Virulence regulation networks in plant pathogenic bacteria:a review

Abstract:

Plant pathogenic bacteria coordinate multifaceted virulence determinants through some complex and delicate global regulation networks.In the diverse species,these networks dictate bacterial infection strategies,survival,and the success in infection in the presence of host plant defense systems.In this paper,the major virulence regulation systems in the model pathogens in four genera (Pseudomonas,Pectobacterium,Xanthomonas,and Ralstonia) of plant pathogenic bacteria were reviewed,including the quorum sensing,two-component regulatory systems,transcriptional activators,and post-transcription or post-translation regulation systems.Particularly,the similarities and differences in the virulence regulation mechanisms among some model strains were analyzed and related research was summarized.Moreover,virulence regulation networks for the four pathogen groups were plotted.The analysis suggested the different functions of the virulence regulation networks among different species,subspecies,or variants of the pathogens despite some common regulation subsystems.

Key words:plant pathogenic bacteria;virulence regulation networks;quorum sensing;two-component regulatory systems;transcriptional activators