Using proteomics and genomics to search for low temperature virulence factors in Ralstonia solanacearum
2015
Bocsanczy, A. M. | Norman, D. J. | Huguet-Tapia, J. C. | Achenbach, U. | Mangravita-Novo, A.
Ralstonia solanacearum is the causal agent of bacterial wilt of solanaceous plants. In the USA the disease is of economic importance in potato, tomato and tobacco crops. Strains of the Race 3 Biovar 2 (R3B2) can infect tomato and potato at low temperatures and are not established in North America, thus posing a threat to its agriculture. In previous works we identified strains of R1B1 sequevar 4 that are pathogenic on tomato at low temperatures, and are endemic in Florida. Because of the potential threat to the tomato industry we sought to identify potential virulence factors at low temperatures. Using a proteomics approach we identified a core set of 31 proteins that are produced differentially at 30 and 18°C. These proteins are present in both cool virulent and non-pathogenic strains at 18°C; however, their abundance is dependent on temperature. Preliminary virulence tests of a cool virulent R1B1 strain (P673) suggest that virulence of a mutant impaired in twitching motility is dependent on temperature. Currently, we are sequencing the genome of P673. Using comparative genomics of phylogenetically closely related strains we are planning to search for genetic factors that are present in cool virulent strains and absent in non-pathogenic ones at low temperatures. The combined results will provide new insights into the genetic factors and mechanisms of virulence at low temperatures.
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