Priming in plant-pathogen interactions

Plants can acquire enhanced resistance to pathogens after treatment with necrotizing attackers, nonpathogenic root-colonizing pseudomonads, salicylic acid, beta-aminobutyric acid and many other natural or synthetic compounds. The induced resistance is often associated with an enhanced capacity to mobilize infection-induced cellular defence responses - a process called 'priming'. Although the phenomenon has been known for years, most progress in our understanding of priming has been made only recently. These studies show that priming often depends on the induced disease resistance key regulator NPR1 (also known as NIM1 or SAI1) and that priming has a major effect on the regulation of cellular plant defence responses.     

NAD: Not just a pawn on the board of plant-pathogen interactions

Many metabolic processes that occur in living cells involve oxido-reduction (redox) chemistry underpinned by redox compounds such as glutathione, ascorbate and/or pyridine nucleotides. Among these redox carriers, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is the cornerstone of cellular oxidations along catabolism and is therefore essential for plant growth and development. In addition to its redox role, there is now compelling evidence that NAD is a signal molecule controlling crucial functions like primary and secondary carbon metabolism. Recent studies using integrative -omics approaches combined with molecular pathology have shown that manipulating NAD biosynthesis and recycling lead to an alteration of metabolites pools and developmental processes, and changes in the resistance to various pathogens. NAD levels should now be viewed as a potential target to improve tolerance to biotic stress and crop improvement. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the key role of NAD (and its metabolism) in plant responses to pathogen infections.     

植物与病原微生物互作分子基础的研究进展

植物在与病原微生物共同进化过程中形成了复杂的免疫防卫体系。植物的先天免疫系统可大致分为两个层面。第一个层面的免疫基于细胞表面的模式识别受体对病原物相关分子模式的识别,该免疫过程被称为病原物相关分子模式触发的免疫(PAMP-triggered immunity,PTI),能帮助植物抵抗大部分病原微生物;第二个层面的免疫起始于细胞内部,主要依靠抗病基因编码的蛋白产物直接或间接识别病原微生物分泌的效应子并且激发防卫反应,来抵抗那些能够利用效应子抑制第一层面免疫的病原微生物,这一过程被称为效应子触发的免疫(Effector-triggered immunity,ETI)。这两个层面的免疫都是基于植物对"自我"及"非我"的识别,依靠MAPK级联等信号网络,将识别结果传递到细胞核内,调控相应基因的表达,做出适当的免疫应答。本文着重阐述了植物与病原微生物互作过程中不同层面的免疫反应所发生主要事件的分子基础及研究进展。     

植物与病原菌互作的蛋白质组学研究进展

蛋白质组学作为功能基因组学研究的主要内容之一,在阐述基因功能、了解生命现象和本质的分子机制等方面发挥着重要作用。植物蛋白质组学作为蛋白质组学的一个分支,研究应用也越来越广泛,尤其是探索植物与病原菌互作机制是其中的一个研究热点。本文就多年来植物与真菌、病毒、细菌互作的蛋白质组学研究做一综述,并对当前该领域今后的研究方向进行展望,以期为相关研究提供一些参考和理论基础。     

植物与病原微生物互作分子基础的研究进展

植物在与病原微生物共同进化过程中形成了复杂的免疫防卫体系。植物的先天免疫系统可大致分为两个层面。第一个层面的免疫基于细胞表面的模式识别受体对病原物相关分子模式的识别, 该免疫过程被称为病原物相关分子模式触发的免疫(PAMP-triggered immunity, PTI), 能帮助植物抵抗大部分病原微生物; 第二个层面的免疫起始于细胞内部, 主要依靠抗病基因编码的蛋白产物直接或间接识别病原微生物分泌的效应子并且激发防卫反应, 来抵抗那些能够利用效应子抑制第一层面免疫的病原微生物, 这一过程被称为效应子触发的免疫(Effector-triggered immunity, ETI)。这两个层面的免疫都是基于植物对“自我”及“非我”的识别, 依靠MAPK级联等信号网络, 将识别结果传递到细胞核内, 调控相应基因的表达, 做出适当的免疫应答。本文着重阐述了植物与病原微生物互作过程中不同层面的免疫反应所发生主要事件的分子基础及研究进展。     

Proteomic approaches to study plant-pathogen interactions

The analysis of plant proteomes has drastically expanded in the last few years. Mass spectrometry technology, stains, software and progress in bioinformatics have made identification of proteins relatively easy. The assignment of proteins to particular organelles and the development of better algorithms to predict sub-cellular localization are examples of how proteomic studies are contributing to plant biology. Protein phosphorylation and degradation are also known to occur during plant defense signaling cascades. Despite the great potential to give contributions to the study of plant-pathogen interactions, only recently has the proteomic approach begun to be applied to this field. Biological variation and complexity in a situation involving two organisms in intimate contact are intrinsic challenges in this area, however, for proteomics studies yet, there is no substitute for in planta studies with pathogens, and ways to address these problems are discussed. Protein identification depends not only on mass spectrometry, but also on the existence of complete genome sequence databases for comparison. Although the number of completely sequenced genomes is constantly growing, only four plants have their genomes completely sequenced. Additionally, there are already a number of pathosystems where both partners in the interaction have genomes fully sequenced and where functional genomics tools are available. It is thus to be expected that great progress in understanding the biology of these pathosystems will be made over the next few years. Cheaper sequencing technologies should make protein identification in non-model species easier and the bottleneck in proteomic research should shift from unambiguous protein identification to determination of protein function.     

Enzyme-inhibitor interactions at the plant-pathogen interface

The plant apoplast during plant-pathogen interactions is an ancient battleground that holds an intriguing range of attacking enzymes and counteracting inhibitors. Examples are pathogen xylanases and polygalacturonases that are inhibited by plant proteins like TAXI, XIP, and PGIP; and plant glucanases and proteases, which are targeted by pathogen proteins such as GIP1, EPI1, EPIC2B, and AVR2. These seven well-characterized inhibitors have different modes of action and many probably evolved from inactive enzymes themselves. Detailed studies of the structures, sequence variation, and mutated proteins uncovered molecular struggles between these enzymes and their inhibitors, resulting in positive selection for variant residues at the contact surface, where single residues determine the outcome of the interaction.     

Nitric oxide signaling in plant-pathogen interactions

Nitric oxide (NO), first characterized as an endothelium-derived relaxation factor, is involved in diverse cellular processes including neuronal signaling, blood pressure homeostasis, and immune response. Recent studies have also revealed a role for NO as a signaling molecule in plants. As a developmental regulator, NO promotes germination, leaf extension and root growth, and delays leaf senescence and fruit maturation. Moreover, NO acts as a key signal in plant resistance to incompatible pathogens by triggering resistance-associated hypersensitive cell death. In addition, NO activates the expression of several defense genes (e.g. pathogenesis-related genes, phenylalanine ammonialyase, chalcone synthase) and could play a role in pathways leading to systemic acquired resistance.     

Recognition and response in plant-pathogen interactions

Most plants are resistant to the majority of pathogens. Susceptibility is the exception to the more common state of resistance, i.e., being refractory to infection. However, plant pathogens cause serious economic losses by reducing crop yield and quality. Although such organisms are relatively simple genetic entities, in plants, the mechanisms underlying the generation of disease symptoms and resistance responses are complex and, often, unknown. The study of genes associated with plant-pathogen resistance addresses fundamental questions about the molecular, biochemical, cellular, and physiological means of these interactions. Over the past 10 years, the cloning and analysis of numerous plant resistance genes has led researchers to formulate unifying theories about resistance and susceptibility, and the co-evolution of plant pathogens and their hosts. In this review, we discuss the identification of response genes that have been characterized at the molecular level, as well as their putative links to various signaling pathways. We also summarize the knowledge regarding crosstalk among signaling pathways and plant resistance genes.     

Plant integrity: An important factor in plant-pathogen interactions

The effect of plant integrity and of aboveground-belowground defense signaling on plant resistance against pathogens and herbivores is emerging as a subject of scientific research. There is increasing evidence that plant defense responses to pathogen infection differ between whole intact plants and detached leaves. Studies have revealed the importance of aboveground-belowground defense signaling for plant defenses against herbivores, while our studies have uncovered that the roots as well as the plant integrity are important for the resistance of the potato cultivar Sarpo Mira against the hemibiotrophic oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Furthermore, in the Sarpo Mira–P. infestans interactions, the plant’s meristems, the stalks or both, seem to be associated with the development of the hypersensitive response and both the plant’s roots and shoots contain antimicrobial compounds when the aerial parts of the plants are infected. Here, we present a short overview of the evidence indicating the importance of plant integrity on plant defense responses.     

Protein acetylation and deacetylation in plant-pathogen interactions

Protein acetylation and deacetylation catalysed by lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) and deacetylases (KDACs), respectively, are major mechanisms regulating various cellular processes. During the fight between microbial pathogens and host plants, both apply a set of measures, including acetylation interference, to strengthen themselves while suppressing the other. In this review, we first summarize KATs and KDACs in plants and their pathogens. Next, we introduce diverse acetylation and deacetylation mechanisms affecting protein functions, including the regulation of enzyme activity and specificity, protein–protein or protein-DNA interactions, subcellular localization and protein stability. We then focus on the current understanding of acetylation and deacetylation in plant–pathogen interactions. Additionally, we also discuss potential acetylation-related approaches for controlling plant diseases.     

Nitric oxide signalling functions in plant-pathogen interactions

Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive molecule that rapidly diffuses and permeates cell membranes. During the last few years NO has been detected in several plant species, and the increasing number of reports on its function in plants have implicated NO as a key molecular signal that participates in the regulation of several physiological processes; in particular, it has a significant role in plant resistance to pathogens by triggering resistance-associated cell death and by contributing to the local and systemic induction of defence genes. NO stimulates signal transduction pathways through protein kinases, cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization and protein modification (i.e. nitrosylation and nitration). In this review we will examine the synthesis of NO, its effects, functions and signalling giving rise to the hypersensitive response and systemic acquired resistance during plant-pathogen interactions.     

Nicotiana benthamiana: its history and future as a model for plant-pathogen interactions

Nicotiana benthamiana is the most widely used experimental host in plant virology, due mainly to the large number of diverse plant viruses that can successfully infect it. Additionally, N. benthamiana is susceptible to a wide variety of other plant-pathogenic agents (such as bacteria, oomycetes, fungi, and so on), making this species a cornerstone of host-pathogen research, particularly in the context of innate immunity and defense signaling. Moreover, because it can be genetically transformed and regenerated with good efficiency and is amenable to facile methods for virus-induced gene silencing or transient protein expression, N. benthamiana is rapidly gaining popularity in plant biology, particularly in studies requiring protein localization, interaction, or plant-based systems for protein expression and purification. Paradoxically, despite being an indispensable research model, little is known about the origins, genetic variation, or ecology of the N. benthamiana accessions currently used by the research community. In addition to addressing these latter topics, the purpose of this review is to provide information regarding sources for tools and reagents that can be used to support research in N. benthamiana. Finally, we propose that N. benthamiana is well situated to become a premier plant cell biology model, particularly for the virology community, who as a group were the first to recognize the potential of this unique Australian native.     

Parasite-host fitness trade-offs change with parasite identity: genotype-specific interactions in a plant-pathogen system

Simultaneous effects of host and parasite in determining quantitative traits of infection have long been neglected in theoretical and experimental investigations of host-parasite coevolution with the notable exception of gene-for-gene resistance studies. A cross-infection experiment, using five lines of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana and two strains of its oomycete pathogen Hyaloperonospora parasitica, revealed that three traits traditionally considered those of the parasite (number of infected leaves, transmission success, and time until 50% transmission), differed among specific combinations of host and parasite lines, being determined by the two protagonists of the infection. However, the two parasite strains did not differ significantly for most measured phenotypic traits of the infection. Globally, transmission increased with increasing virulence among the different host-parasite combinations, as assumed by most models of evolution of virulence. Surprisingly, however, there was no general relationship between parasite and host fitness, estimated respectively as transmission and seed production. Only one of the two strains showed the expected significant negative genetic correlation between these two variables. Our results thus highlight the importance of taking into account both host and parasite genetic variation because their interaction can lead to unexpected evolutionary outcomes.     

The role of abscisic acid in plant-pathogen interactions

The effect of the abiotic stress hormone abscisic acid on plant disease resistance is a neglected field of research. With few exceptions, abscisic acid has been considered a negative regulator of disease resistance. This negative effect appears to be due to the interference of abscisic acid with biotic stress signaling that is regulated by salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene, and to an additional effect of ABA on shared components of stress signaling. However, recent research shows that abscisic acid can also be implicated in increasing the resistance of plants towards pathogens via its positive effect on callose deposition.     

Computational models in plant-pathogen interactions: the case of Phytophthora infestans

Background  

Phytophthora infestans is a devastating oomycete pathogen of potato production worldwide. This review explores the use of computational models for studying the molecular interactions between P. infestans and one of its hosts, Solanum tuberosum.     

Plant physiology meets phytopathology: plant primary metabolism and plant-pathogen interactions

Phytopathogen infection leads to changes in secondary metabolism based on the induction of defence programmes as well as to changes in primary metabolism which affect growth and development of the plant. Therefore, pathogen attack causes crop yield losses even in interactions which do not end up with disease or death of the plant. While the regulation of defence responses has been intensively studied for decades, less is known about the effects of pathogen infection on primary metabolism. Recently, interest in this research area has been growing, and aspects of photosynthesis, assimilate partitioning, and source-sink regulation in different types of plant-pathogen interactions have been investigated. Similarly, phytopathological studies take into consideration the physiological status of the infected tissues to elucidate the fine-tuned infection mechanisms. The aim of this review is to give a summary of recent advances in the mutual interrelation between primary metabolism and pathogen infection, as well as to indicate current developments in non-invasive techniques and important strategies of combining modern molecular and physiological techniques with phytopathology for future investigations.     

Cytokinins and auxins in plant-pathogen interactions – An overview

Alterations in plant development are frequently observed following pathogen infection. Infection by virus frequently results in stunting of growth, and the chlorosis and abscission of leaves; infection by fungi is often notable for green island formation and growth malformations; and infection by some bacteria results in the formation of galls. While the area of plant-pathogen interactions is currently receiving considerable attention and some plant-pathogen interactions are well characterised with both cytokinins and auxins being implicated (infection by Agrobacterium tumefaciens being the obvious example), there has been relatively little published in the recent literature pertaining to the involvement of cytokinins and auxins in viral, fungal and other forms of bacterial pathogenesis. This overview focuses on what is known concerning the strategies utilised by gall-forming bacteria, and fungal and viral phytopathogens to manipulate the endogenous cytokinin and/or auxin content of their host plant.