira
- USDA-ARS Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Roxana Y. Myers
- Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, USDA ARS, Hilo, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Clement Pellegrin
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Wram
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Cedar Hesse
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Thomas R. Maier
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Shao
- USDA-ARS Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Inga Zasada
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Tracie Matsumoto
- Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, USDA ARS, Hilo, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Etienne G. J. Danchin
- INRAE, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institute Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Thomas J. Baum
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | | | - Lev G. Nemchinov
- USDA-ARS Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
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Kozlowski DKL, Hassanaly‐Goulamhoussen R, Da Rocha M, Koutsovoulos GD, Bailly‐Bechet M, Danchin EGJ. Movements of transposable elements contribute to the genomic plasticity and species diversification in an asexually reproducing nematode pest. Evol Appl 2021; 14:1844-1866. [PMID: 34295368 PMCID: PMC8288018 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite reproducing without sexual recombination, Meloidogyne incognita is an adaptive and versatile phytoparasitic nematode. This species displays a global distribution, can parasitize a large range of plants, and can overcome plant resistance in a few generations. The mechanisms underlying this adaptability remain poorly known. At the whole-genome level, only a few single nucleotide variations have been observed across different geographical isolates with distinct ranges of compatible hosts. Exploring other factors possibly involved in genomic plasticity is thus important. Transposable elements (TEs), by their repetitive nature and mobility, can passively and actively impact the genome dynamics. This is particularly expected in polyploid hybrid genomes such as the one of M. incognita. Here, we have annotated the TE content of M. incognita, analyzed the statistical properties of this TE landscape, and used whole-genome pool-seq data to estimate the mobility of these TEs across twelve geographical isolates, presenting variations in ranges of compatible host plants. DNA transposons are more abundant than retrotransposons, and the high similarity of TE copies to their consensus sequences suggests they have been at least recently active. We have identified loci in the genome where the frequencies of presence of a TE showed substantial variations across the different isolates. Overall, variations in TE frequencies across isolates followed their phylogenetic divergence, suggesting TEs participate in the species diversification. Compared with the M. incognita reference genome, we detected isolate and lineage-specific de novo insertion of some TEs, including within genic regions or in the upstream regulatory regions. We validated by PCR the insertion of some of these TEs inside genic regions, confirming TE movements have possible functional impacts. Overall, we show DNA transposons can drive genomic plasticity in M. incognita and their role in genome evolution of other parthenogenetic animal deserves further investigation.
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Topalović O, Vestergård M. Can microorganisms assist the survival and parasitism of plant-parasitic nematodes? Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:947-958. [PMID: 34162521 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) remain a hardly treatable problem in many crops worldwide. Low efficacy of many biocontrol agents may be due to negligence of the native microbiota that is naturally associated with nematodes in soil, and which may protect nematodes against microbial antagonists. This phenomenon is more extensively studied for other nematode parasites, so we compiled these studies and drew parallels to the existing knowledge on PPN. We describe how microbial-mediated modulation of host immune responses facilitate nematode parasitism and discuss the role of Caenorhabditis elegans-protective microbiota to get an insight into the microbial protection of PPNs in soil. Molecular mechanisms of PPN-microbial interactions are also discussed. An understanding of microbial-aided PPN performance is thus pivotal for efficient management of PPNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivera Topalović
- Aarhus University, Institute for Agroecology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark.
| | - Mette Vestergård
- Aarhus University, Institute for Agroecology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark.
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16
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Somvanshi VS, Dash M, Bhat CG, Budhwar R, Godwin J, Shukla RN, Patrignani A, Schlapbach R, Rao U. An improved draft genome assembly of Meloidogyne graminicola IARI strain using long-read sequencing. Gene 2021; 793:145748. [PMID: 34077775 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The rice root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola is a major biotic stress for the rice crop under upland, rain-fed lowland and irrigated cultivation conditions. Here, we present an improved draft genome assembly of M. graminicola IARI strain using the long-read sequencing approach (PacBio Sequel platform). The assembled genome size was 36.86 Mb with 514 contigs and N50 value of 105 kb. BUSCO estimated the genome to be 88.6% complete. Meloidogyne graminicola genome contained 17.83% repeat elements and showed 14,062 protein-coding gene models, 4,974 conserved orthologous genes, 561 putative secreted proteins, 49 RNAi pathway genes, 1,853 proteins involved in pathogen-host interactions, 1,575 carbohydrate-active enzymes, and 32,138 microsatellites. Five of the carbohydrate-active enzymes were found only in M. graminicola genome and were not present in any other analysed root-knot nematode genome. Together with the previous two genome assemblies, this improved genome assembly would facilitate comparative and functional genomics for M. graminicola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Singh Somvanshi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi 110012, India
| | - Manoranjan Dash
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi 110012, India
| | - Chaitra G Bhat
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi 110012, India
| | - Roli Budhwar
- Bionivid Technology Private Limited, 209, 4th Cross Rd, B Channasandra, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560043, India
| | - Jeffrey Godwin
- Bionivid Technology Private Limited, 209, 4th Cross Rd, B Channasandra, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560043, India
| | - Rohit N Shukla
- Bionivid Technology Private Limited, 209, 4th Cross Rd, B Channasandra, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560043, India
| | - Andrea Patrignani
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, Y32H52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ralph Schlapbach
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, Y32H52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Uma Rao
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi 110012, India.
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17
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Genome Expression Dynamics Reveal the Parasitism Regulatory Landscape of the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita and a Promoter Motif Associated with Effector Genes. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050771. [PMID: 34070210 PMCID: PMC8158474 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (genus Meloidogyne) are the major contributor to crop losses caused by nematodes. These nematodes secrete effector proteins into the plant, derived from two sets of pharyngeal gland cells, to manipulate host physiology and immunity. Successful completion of the life cycle, involving successive molts from egg to adult, covers morphologically and functionally distinct stages and will require precise control of gene expression, including effector genes. The details of how root-knot nematodes regulate transcription remain sparse. Here, we report a life stage-specific transcriptome of Meloidogyne incognita. Combined with an available annotated genome, we explore the spatio-temporal regulation of gene expression. We reveal gene expression clusters and predicted functions that accompany the major developmental transitions. Focusing on effectors, we identify a putative cis-regulatory motif associated with expression in the dorsal glands, providing an insight into effector regulation. We combine the presence of this motif with several other criteria to predict a novel set of putative dorsal gland effectors. Finally, we show this motif, and thereby its utility, is broadly conserved across the Meloidogyne genus, and we name it Mel-DOG. Taken together, we provide the first genome-wide analysis of spatio-temporal gene expression in a root-knot nematode and identify a new set of candidate effector genes that will guide future functional analyses.
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18
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Eves-van den Akker S, Stojilković B, Gheysen G. Recent applications of biotechnological approaches to elucidate the biology of plant-nematode interactions. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 70:122-130. [PMID: 33932862 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes are a major threat to food security. The most economically important species have remarkable abilities to manipulate host physiology and immunity. This review highlights recent applications of biotechnological approaches to elucidate the underlying biology on both sides of the interaction. Their obligate biotrophic nature has hindered the development of simple nematode transformation protocols. Instead, transient or stable expression of the effector (native or tagged) in planta has been instrumental in elucidating the biology of plant-nematode interactions. Recent progress in the development of functional genetics tools 'in nematoda' promises further advances. Finally, we discuss how effector research has uncovered novel protein translocation routes in plant cells and may reveal additional unknown biological processes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Boris Stojilković
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Godelieve Gheysen
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
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