scholarly journals Large-Scale Genome Scanning within Exonic Regions Revealed the Contributions of Selective Sweep Prone Genes to Host Divergence and Adaptation in Magnaporthe oryzae Species Complex

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 562
Author(s):  
Guohua Duan ◽  
Jiandong Bao ◽  
Xiaomin Chen ◽  
Jiahui Xie ◽  
Yuchan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Selection Pressure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Composite Likelihood ◽  
Blast Disease ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Extended Haplotype ◽  
Blast Fungus ◽  
The Impact

Magnaporthe oryzae, one of the most notorious plant pathogens in the agronomic ecosystem, causes a destructive rice blast disease around the world. The blast fungus infects wide arrays of cultivated and non-cultivated plants within the Poaceae. Studies have shown that host speciation exerts selection pressure that drives the evolution and divergence of the M. oryzae population. Population genetic relationship deducted by genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms showed that M. oryzae differentiation is highly consistent with the host speciation process. In particular, the rice-infecting population of M. oryzae is distinct from populations from other hosts. However, how genome regions prone to host-mediated selection pressures associated with speciation in M. oryzae, especially at a large-scale population level, has not been extensively characterized. Here, we detected strong evidence of sweep selection throughout the genomes of rice and non-rice pathotypes of M. oryzae population using integrated haplotype score (iHS), cross population extended haplotype homozygosity (XPEHH), and cross population composite likelihood ratio (XPCLR) tests. Functional annotation analyses of the genes associated with host-mediated selection pressure showed that 14 pathogenicity-related genes are under positive selection pressure. Additionally, we showed that 17 candidate effector proteins are under positive and divergent selection among the blast fungus population through sweep selection analysis. Specifically, we find that a divergent selective gene, MGG_13871, is experiencing host-directed mutation in two amino acid residues in rice and non-rice infecting populations. These results provide a crucial insight into the impact of selective sweeping on the differentiation of M. oryzae populations and the dynamic influences of genomic regions in promoting host adaptation and speciation among M. oryzae species.

scholarly journals The mitotic spindle mediates nuclear migration through an extremely narrow infection structure of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariel A. Pfeifer ◽  
Chang Hyun Khang
Keyword(s):  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Rice Blast ◽  
Mechanistic Model ◽  
Nuclear Migration ◽  
Blast Disease ◽  
Cellular Structures ◽  
Blast Fungus ◽  
Single Nucleus ◽  
Migration Event

The blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, causes severe destruction to rice and other crops worldwide. As the fungus infects rice, it develops unique cellular structures, such as an appressorium and a narrow penetration peg, to permit successful invasion of host rice cells. Fundamental knowledge about these cellular structures and how organelles, such as the nucleus, are positioned within them is still emerging. Previous studies show that a single nucleus becomes highly stretched during movement through the narrow penetration peg in an extreme nuclear migration event. Yet, the mechanism permitting this nuclear migration event remains elusive. Here, we investigate the role of the mitotic spindle in mediating nuclear migration through the penetration peg. We find that disruption of spindle function during nuclear migration through the penetration peg prevents development of invasive hyphae and virulence on rice. Furthermore, regulated expression of conserved kinesin motor proteins, MoKin5 and MoKin14, is essential to form and maintain the spindle, as well as, properly nucleate the primary hypha. Overexpression of MoKin5 leads to formation of aberrant microtubule protrusions, which contributes to formation of nuclear fragments within the appressorium and primary hypha. Conversely, overexpression of MoKin14 causes the spindle to collapse leading to the formation of monopolar spindles. These results establish a mechanistic model towards understanding the intricate subcellular dynamics of extreme nuclear migration through the penetration peg, a critical step in the development of rice blast disease.

scholarly journals Recently expanded clonal lineages of the rice blast fungus display distinct patterns of presence/absence of effector genes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio M. Latorre ◽  
C. Sarai Reyes-Avila ◽  
Angus Malmgren ◽  
Joe Win ◽  
Sophien Kamoun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rice Blast ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Rice Blast Fungus ◽  
Population History ◽  
Blast Disease ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Genetic History ◽  
Effector Genes ◽  
Blast Fungus ◽  
History Of

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding the mechanisms and timescales of plant pathogen outbreaks requires a detailed genome-scale analysis of their population history. The fungus Magnaporthe (Syn. Pyricularia) oryzae —the causal agent of blast disease of cereals— is among the most destructive plant pathogens to world agriculture and a major threat to the production of rice, wheat and other cereals. Although M. oryzae is a multihost pathogen that infects more than 50 species of cereals and grasses, all rice-infecting isolates belong to a single genetically defined lineage. Here, we combined multiple genomics datasets to reconstruct the genetic history of the rice-infecting lineage of M. oryzae based on 131 isolates from 21 countries.ResultsThe global population of the rice blast fungus consists of a diverse set of individuals and three well-defined genetic groups. Multiple population genetic tests revealed that the rice-infecting lineage of the blast fungus probably originated from a recombining diverse group in South East Asia followed by three independent clonal expansions that took place over the last ∼200 years. Patterns of allele sharing identified a subpopulation from the recombining diverse group that introgressed with one of the clonal lineages before its global expansion. Remarkably, the four genetic lineages of the rice blast fungus vary in the number and patterns of presence/absence of candidate effector genes. In particular, clonal lineages carry a reduced repertoire of effector genes compared with the diverse group, and specific combinations of effector presence/absence define each of the pandemic clonal lineages.ConclusionsOur analyses reconstruct the genetic history of the rice-infecting lineage of M. oryzae revealing three clonal lineages associated with rice blast pandemics. Each of these lineages displays a specific pattern of presence/absence of effector genes that may have shaped their adaptation to the rice host and their evolutionary history.

scholarly journals Evolution of Compatibility Range in the Rice−Magnaporthe oryzae System: An Uneven Distribution of R Genes Between Rice Subspecies

2016 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 348-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain Gallet ◽  
Colin Fontaine ◽  
François Bonnot ◽  
Joëlle Milazzo ◽  
Christophe Tertois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Blast Disease ◽  
R Genes ◽  
Host Genotype ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Genetic Groups ◽  
Plant Variety ◽  
Plant Pathogen Interaction ◽  
The Impact

Efficient strategies for limiting the impact of pathogens on crops require a good understanding of the factors underlying the evolution of compatibility range for the pathogens and host plants, i.e., the set of host genotypes that a particular pathogen genotype can infect and the set of pathogen genotypes that can infect a particular host genotype. Until now, little is known about the evolutionary and ecological factors driving compatibility ranges in systems implicating crop plants. We studied the evolution of host and pathogen compatibility ranges for rice blast disease, which is caused by the ascomycete Magnaporthe oryzae. We challenged 61 rice varieties from three rice subspecies with 31 strains of M. oryzae collected worldwide from all major known genetic groups. We determined the compatibility range of each plant variety and pathogen genotype and the severity of each plant−pathogen interaction. Compatibility ranges differed between rice subspecies, with the most resistant subspecies selecting for pathogens with broader compatibility ranges and the least resistant subspecies selecting for pathogens with narrower compatibility ranges. These results are consistent with a nested distribution of R genes between rice subspecies.

scholarly journals Wheat blast disease: Bangladesh and global perspectives of blast resistance

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-132
Author(s):  
M. Thoihidul Islam ◽  
Mohammad Rashid Arif ◽  
Lutful Hassan ◽  
Arif Hasan Khan Robin
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Blast Resistance ◽  
Blast Disease ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Resistant Variety ◽  
Wheat Blast ◽  
Resistant Genes ◽  
Blast Fungus ◽  
Wide Range

Fearsome wheat blast disease expanded its radius from Latin America to Bangladesh in 2016 with higher degrees of destruction efficiency. In 1985, Brazil was the first hotspot and consecutively Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia were affected by the wheat blast fungus. Blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is under pyriculariaceae family with three-celled, pyriform, hyaline conidia. Not only wheat and rice are affected by the blast pathogen but also around 50 grass species can be affected and act as host, but the fungus pathotype is specific and distinct for each plant species. Morpho-biometrical analysis revealed similarity between the Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Tritici (MoT) strain of Bangladeshi and Brazil. Through extensive molecular genetics and genomics study unfolded five resistant genes, among those Rmg2, Rmg3, and Rmg7 lost viability but Rmg8 and RmgGR119 still have resistance. In addition, 2NS translocation from Aegilops ventricosa in wheat reports resistance against MoT. CIMMYT based Milan variety is regarded as a resistant variety and plant breeders are trying to develop new resistant varieties. But the main problem regarding blast pathogen is breakdown of resistance and evolving virulent races consecutively which is fueled by global warming. A wide range of molecular markers can potentially be used for blast resistance study. Utilization of medium to high-throughput markers like SSR, InDel and SNP gave pace in blast resistance study. Along with that, allele mining has potentiality for finding out source of resistance. In addition, gene pyramiding will play a vital role in introgression of multiple resistant genes into a superior wheat linage. In future, high-throughput marker technology along with cutting-edge gene editing technology will play a pivotal role. Furthermore, the collaborative research in Bangladesh indicates that international scientific community has taken wheat blast as a serious issue. J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 17(2): 122–132, June 2019

scholarly journals Osa-miR162a fine-tunes rice resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae and yield

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu-Pu Li ◽  
Xiao-Chun Ma ◽  
He Wang ◽  
Yong Zhu ◽  
Xin-Xian Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Blast Disease ◽  
Yield Traits ◽  
Related Gene ◽  
Seed Setting ◽  
Enhanced Resistance ◽  
Blast Fungus ◽  
Defense Related Gene ◽  
Transgenic Lines ◽  
Seed Setting Rate

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in rice immunity against Magnaporthe oryzae, the causative agent of rice blast disease. Here we demonstrate that Osa-miR162a fine-tunes rice immunity against M. oryzae and yield traits. Overexpression of Osa-miR162a enhances rice resistance to M. oryzae accompanying enhanced induction of defense-related genes and accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In contrast, blocking Osa-miR162 by overexpressing a target mimic of Osa-miR162a enhances susceptibility to blast fungus associating with compromised induction of defense-related gene expression and H2O2 accumulation. Moreover, the transgenic lines overexpressing Osa-miR162a display decreased seed setting rate resulting in slight reduced yield per plant, whereas the transgenic lines blocking Osa-miR162 show an increased number of grains per panicle, resulting in increased yield per plant. Altered accumulation of Osa-miR162 had a limited impact on the expression of rice Dicer-like 1 (OsDCL1) in these transgenic lines showing normal gross morphology, and silencing of OsDCL1 led to enhanced resistance to blast fungus similar to that caused by overexpression of Osa-miR162a, suggesting the involvement of OsDCL1 in Osa-miR162a-regulated resistance. Together, our results indicate that Osa-miR162a is involved in rice immunity against M. oryzae and fine-tunes resistance and yield.

scholarly journals Genetic Variation Bias toward Noncoding Regions and Secreted Proteins in the Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

mSystems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenhui Zhong ◽  
Meilian Chen ◽  
Lianyu Lin ◽  
Ruiqi Chen ◽  
Dan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Experimental Evolution ◽  
Rice Blast ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Rice Blast Fungus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Noncoding Regions ◽  
Blast Fungus ◽  
Pathogen Populations

ABSTRACT The genomes of plant pathogens are highly variable and plastic. Pathogen gene repertoires change quickly with the plant environment, which results in a rapid loss of plant resistance shortly after the pathogen emerges in the field. Extensive studies have evaluated natural pathogen populations to understand their evolutionary effects; however, the number of studies that have examined the dynamic processes of the mutation and adaptation of plant pathogens to host plants remains limited. Here, we applied experimental evolution and high-throughput pool sequencing to Magnaporthe oryzae, a fungal pathogen that causes massive losses in rice production, to observe the evolution of genome variation. We found that mutations, including single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions and deletions (indels), and transposable element (TE) insertions, accumulated very rapidly throughout the genome of M. oryzae during sequential plant inoculation and preferentially in noncoding regions, while such mutations were not frequently found in coding regions. However, we also observed that new TE insertions accumulated with time and preferentially accumulated at the proximal region of secreted protein (SP) coding genes in M. oryzae populations. Taken together, these results revealed a bias in genetic variation toward noncoding regions and SP genes in M. oryzae and may contribute to the rapid adaptive evolution of the blast fungal effectors under host selection. IMPORTANCE Plants “lose” resistance toward pathogens shortly after their widespread emergence in the field because plant pathogens mutate and adapt rapidly under resistance selection. Thus, the rapid evolution of pathogens is a serious threat to plant health. Extensive studies have evaluated natural pathogen populations to understand their evolutionary effects; however, the study of the dynamic processes of the mutation and adaptation of plant pathogens to host plants remains limited. Here, by performing an experimental evolution study, we found a bias in genetic variation toward noncoding regions and SPs in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, which explains the ability of the rice blast fungus to maintain high virulence variation to overcome rice resistance in the field.

scholarly journals Cellular Dynamics and Genomic Identity of Centromeres in Cereal Blast Fungus

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikas Yadav ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Md. Hashim Reza ◽  
Sanzhen Liu ◽  
Barbara Valent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Rice Blast ◽  
Metaphase Plate ◽  
Blast Disease ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Kinetochore Assembly ◽  
Blast Fungus

ABSTRACT Precise kinetochore-microtubule interactions ensure faithful chromosome segregation in eukaryotes. Centromeres, identified as scaffolding sites for kinetochore assembly, are among the most rapidly evolving chromosomal loci in terms of the DNA sequence and length and organization of intrinsic elements. Neither the centromere structure nor the kinetochore dynamics is well studied in plant-pathogenic fungi. Here, we sought to understand the process of chromosome segregation in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. High-resolution imaging of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged inner kinetochore proteins CenpA and CenpC revealed unusual albeit transient declustering of centromeres just before anaphase separation of chromosomes in M. oryzae. Strikingly, the declustered centromeres positioned randomly at the spindle midzone without an apparent metaphase plate per se. Using CenpA chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing, all seven centromeres in M. oryzae were found to be regional, spanning 57-kb to 109-kb transcriptionally poor regions. Highly AT-rich and heavily methylated DNA sequences were the only common defining features of all the centromeres in rice blast. Lack of centromere-specific DNA sequence motifs or repetitive elements suggests an epigenetic specification of centromere function in M. oryzae. PacBio genome assemblies and synteny analyses facilitated comparison of the centromeric/pericentromeric regions in distinct isolates of rice blast and wheat blast and in Magnaporthiopsis poae. Overall, this study revealed unusual centromere dynamics and precisely identified the centromere loci in the top model fungal pathogens that belong to Magnaporthales and cause severe losses in the global production of food crops and turf grasses. IMPORTANCE Magnaporthe oryzae is an important fungal pathogen that causes a loss of 10% to 30% of the annual rice crop due to the devastating blast disease. In most organisms, kinetochores are clustered together or arranged at the metaphase plate to facilitate synchronized anaphase separation of sister chromatids in mitosis. In this study, we showed that the initially clustered kinetochores separate and position randomly prior to anaphase in M. oryzae. Centromeres in M. oryzae occupy large genomic regions and form on AT-rich DNA without any common sequence motifs. Overall, this study identified atypical kinetochore dynamics and mapped functional centromeres in M. oryzae to define the roles of centromeric and pericentric boundaries in kinetochore assembly on epigenetically specified centromere loci. This study should pave the way for further understanding of the contribution of heterochromatin in genome stability and virulence of the blast fungus and its related species of high economic importance.

scholarly journals Suitable methods for isolation, culture, storage and identification of wheat blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum pathotype

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipali Rani Gupta ◽  
Musrat Zahan Surovy ◽  
Nur Uddin Mahmud ◽  
Moutoshi Chakraborty ◽  
Sanjoy Kumar Paul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Morphological Characterization ◽  
Blast Disease ◽  
Specific Primers ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Isolation Technique ◽  
Wheat Blast ◽  
Blast Fungus ◽  
Short Period

Abstract Wheat blast disease caused by a South American lineage of Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum (MoT) pathotype has emerged as a serious threat to wheat production in Bangladesh since its first emergence in 2016. Efficient and suitable methods for isolation, storage, inoculum production and molecular characterization of the pathogen can help in achieving the target of sustainable management of the disease in a relatively short period of time. In this study, we aimed to develop suitable methods for isolation, storage and morphological characterization and molecular identification of MoT isolates collected from the blast-infected wheat fields in Bangladesh. This process included modification of existing protocols that were available for a related fungal pathogen M. oryzae or de novo method development and validation. We developed suitable methods for isolation of MoT from field-infected plant samples using modified monoconidial isolation technique and produced abundant conidia from a single mycelial plate for in vivo pathogenicity assay in a reproducible manner. Cultural and morphological characterization of the isolates revealed that all Bangladeshi MoT isolates are of a single clonal lineage with similar cultural and morphological characters. Molecular detection of isolates with M. oryzae-specific primers Pot1 and Pot2 and MoT-specific primers MoT3F and MoT3R produced bands with the expected size from all wheat-infecting isolates. We also successfully established a PCR-based detection system based on a commercially available detection kit for field-infected leaf and seed samples by detecting Pot2- and MoT3-specific bands. Additionally, the simple method we developed in our study for producing abundant conidia in a very short period of time will be very helpful in studying biology of the wheat blast fungus. This method was also proven to be more user-friendly and cost-effective than previously available methods. Successful characterization of MoT isolates at morphological and molecular levels coupled with detection of the pathogen in infected field and seed lots should be useful for efficient surveillance and management of the fearsome wheat blast disease.

Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: An International Survey in April 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (04) ◽  
pp. 294-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz S. Freudenberg ◽  
Ulf Dittmer ◽  
Ken Herrmann
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Medicine ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Public Versus Private ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Preparations of health systems to accommodate large number of severely ill COVID-19 patients in March/April 2020 has a significant impact on nuclear medicine departments. Materials and Methods A web-based questionnaire was designed to differentiate the impact of the pandemic on inpatient and outpatient nuclear medicine operations and on public versus private health systems, respectively. Questions were addressing the following issues: impact on nuclear medicine diagnostics and therapy, use of recommendations, personal protective equipment, and organizational adaptations. The survey was available for 6 days and closed on April 20, 2020. Results 113 complete responses were recorded. Nearly all participants (97 %) report a decline of nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. The mean reduction in the last three weeks for PET/CT, scintigraphies of bone, myocardium, lung thyroid, sentinel lymph-node are –14.4 %, –47.2 %, –47.5 %, –40.7 %, –58.4 %, and –25.2 % respectively. Furthermore, 76 % of the participants report a reduction in therapies especially for benign thyroid disease (-41.8 %) and radiosynoviorthesis (–53.8 %) while tumor therapies remained mainly stable. 48 % of the participants report a shortage of personal protective equipment. Conclusions Nuclear medicine services are notably reduced 3 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic reached Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a large scale. We must be aware that the current crisis will also have a significant economic impact on the healthcare system. As the survey cannot adapt to daily dynamic changes in priorities, it serves as a first snapshot requiring follow-up studies and comparisons with other countries and regions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document