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Bacteria causing important diseases of citrus utilise distinct modes of pathogenesis to attack a common host

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Abstract

In this review, we summarise the current knowledge on three pathogens that exhibit distinct tissue specificity and modes of pathogenesis in citrus plants. Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri causes canker disease and invades the host leaf mesophyll tissue through natural openings and can also survive as an epiphyte. Xylella fastidiosa and Candidatus Liberibacter are vectored by insects and proliferate in the vascular system of the host, either in the phloem (Candidatus Liberibacter) or xylem (X. fastidiosa) causing variegated chlorosis and huanglongbing diseases, respectively. Candidatus Liberibacter can be found within host cells and is thus unique as an intracellular phytopathogenic bacterium. Genome sequence comparisons have identified groups of species-specific genes that may be associated with the particular lifestyle, mode of transmission or symptoms produced by each phytopathogen. In addition, components that are conserved amongst bacteria may have diverse regulatory actions underpinning the different bacterial lifestyles; one example is the divergent role of the Rpf/DSF cell–cell signalling system in X. citri and X. fastidiosa. Biofilm plays a key role in epiphytic fitness and canker development in X. citri and in the symptoms produced by X. fastidiosa. Bacterial aggregation may be associated with vascular occlusion of the xylem vessels and symptomatology of variegated chlorosis.

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Acknowledgements

MRM, APC and AAV are Career Investigators of Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina and are supported by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica. JMD is supported by a Principal Investigator Award 07/IN.1/B955 from the Science Foundation of Ireland. AMdoA received a fellowship from CNPq. We thank Luciano Kishi for his help with the Venn diagram.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología “Dr. Cesar Milstein”, Fundación Pablo Cassará, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y técnicas (CONICET), Saladillo 2468, C1440FFX, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Adrián Alberto Vojnov

  2. Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, CP 02372, 70770-917, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil

    Alexandre Morais do Amaral

  3. Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, CP 04, 13490-970, Cordeiropolis, São Paulo, Brazil

    Alexandre Morais do Amaral

  4. BIOMERIT Research Centre, Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland

    John Maxwell Dow

  5. Sección Biotecnología de la Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Columbres—UA-INSIBIO (CONICET-UNT), Casilla No. 9, Las Talitas, 4101, Tucumán, Argentina

    Atilio Pedro Castagnaro

  6. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET), Área Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina

    Marìa Rosa Marano

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  1. Adrián Alberto Vojnov
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Vojnov, A.A., Morais do Amaral, A., Dow, J.M. et al. Bacteria causing important diseases of citrus utilise distinct modes of pathogenesis to attack a common host. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 87, 467–477 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2631-2

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