Open AccessA LuxR‐type regulator, AcrR, regulates flagellar assembly and contributes to virulence, motility, biofilm formation, and growth ability of Acidovorax citrulli
Author(s) -
Guan Wei,
Wang Tielin,
Huang Qi,
Tian Eryuan,
Liu Bo,
Yang Yuwen,
Zhao Tingchang
Publication year - 2020
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 - 10.1111/mpp.12910
Subject(s) - virulence , biofilm , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , mutant , regulator , pathogen , motility , gene , wild type , bacteria , genetics
LuxR‐type regulators regulate many bacterial processes and play important roles in bacterial motility and virulence. Acidovorax citrulli is a seedborne bacterial pathogen responsible for bacterial fruit blotch, which causes great losses in melon and watermelon worldwide. We identified a LuxR‐type, nonquorum sensing‐related regulator, AcrR, in the group II strain Aac‐5 of A. citrulli . We found that the acrR mutant lost twitching and swimming motilities, and flagellar formation. It also showed reduced virulence, but increased biofilm formation and growth ability. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 394 genes were differentially expressed in the acrR mutant of A. citrulli , including 33 genes involved in flagellar assembly. Our results suggest that AcrR may act as a global regulator affecting multiple important biological functions of A. citrulli.