Open AccessHow the bacterial plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria conquers the host
Author(s) -
Bonas Ulla,
Van den Ackerveken Guido,
Büttner Daniela,
Hahn Karoline,
Marois Eric,
Nennstiel Dirk,
Noel Laurent,
Rossier Ombeline,
Szurek Boris
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1046/j.1364-3703.2000.00010.x
Subject(s) - xanthomonas campestris , biology , xanthomonas , gene , hypersensitive response , secretion , pathogen , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , pepper , genetics , type three secretion system , plant disease resistance , virulence , biochemistry , horticulture
Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria ( Xcv ) is the causal agent of bacterial spot disease on pepper and tomato. Pathogenicity on susceptible plants and the induction of the hypersensitive reaction (HR) on resistant plants requires a number of genes, designated hrp , most of which are clustered in a 23‐kb chromosomal region. Nine hrp genes encode components of a type III protein secretion apparatus that is conserved in Gram‐negative plant and animal pathogenic bacteria. We have recently demonstrated that Xcv secretes proteins into the culture medium in a hrp ‐dependent manner. Substrates of the Hrp secretion machinery are pathogenicity factors and avirulence proteins, e.g. AvrBs3. The AvrBs3 protein governs recognition, i.e. HR induction, when bacteria infect pepper plants carrying the corresponding resistance gene Bs3 . Intriguingly, the AvrBs3 protein contains eukaryotic signatures such as nuclear localization signals (NLS), and has been shown to act inside the plant cell. We postulate that AvrBs3 is transferred into the plant cell via the Hrp type III pathway and that recognition of AvrBs3 takes place in the plant cell nucleus.