Deletion of pilA, a Minor Pilin-Like Gene, from Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri Influences Bacterial Physiology and Pathogenesis

Type IV pili (Tfp) are widely distributed adhesins of bacterial surfaces. In plant pathogenic bacteria, Tfp are involved in host colonization and pathogenesis. Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) is the phytopathogen responsible for citrus canker disease. In this work, three Tfp structural genes, f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current microbiology 2016-12, Vol.73 (6), p.904-914
Main Authors: Petrocelli, Silvana, Arana, Maite R., Cabrini, Marcela N., Casabuono, Adriana C., Moyano, Laura, Beltramino, Matías, Moreira, Leandro M., Couto, Alicia S., Orellano, Elena G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adhesins
Bacteria
Bacterial physiology
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
Biofilms
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
Canker
Citrus - microbiology
Colonization
Fimbriae Proteins - genetics
Fimbriae Proteins - metabolism
Gene Deletion
Genes
Host plants
Life Sciences
Microbiology
Pathogenesis
Physiology
PilA protein
Pili
Pilin
Plant bacterial diseases
Plant Diseases - microbiology
Plants (botany)
Virulence
Xanthomonas - genetics
Xanthomonas - metabolism
Xanthomonas - pathogenicity
Xanthomonas citri
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Summary:Type IV pili (Tfp) are widely distributed adhesins of bacterial surfaces. In plant pathogenic bacteria, Tfp are involved in host colonization and pathogenesis. Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) is the phytopathogen responsible for citrus canker disease. In this work, three Tfp structural genes, fimA , fimA1 , and pilA from Xcc were studied. A pilA mutant strain from Xcc ( XccΔpilA ) was constructed and differences in physiological features, such as motilities, adhesion, and biofilm formation, were observed. A structural study of the purified Tfp fractions from Xcc wild-type and Xcc∆pilA showed that pilins are glycosylated in both strains and that FimA and FimA1 are the main structural components of the pili. Furthermore, smaller lesion symptoms and reduced bacterial growth were produced by Xcc∆pilA in orange plants compared to the wild-type strain. These results indicate that the minor pilin-like gene, pilA , is involved in Tfp performance during the infection process.
ISSN:0343-8651
1432-0991
DOI:10.1007/s00284-016-1138-1