Immunodominant membrane proteins of phytoplasmas

Phytoplasmas are plant-pathogenic, phloem-colonizing, cell wall-less microorganisms that are primarily dependent on insect transmission for their spread and survival. The life cycle of phytoplasmas involves replication in insects and host plants. Until recently, phytoplasmas have resisted all attemp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microbiology (Society for General Microbiology) 2016-08, Vol.162 (8), p.1267-1273
Main Authors: Konnerth, Alisa, Krczal, Gabriele, Boonrod, Kajohn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence - genetics
Animals
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
Cell Membrane - metabolism
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Immunodominant Epitopes - genetics
Immunodominant Epitopes - metabolism
Insecta - microbiology
Membrane Proteins - genetics
Membrane Proteins - metabolism
Phytoplasma - genetics
Phytoplasma - metabolism
Plant Diseases - microbiology
Plants - microbiology
Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Summary:Phytoplasmas are plant-pathogenic, phloem-colonizing, cell wall-less microorganisms that are primarily dependent on insect transmission for their spread and survival. The life cycle of phytoplasmas involves replication in insects and host plants. Until recently, phytoplasmas have resisted all attempts at cultivation in cell-free media, making these pathogens poorly characterized on a physiological and biochemical basis. However, host-pathogen relationships can be studied by investigating immunodominant membrane proteins (IDPs), which are located on the exterior surfaces of phytoplasma cells and are the most abundant proteins of the cell membrane. These membrane proteins come in direct contact with both insect and plant hosts and are thought to play a crucial role in phytoplasma spread both within the plant and by insect vectors. Therefore, there is great interest in studying this class of proteins. We summarize and discuss important investigations about these membrane proteins, which have already provided a better understanding of the host-phytoplasma relationship.
ISSN:1350-0872
1465-2080
DOI:10.1099/mic.0.000331