scholarly journals The Destructive Fungal Pathogen Botrytis cinerea—Insights from Genes Studied with Mutant Analysis

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 923
Author(s):  
Nicholas Cheung ◽  
Lei Tian ◽  
Xueru Liu ◽  
Xin Li
Keyword(s):  
Botrytis Cinerea ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Gene Annotation ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Biological Mechanisms ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Mutant Analysis ◽  
Sclerotial Formation

Botrytis cinerea is one of the most destructive fungal pathogens affecting numerous plant hosts, including many important crop species. As a molecularly under-studied organism, its genome was only sequenced at the beginning of this century and it was recently updated with improved gene annotation and completeness. In this review, we summarize key molecular studies on B. cinerea developmental and pathogenesis processes, specifically on genes studied comprehensively with mutant analysis. Analyses of these studies have unveiled key genes in the biological processes of this pathogen, including hyphal growth, sclerotial formation, conidiation, pathogenicity and melanization. In addition, our synthesis has uncovered gaps in the present knowledge regarding development and virulence mechanisms. We hope this review will serve to enhance the knowledge of the biological mechanisms behind this notorious fungal pathogen.

scholarly journals The Notorious Soilborne Pathogenic Fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: An Update on Genes Studied with Mutant Analysis

Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shitou Xia ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
Ryan Hoy ◽  
Julia Zhang ◽  
Lei Qin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Gene Annotation ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Mutant Analysis ◽  
Ascospore Development ◽  
Sclerotial Formation

Ascomycete Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is one of the most damaging soilborne fungal pathogens affecting hundreds of plant hosts, including many economically important crops. Its genomic sequence has been available for less than a decade, and it was recently updated with higher completion and better gene annotation. Here, we review key molecular findings on the unique biology and pathogenesis process of S. sclerotiorum, focusing on genes that have been studied in depth using mutant analysis. Analyses of these genes have revealed critical players in the basic biological processes of this unique pathogen, including mycelial growth, appressorium establishment, sclerotial formation, apothecial and ascospore development, and virulence. Additionally, the synthesis has uncovered gaps in the current knowledge regarding this fungus. We hope that this review will serve to build a better current understanding of the biology of this under-studied notorious soilborne pathogenic fungus.

scholarly journals Recent advances in understanding Candida albicans hyphal growth

F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Arkowitz ◽  
Martine Bassilana
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Medical Research ◽  
Filamentous Fungi ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Yeast Form ◽  
Intensive Research ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen

Morphological changes are critical for the virulence of a range of plant and human fungal pathogens. Candida albicans is a major human fungal pathogen whose ability to switch between different morphological states is associated with its adaptability and pathogenicity. In particular, C. albicans can switch from an oval yeast form to a filamentous hyphal form, which is characteristic of filamentous fungi. What mechanisms underlie hyphal growth and how are they affected by environmental stimuli from the host or resident microbiota? These questions are the focus of intensive research, as understanding C. albicans hyphal growth has broad implications for cell biological and medical research.

scholarly journals The Glutamate Receptor Plays a Role in Defense against Botrytis cinerea through Electrical Signaling in Tomato

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 11217
Author(s):  
Shuxian Feng ◽  
Caizhe Pan ◽  
Shuting Ding ◽  
Qiaomei Ma ◽  
Chaoyi Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Botrytis Cinerea ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Plant Immunity ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Tomato Plants ◽  
Electrical Signals ◽  
Electrical Signaling ◽  
The Relationship

Plant glutamate-like receptor genes (GLRs) are homologous to mammalian ionotropic glutamate receptors genes (iGluRs). Although GLRs have been implicated in plant defenses to biotic stress, the relationship between GLR-mediated plant immunity against fungal pathogens and electrical signals remains poorly understood. Here, we found that pretreatment with a GLR inhibitor, 6,7-dinitriquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), increased the susceptibility of tomato plants to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Assessment of the glr3.3, glr3.5 and glr3.3/glr3.5 double-mutants upon B. cinerea infection showed that tomato GLR3.3 and GLR3.5 are essential for plant immunity against B. cinerea, wherein GLR3.3 plays the main role. Analysis of the membrane potential changes induced by glutamate (Glu) or glycine (Gly) revealed that amplitude was significantly reduced by knocking out GLR3.3 in tomato. While treatment with Glu or Gly significantly increased immunity against B. cinerea in wild-type plants, this effect was significantly attenuated in glr3.3 mutants. Thus, our data demonstrate that GLR3.3- and GLR3.5-mediated plant immunity against B. cinerea is associated with electrical signals in tomato plants.

scholarly journals A bacterial endophyte exploits chemotropism of a fungal pathogen for plant colonization

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Palmieri ◽  
Stefania Vitale ◽  
Giuseppe Lima ◽  
Antonio Di Pietro ◽  
David Turrà
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infection ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Plant Roots ◽  
Plant Colonization ◽  
Bacterial Endophytes ◽  
Biocontrol Activity ◽  
Preferential Access

Abstract Soil-inhabiting fungal pathogens use chemical signals released by roots to direct hyphal growth towards the host plant. Whether other soil microorganisms exploit this capacity for their own benefit is currently unknown. Here we show that the endophytic rhizobacterium Rahnella aquatilis locates hyphae of the root-infecting fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum through pH-mediated chemotaxis and uses them as highways to efficiently access and colonize plant roots. Secretion of gluconic acid (GlcA) by R. aquatilis in the rhizosphere leads to acidification and counteracts F. oxysporum-induced alkalinisation, a known virulence mechanism, thereby preventing fungal infection. Genetic abrogation or biochemical inhibition of GlcA-mediated acidification abolished biocontrol activity of R. aquatilis and restored fungal infection. These findings reveal a new way by which bacterial endophytes hijack hyphae of a fungal pathogen in the soil to gain preferential access to plant roots, thereby protecting the host from infection.

scholarly journals The Subtilisin-Like Protease Bcser2 Affects the Sclerotial Formation, Conidiation and Virulence of Botrytis cinerea

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinqiang Liu ◽  
Jiatao Xie ◽  
Yanping Fu ◽  
Daohong Jiang ◽  
Tao Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Botrytis Cinerea ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Double Deletion ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Grey Mold ◽  
Sclerotial Formation ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Rot Disease

Botrytis cinerea, a ubiquitous necrotrophic plant-pathogenic fungus, is responsible for grey mold and rot disease in a very wide range of plant species. Subtilisin-like proteases (or subtilases) are a very diverse family of serine proteases present in many organisms and are reported to have a broad spectrum of biological functions. Here, we identified two genes encoding subtilisin-like proteases (Bcser1 and Bcser2) in the genome of B. cinerea, both of which contain an inhibitor I9 domain and a peptidase S8 domain. The expression levels of Bcser1 and Bcser2 increased during the sclerotial forming stage, as well as during a later stage of hyphal infection on Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, but the up-regulation of Bcser1 was significantly higher than that of Bcser2. Interestingly, deletion of Bcser1 had no effect on the fungal development or virulence of B. cinerea. However, deletion of Bcser2 or double deletion of Bcser1 and Bcser2 severely impaired the hyphal growth, sclerotial formation and conidiation of B. cinerea. We also found that ∆Bcser2 and ∆Bcser1/2 could not form complete infection cushions and then lost the ability to infect intact plant leaves of Arabidopsis and tomato but could infect wounded plant tissues. Taken together, our results indicate that the subtilisin-like protease Bcser2 is crucial for the sclerotial formation, conidiation, and virulence of B. cinerea.

Dynamical Analysis of bantam-Regulated Drosophila Circadian Rhythm Model

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 1450161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Li ◽  
Zengrong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Classical Model ◽  
Dynamical Analysis ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Biological Mechanisms ◽  
Environmental Perturbations ◽  
Dynamical Behaviors ◽  
Important Regulator

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) interact with 3′untranslated region (UTR) elements of target genes to regulate mRNA stability or translation, and play a crucial role in regulating many different biological processes. bantam, a conserved miRNA, is involved in several functions, such as regulating Drosophila growth and circadian rhythm. Recently, it has been discovered that bantam plays a crucial role in the core circadian pacemaker. In this paper, based on experimental observations, a detailed dynamical model of bantam-regulated circadian clock system is developed to show the post-transcriptional behaviors in the modulation of Drosophila circadian rhythm, in which the regulation of bantam is incorporated into a classical model. The dynamical behaviors of the model are consistent with the experimental observations, which shows that bantam is an important regulator of Drosophila circadian rhythm. The sensitivity analysis of parameters demonstrates that with the regulation of bantam the system is more sensitive to perturbations, indicating that bantam regulation makes it easier for the organism to modulate its period against the environmental perturbations. The effectiveness in rescuing locomotor activity rhythms of mutated flies shows that bantam is necessary for strong and sustained rhythms. In addition, the biological mechanisms of bantam regulation are analyzed, which may help us more clearly understand Drosophila circadian rhythm regulated by other miRNAs.

scholarly journals Silencing of DND1 in potato and tomato impedes conidial germination, attachment and hyphal growth of Botrytis cinerea

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaile Sun ◽  
Ageeth van Tuinen ◽  
Jan A. L. van Kan ◽  
Anne-Marie A. Wolters ◽  
Evert Jacobsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Botrytis Cinerea ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Conidial Germination

Nanoscale adhesion forces between the fungal pathogen Candida albicans and macrophages

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofiane El-Kirat-Chatel ◽  
Yves F. Dufrêne
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Adhesion Forces ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force

We establish atomic force microscopy as a new nanoscopy platform for quantifying the forces between fungal pathogens and immune cells.

scholarly journals Comparative Proteomics Reveals the Potential Targets of BcNoxR, a Putative Regulatory Subunit of NADPH Oxidase of Botrytis cinerea

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 990-1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Li ◽  
Zhanquan Zhang ◽  
Chang He ◽  
Guozheng Qin ◽  
Shiping Tian
Keyword(s):  
Nadph Oxidase ◽  
Botrytis Cinerea ◽  
Proteomic Analysis ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Tomato Fruit ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Wild Type

The NADPH oxidase (NOX) complex has been shown to play a crucial role in stress response and in the virulence of various fungal pathogens. The underlying molecular mechanisms of NOX, however, remain largely unknown. In the present study, a comparative proteomic analysis compared changes in protein abundance in wild-type Botrytis cinerea and ΔbcnoxR mutants in which the regulatory subunit of NOX was deleted. The ΔbcnoxR mutants exhibited reduced growth, sporulation, and impaired virulence. A total of 60 proteins, representing 49 individual genes, were identified in ΔbcnoxR mutants that exhibited significant differences in abundance relative to wild-type. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that the differences in transcript levels for 36 of the genes encoding the identified proteins were in agreement with the proteomic analysis, while the remainder exhibited reverse levels. Functional analysis of four proteins that decreased abundance in the ΔbcnoxR mutants indicated that 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (BcPGD) played a role in the growth and sporulation of B. cinerea. The Δbcpgd mutants also displayed impaired virulence on various hosts, such as apple, strawberry, and tomato fruit. These results suggest that NOX can influence the expression of BcPGD, which has an impact on growth, sporulation, and virulence of B. cinerea.

scholarly journals Synergy and remarkable specificity of antimicrobial peptides in vivo using a systematic knockout approach

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Austin Hanson ◽  
Anna Dostálová ◽  
Camilla Ceroni ◽  
Mickael Poidevin ◽  
Shu Kondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Cationic Peptides ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are host-encoded antibiotics that combat invading microorganisms. These short, cationic peptides have been implicated in many biological processes, primarily involving innate immunity. In vitro studies have shown AMPs kill bacteria and fungi at physiological concentrations, but little validation has been done in vivo. We utilized CRISPR gene editing to delete most known immune-inducible AMPs of Drosophila, namely: 4 Attacins, 2 Diptericins, Drosocin, Drosomycin, Metchnikowin and Defensin. Using individual and multiple knockouts, including flies lacking these ten AMP genes, we characterize the in vivo function of individual and groups of AMPs against diverse bacterial and fungal pathogens. We found that Drosophila AMPs act primarily against Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, contributing either additively or synergistically. We also describe remarkable specificity wherein certain AMPs contribute the bulk of microbicidal activity against specific pathogens, providing functional demonstrations of highly specific AMP-pathogen interactions in an in vivo setting.

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