A study of some aspects of essential oil secretion in plants was conducted. The first part of the study involved analysis of the volatile terpenoid content and composition of leaf extracts from a range of Australian native plants by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Secretory structures were studied by several microscopic imaging techniques including conventional bright and dark field optical microscopy, confocal microscopy, and scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. Three methods were employed for scanning electron microscopy. Sample material was prepared for conventional SEM by chemical fixation and rapid freeze fixation, and fresh material was imaged by environmental SEM. These methods were compared, and the images acquired by environmental SEM were invariably of a superior standard as the biological integrity of the samples was retained throughout, and the samples were free of process-induced artefacts. Several other tests were conducted and results discussed in some detail. In the final part of the study, aspects of essential oil secretion were examined by histochemical methods. The first of these was a new method based on traditional approaches to histochemistry. The monoterpene phenols thymol and carvacrol were located in glandular trichomes of Lamiaceae species by means of a colour-change reaction of the phenols with a nitrosophenol/acid reagent. The second used magnetic resonance imaging by a chemical shift selective method to locate, non invasively, the aromatic monoterpenes thymol and anethole in secretory structures in the fruit of Carum copticum (Apiaceae) and the leaves of Backhousia anisata (Myrtaceae) respectively. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Science)

Under normal circumstances, prolactin regulates its own release via a short-loop negative feedback mechanism in which prolactin, secreted from lactotrophs situated within the anterior pituitary gland, stimulates dopaminergic neurons in the hypothalamus to release dopamine into portal blood circulation. Dopamine, in turn, inhibits lactotroph activity. A change in this regulation of prolactin secretion is seen during late pregnancy where tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons no longer respond to elevated levels of placental lactogen (PL), a lactogen structurally and functionally similar to prolactin, allowing a prolonged elevation of prolactin secretion and the induction of an antepartum prolactin surge (Andrews et al., 2001). The mechanisms behind this loss of responsiveness have not yet been determined. Prolactin acts by binding to its receptor on TIDA neurons and activating the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b). During lactation, prolactin-induced activation of STAT5b is suppressed. This reduction in STAT5b signalling is consistent with a loss in TIDA responsiveness and is correlated with an increase in suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression within the arcuate nucleus. As SOCS proteins are known to disrupt prolactin signalling by interfering with STAT signalling in other systems, it is likely that the change in TIDA responsiveness to prolactin or PL during late pregnancy occurs at least partially in response to an increase in SOCS proteins at this time. Although prolactin can induce SOCS mRNA expression within the arcuate nucleus, the level of SOCS mRNA expression observed on day 20 of pregnancy is significantly lower to that observed on day 22. As PL is elevated on day 20 of pregnancy, some other factor or a combination of factors unique to the final 2 days of pregnancy induces the change in prolactin signalling. Late pregnancy is associated with elevated levels of estrogen while progesterone significantly declines. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a fall in progesterone in the presence of elevated levels of estrogen during late pregnancy induces the increase in SOCS levels within TIDA neurons. This then results in a disruption of prolactin signalling, a decline in dopamine production and release, and the induction of the antepartum prolactin surge. To determine if ovarian steroid hormones can act directly on TIDA neurons during late pregnancy, expression of progesterone receptors (PR) and estrogen receptors (ER) within TIDA neurons were examined during pregnancy and lactation. Using double-labelled immunohistochemistry, expression of both steroid receptors within arcuate dopaminergic neurons during pregnancy and lactation was confirmed. This is consistent with the hypothesis that changing levels of steroid hormones might directly regulate TIDA activity. Furthermore, as the level of steroid receptor expression within TIDA neurons did not change significantly during pregnancy and lactation, it is likely that changing levels of serum estrogen and progesterone may affect these neurons at this time. To investigate the potential effects of steroid hormones on prolactin-induced and non prolactin-induced expression of SOCS mRNA, ovariectomised rats were treated with bromocriptine to suppress endogenous prolactin, and were then treated with a regime of chronic progesterone and/or estrogen in the presence and absence of an induced prolactin surge. SOCS mRNA expression within the arcuate nucleus was measured using real time quantitative RT-PCR. It was found that both estrogen and prolactin independently induced SOCS mRNA expression within the arcuate nucleus, but high levels of progesterone inhibited this effect. This supported the hypothesis that a change in SOCS mRNA expression within TIDA neurons might occur following the changes in steroid hormone levels observed during late pregnancy. To specifically investigate the role of estrogen and progesterone in regulating SOCS expression during late pregnancy, an animal model was designed to experimentally alter estrogen and progesterone levels during late pregnancy, and then SOCS mRNA expression was examined. In this model, advancing the late pregnant decline in progesterone resulted in a significant advance in the timing of the antepartum prolactin surge and parturition, while delaying the decline in progesterone abolished the antepartum prolactin surge and delayed parturition. Furthermore, within this model, elevated levels of SOCS mRNA expression were always observed following the withdrawal of progesterone. This suggested that following the decline in progesterone during late pregnancy, elevated levels of estrogen (or PL) are able to induce SOCS mRNA expression within the arcuate nucleus. Given that SOCS proteins disrupt cytokine signalling in other systems, the induction of SOCS proteins during late pregnancy would then presumably mediate the change in TIDA responsiveness to prolactin. To determine whether it was possible to change prolactin responses without affecting parturition, it was hoped to specifically alter progesterone and estrogen signalling in the brain. This was done by centrally administering progesterone to maintain progesterone levels during late pregnancy, and the ER antagonist ICI-182,780 (ICI) to block central estrogen levels. To determine the effectiveness of intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of ICI, two central estrogen mediated endpoints were evaluated: estrogen negative feedback on gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse frequency (as measured by the frequency luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses) and the induction of PR within hypothalamic nuclei. Also, to confirm that central administration of ICI did not have a peripheral effect, estrogen induced uterine proliferation was measured. Although central ICI administration at the maximum possible dose affected estrogen-induced GnRH pulse frequency and partially reduced estrogen-induced PR expression within arcuate dopaminergic neurons, ICI did not affect the antepartum prolactin surge. Furthermore, cental administration of progesterone did not abolish the antepartum prolactin surge. This suggested that central administration of ICI and progesterone as a tool for researching central actions of ovarian steroids is likely to be limited to certain central endpoints, and was not suitable as a model to study central steroid effects on prolactin regulation. Overall, the progression of the findings in this study led to the formulation of a key hypothesis: that during late pregnancy, elevated levels of estrogen and the withdrawal of progesterone allows for the prolactin-induced increase of SOCS proteins within TIDA neurons. Elevated levels of SOCS proteins may then disrupt normal prolactin signalling, mediated via the JAK/STAT pathway. This results in reduced dopamine synthesis and release and, the subsequent induction of the antepartum prolactin surge.

1. The major phospholipids extracted from Bacillus amylolique - faciens were cardiolipin, phosphatidylycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. 2. The distribution of these phospholipids between the two halves of the cytoplasmic membrane bilayer was studied using phospholipase C ( B. cereus ), phospholipase A2 ( Crotalus ) and the non - penetrating chemical probe trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid ( TNBS ). After treatment of intact protoplasts of B. amylolique - faciens with either phospholipase, approximately 70 % of total membrane phospholipid was hydrolysed ; specifically approximately 90 %, 90 % and 30 % of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin respectively. Under these conditions, protoplasts remained intact and sealed. However, when protoplasts that were permeabilized by cold shock treatment were incubated with either of the phospholipases, up to 80 % of cardiolipin was hydrolysed and phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine were hydrolysed virtually to completion. In intact cells, 92 % of the phosphatidylethanolamine could be labelled with TNBS under conditions in which the reagent did not penetrate the membrane to any significant extent. 3. These results suggest that 70 % of total phospholipid of this bacillus exists in the outer half of the bilayer. The distribution of phosphatidylethanolamine in this bilayer is highly asymmetric with it being located predominantly in the outer half. The results with phospholipases suggest that the distributions of cardiolipin and phosphatidylglycerol are also asymmetric but independent confirmation or this is required. 4. The fatty acid composition of cells grown at different temperatures was investigated. When cells were grown at 30 ° C, branched - chain saturated fatty acids made up over 80 % of the total fatty acids. Saturated straight - chain fatty acids made up the bulk of the remainder. Less than 1 % of the total fatty acids were unsaturated. Decrease in growth temperature was accompanied by an increase in the ratio of branched to straight - chain fatty acids and a marked increase in the level of unsaturation of branched - chain fatty acids. 5. When cells of this organism, grown at 30 ° C, were cold shocked, viability and ability to secrete extracellular protease were lost. Growth of this organism at lower temperatures or addition of Tween - 80 to cells caused the critical temperature zone for cold shocking to be significantly lowered. These results suggest a direct correlation between membrane fluidity and the susceptibility to cold shock. 6. The role of lipids in the process of extracellular enzyme secretion was studied using cerulenin, an antibiotic known to inhibit fatty acid synthesis in microorganisms. Cerulenin inhibited the secretion of alpha - amylase and protease in washed cell suspensions by 80 % and 75 % respectively over 3 hours. The effect was a general one since secretion of all protein species into the medium was drastically reduced by the antibiotic. At the concentration of cerulenin used ( 100 . µ g / ml ), [ 14C ] - acetate incorporation into cellular lipid was inhibited by approximately 50 % but total cellular protein and RNA synthesis were virtually unaffected. The inhibitory effect of cerulenin on alpha - amylase and protease secretion could be partially reversed if cell suspensions were supplemented with either fatty acids prepared from the lipids extracted from B. amyloliquefaciens, or various individual pure fatty acids. These results suggest that fatty acid synthesis may be required for protein secretion by this organism. 7. Attempts were made to detect precursors to extracellular enzymes either associated with the cells or in the culture medium, employing immunological techniques. These experiments, however, were not successful. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Biochemistry, 1979.

Type IV secretion systems have been identified in several human pathogens including Bordetella pertussis, Helicobacter pylori, and Legionella pneumophila. These systems are responsible for the translocation of virulence proteins and/or DNA, thereby playing an important role in the pathogenesis of infection and plasticity of genomes. Burkholderia cenocepacia is an important opportunistic human pathogen, particularly in persons with cystic fibrosis (CF). Respiratory tract infection by B. cenocepacia in CF patients is often associated with a decline in respiratory function, and can result in acute systemic infection. Burkholderia cenocepacia strain K56-2 is part of the epidemic and clinically problematic ET12 lineage. Two type IV secretion systems have been identified in this strain; one system is plasmid encoded (designated the Ptw type IV secretion system) whereas the other is chromosomally encoded (designated the VirB/D type IV secretion system) and shows homology to the Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB/D4 type IV secretion system. It was determined that the plasmid encoded Ptw system is a chimeric type IV secretion system composed of VirB/D4-like elements and F-specific subunits. More recently, it was found that this system translocates a protein effector (PtwE1) that is cytotoxic to plant cells. It was also determined that the positively charged C-terminal region of PtwE1 is important for translocation via the Ptw type IV secretion system. Strains of the epidemic B. cenocepacia PHDC lineage contain only a chromosomal VirB/D4-like type IV secretion system (designated BcVirB/D); and a putative effector protein associated with this system has been identified that has C-terminal transport signal and sequences different from the effectors of the Ptw type IV secretion system. It has also been shown that a competing plasmid substrate and a plasmid fertility inhibition factor act to render B. cenocepacia of the PHDC lineage incapable of expressing a plant phenotype. Thus, three type IV secretion systems have been identified in epidemic B. cenocepacia lineages. From two of these, an effector has been identified that has cytotoxic effects on eukaryotic cells, and at least one of these type IV secretion systems is able to translocate DNA substrates.

<i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Enteritidis (<i>S.</i> Enteritidis) is a major cause of gastrointestinal disease in humans worldwide that is mainly associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry meat and eggs. During the course of infection, <i>S.</i> Enteritidis uses two Type 3 Secretion Systems (T3SS), one of which is encoded by <i>Salmonella</i> Pathogenicity Island-1 (SPI-1). SPI-1 plays a major role in the invasion process.<p> In order to study the role of SPI-1 in the colonization of chickens, we constructed deletion mutants affecting either the complete SPI-1 region (40 kb) or <i>invG</i>, a single gene located on this pathogenicity island. The mutants were impaired in the secretion of effector proteins and were less invasive compared to the wild type strain in polarized Caco-2 cells. Similarly, when chicken cecal and small intestinal explants were co-infected with the wild type and ÄSPI-1 mutant strains we found that the ÄSPI-1 mutant strain was less invasive relative to the wild type strain. Oral challenge of 1-week-old chickens with the wild type or ÄSPI-1 strains demonstrated that there was no difference in chicken cecal colonization. However, systemic infection, measured as levels of <i>Salmonella</i> in the liver and spleen, was delayed in birds that were challenged with the ÄSPI-1 strain. This demonstrates that SPI-1 facilitates systemic infection but is not essential for invasion and systemic spread of S. Enteritidis in chickens.<p> Based on the above results, we examined the effect of sera against SPI-1 T3SS components to <i>S.</i> Enteritidis invasion. Anti-SipD serum protected Caco-2 cells against entry of wild type <i>S.</i>Enteritidis, but not against invasion of a mutant strain lacking sipD. On the other hand, sera against InvG, PrgI, SipA, SipC, SopB, SopE and SopE2 did not affect S. Enteritidis entry. To illustrate the specificity of anti-SipD mediated inhibition, SipD specific antibodies were depleted from the serum. Depleted serum restored the invasion of S. Enteritidis, demonstrating that the SipD protein may be an important target in blocking SPI-1 mediated virulence.<p> To determine if SPI-1 T3SS proteins were protective against <i>S.</i> Enteritidis oral challenge, chickens were vaccinated subcutaneously twice at 14 and 28 days of age with PrgI and SipD. The results indicate that these proteins induce strong IgG antibody responses and confer significant protection against infection of the livers in vaccinated birds. In another study, we vaccinated hens with selected SPI-1 T3SS proteins to determine if their progeny could be protected from <i>S.</i> Enteritidis oral challenge. The proteins induced strong antibody responses but did not affect the levels of the challenge strain in the ceca or internal organs of the vaccinates. Taken together, our results establish that <i>S.</i> Enteritidis SPI-1 is an important virulence factor in chickens and that the proteins associated with this T3SS may form components of a subunit vaccine used for protection against colonization by <i>S.</i> Enteritidis in poultry.

Th The kinetics of exocytotic secretion depend not only on the spatial relationship between calcium channels and the exocytotic apparatus, but also on the total amount of Ca2+ influx through Ca2+ channels, the free Ca2+ around the release site and the filling state of the release-ready vesicles. These factors may differ between neurons and endocrine cells. Bovine chromaffin cells (BCCs) are neuroendocrine cells responsible for catecholamine release from the adrenal glands. Ca2+ imaging experiments have shown that localized zones of Ca2+ influx exist on BCC membranes, but how different Ca2+ channel subtypes are distributed, and the mechanisms by which they are targeted, remain to be elucidated. CASK (calcium, calmodulin associated serine kinase) and Mint1 (Munc-18-interacting protein 1), which are modular adaptor proteins involved in synaptic targeting, have recently been found to function in targeting of á1B Ca2+ channels in hippocampal neurons. These data led to the proposal that Ca2+ channels are clustered in BCCs and that CASK and Mint1 play important roles in targeting and/or anchoring channels to their proper location. p*Using RT-PCR and Western blotting, CASK is demonstrated present in isolated BCCs. Mint1 is shown to be present by Western blotting as well. Immunocytochemical experiments and experiments in which BCCs were transfected with plasmids expressing á1A, á1B, and á1C subunits labeled with green fluorescent protein, have shown that á1A and á1B subunits are clustered on the plasma membranes of BCCs, while the á1C subunit is distributed in diffuse patches. With immunoprecipitation, it was determined that CASK interacts biochemically with á1A and á1B Ca2+ channels. Transfection of BCCs with NC3-GFP, which codes for the sequence of the á1B Ca2+ channel that interacts with CASK and Mint1, results in a punctate pattern of fluorescence, which is consistent with the binding of GFP labeled peptide to complexes of CASK and Mint1 at sites of release. Furthermore, immunocytochemical analysis of cells transfected with NC3-GFP showed that á1B Ca2+ channels have a dispersed distribution suggesting that they have been displaced from the binding sites. These data suggest that CASK and Mint1 are important in clustering and targeting Ca2+ channels in the BCC plasma membrane. This study is the first to show the existence and function of CASK and Mint1 in BCCs, and may contribute to our understanding of the exocytotic process in neuroendocrine cells

Th The kinetics of exocytotic secretion depend not only on the spatial relationship between calcium channels and the exocytotic apparatus, but also on the total amount of Ca2+ influx through Ca2+ channels, the free Ca2+ around the release site and the filling state of the release-ready vesicles. These factors may differ between neurons and endocrine cells. Bovine chromaffin cells (BCCs) are neuroendocrine cells responsible for catecholamine release from the adrenal glands. Ca2+ imaging experiments have shown that localized zones of Ca2+ influx exist on BCC membranes, but how different Ca2+ channel subtypes are distributed, and the mechanisms by which they are targeted, remain to be elucidated. CASK (calcium, calmodulin associated serine kinase) and Mint1 (Munc-18-interacting protein 1), which are modular adaptor proteins involved in synaptic targeting, have recently been found to function in targeting of á1B Ca2+ channels in hippocampal neurons. These data led to the proposal that Ca2+ channels are clustered in BCCs and that CASK and Mint1 play important roles in targeting and/or anchoring channels to their proper location. p*Using RT-PCR and Western blotting, CASK is demonstrated present in isolated BCCs. Mint1 is shown to be present by Western blotting as well. Immunocytochemical experiments and experiments in which BCCs were transfected with plasmids expressing á1A, á1B, and á1C subunits labeled with green fluorescent protein, have shown that á1A and á1B subunits are clustered on the plasma membranes of BCCs, while the á1C subunit is distributed in diffuse patches. With immunoprecipitation, it was determined that CASK interacts biochemically with á1A and á1B Ca2+ channels. Transfection of BCCs with NC3-GFP, which codes for the sequence of the á1B Ca2+ channel that interacts with CASK and Mint1, results in a punctate pattern of fluorescence, which is consistent with the binding of GFP labeled peptide to complexes of CASK and Mint1 at sites of release. Furthermore, immunocytochemical analysis of cells transfected with NC3-GFP showed that á1B Ca2+ channels have a dispersed distribution suggesting that they have been displaced from the binding sites. These data suggest that CASK and Mint1 are important in clustering and targeting Ca2+ channels in the BCC plasma membrane. This study is the first to show the existence and function of CASK and Mint1 in BCCs, and may contribute to our understanding of the exocytotic process in neuroendocrine cells

<i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Enteritidis (<i>S.</i> Enteritidis) is a major cause of gastrointestinal disease in humans worldwide that is mainly associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry meat and eggs. During the course of infection, <i>S.</i> Enteritidis uses two Type 3 Secretion Systems (T3SS), one of which is encoded by <i>Salmonella</i> Pathogenicity Island-1 (SPI-1). SPI-1 plays a major role in the invasion process.<p> In order to study the role of SPI-1 in the colonization of chickens, we constructed deletion mutants affecting either the complete SPI-1 region (40 kb) or <i>invG</i>, a single gene located on this pathogenicity island. The mutants were impaired in the secretion of effector proteins and were less invasive compared to the wild type strain in polarized Caco-2 cells. Similarly, when chicken cecal and small intestinal explants were co-infected with the wild type and ÄSPI-1 mutant strains we found that the ÄSPI-1 mutant strain was less invasive relative to the wild type strain. Oral challenge of 1-week-old chickens with the wild type or ÄSPI-1 strains demonstrated that there was no difference in chicken cecal colonization. However, systemic infection, measured as levels of <i>Salmonella</i> in the liver and spleen, was delayed in birds that were challenged with the ÄSPI-1 strain. This demonstrates that SPI-1 facilitates systemic infection but is not essential for invasion and systemic spread of S. Enteritidis in chickens.<p> Based on the above results, we examined the effect of sera against SPI-1 T3SS components to <i>S.</i> Enteritidis invasion. Anti-SipD serum protected Caco-2 cells against entry of wild type <i>S.</i>Enteritidis, but not against invasion of a mutant strain lacking sipD. On the other hand, sera against InvG, PrgI, SipA, SipC, SopB, SopE and SopE2 did not affect S. Enteritidis entry. To illustrate the specificity of anti-SipD mediated inhibition, SipD specific antibodies were depleted from the serum. Depleted serum restored the invasion of S. Enteritidis, demonstrating that the SipD protein may be an important target in blocking SPI-1 mediated virulence.<p> To determine if SPI-1 T3SS proteins were protective against <i>S.</i> Enteritidis oral challenge, chickens were vaccinated subcutaneously twice at 14 and 28 days of age with PrgI and SipD. The results indicate that these proteins induce strong IgG antibody responses and confer significant protection against infection of the livers in vaccinated birds. In another study, we vaccinated hens with selected SPI-1 T3SS proteins to determine if their progeny could be protected from <i>S.</i> Enteritidis oral challenge. The proteins induced strong antibody responses but did not affect the levels of the challenge strain in the ceca or internal organs of the vaccinates. Taken together, our results establish that <i>S.</i> Enteritidis SPI-1 is an important virulence factor in chickens and that the proteins associated with this T3SS may form components of a subunit vaccine used for protection against colonization by <i>S.</i> Enteritidis in poultry.

<p>Enterotoxigenic <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> (ETEC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The causative agent of traveler's diarrhea, ETEC is often associated with cholera-like disease, especially in developing countries. One major virulence factor released by ETEC is the heat-labile enterotoxin LT, which upsets the balance of electrolytes in the intestine. LT is highly similar to cholera toxin (CT) produced by <italic>Vibrio cholerae</italic>, both in structure and function. The toxin consists of a single catalytically active A subunit and a ring of five B subunits mediating its binding and secretion. Previous work from our lab has shown that, after export by the type II secretion (T2S) system, LT associates with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the bacterial surface. However, little is known about what identifies LT as a T2S substrate, and the portion of the toxin that mediates LPS binding has not previously been defined. Site-directed mutagenesis of residues in a peripheral sugar binding pocket of the toxin was performed, revealing mutations that affect its binding to LPS, as determined by an in vitro cell surface binding assay. One binding mutant, which is expressed and secreted at wild-type levels from ETEC, holds particular promise for further studies of the role of the LT-LPS interaction. Interestingly, some mutations made affected the secretion of the toxin as detected by ganglioside-binding ELISAs of cell-free supernatant, and several mutations affected both secretion and LPS binding. These mutations identify residues of the toxin that are involved in its secretion and association with LPS. In addition, we introduced mutations affecting the secretion of LT into CT, due to the high similarity between the two toxins. While one mutation affects the secretion of each, other mutations affect one toxin but not the other. These results demonstrate that LT and CT are recognized in different ways during T2S. Combined with an analysis of the effects of secretion mutations on the stability of the toxin, the results described here highlight the delicate balance between structure and function of the LT B subunit.</p> / Dissertation

Type IV secretion systems have been identified in several human pathogens including Bordetella pertussis, Helicobacter pylori, and Legionella pneumophila. These systems are responsible for the translocation of virulence proteins and/or DNA, thereby playing an important role in the pathogenesis of infection and plasticity of genomes. Burkholderia cenocepacia is an important opportunistic human pathogen, particularly in persons with cystic fibrosis (CF). Respiratory tract infection by B. cenocepacia in CF patients is often associated with a decline in respiratory function, and can result in acute systemic infection. Burkholderia cenocepacia strain K56-2 is part of the epidemic and clinically problematic ET12 lineage. Two type IV secretion systems have been identified in this strain; one system is plasmid encoded (designated the Ptw type IV secretion system) whereas the other is chromosomally encoded (designated the VirB/D type IV secretion system) and shows homology to the Agrobacterium tumefaciens VirB/D4 type IV secretion system. It was determined that the plasmid encoded Ptw system is a chimeric type IV secretion system composed of VirB/D4-like elements and F-specific subunits. More recently, it was found that this system translocates a protein effector (PtwE1) that is cytotoxic to plant cells. It was also determined that the positively charged C-terminal region of PtwE1 is important for translocation via the Ptw type IV secretion system. Strains of the epidemic B. cenocepacia PHDC lineage contain only a chromosomal VirB/D4-like type IV secretion system (designated BcVirB/D); and a putative effector protein associated with this system has been identified that has C-terminal transport signal and sequences different from the effectors of the Ptw type IV secretion system. It has also been shown that a competing plasmid substrate and a plasmid fertility inhibition factor act to render B. cenocepacia of the PHDC lineage incapable of expressing a plant phenotype. Thus, three type IV secretion systems have been identified in epidemic B. cenocepacia lineages. From two of these, an effector has been identified that has cytotoxic effects on eukaryotic cells, and at least one of these type IV secretion systems is able to translocate DNA substrates.