Orientador: Celso Eduardo Benedetti / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T23:36:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Domingues_MarianeNoronha_D.pdf: 24489370 bytes, checksum: 8029060db192a79e81b19764465f2ca7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O cancro cítrico, causado pelo fitopatógeno Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac), constitui uma doença que afeta a maioria das espécies do gênero Citrus ocorrendo praticamente em todos os continentes e se destaca como uma ameaça à citricultura brasileira. A bactéria utiliza a proteína efetora do tipo III PthA para modular a transcrição na planta hospedeira e promover o desenvolvimento dos sintomas da doença. PthA pertence a família AvrBs3/PthA e contém um domínio central de repetições de 34 aminoácidos que media interações proteína-proteína e proteína-DNA. Elucidar como a PthA ativa a transcrição é de grande importância para o esclarecimento do seu modo de ação e da patogenicidade de Xac. Este trabalho teve como principal objetivo confirmar in vivo e in vitro interações entre PthA de Xac e proteínas de laranja doce selecionadas num screening de duplo-híbrido em leveduras. Além da interação com a proteína ?-importina, conhecida por mediar a importação nuclear de AvrBs3, são descritas neste trabalho interações de PthA com proteínas de citros envolvidas no enovelamento e ubiquitinação do tipo K63. PthAs 2 e 3 interagem preferencialmente com uma ciclofilina (Cyp) de citros e com TDX, uma proteína que contém um domínio tetratricopeptídeo (TPR) e um domínio tiorredoxina (TRX). Constatou-se que PthAs 2 e 3, e não 1 e 4, interagem com um complexo de conjugação a ubiquitina formado por Ubc13 e uma enzima de conjugação a ubiquitina variante (Uev) requerido para o processo de ubiquitinação K63 e no reparo de DNA lesionado. Cyp, TDX e Uev interagem entre si e as proteínas Cyp e Uev estão localizadas no núcleo de células de planta, assim como as variantes de PthA de Xac. Além disso, Ubc13 e Uev complementam o fenótipo de reparo no DNA de cepas de leveduras mutantes, indicando que estão envolvidas em processos de ubiquitinação K63 e reparo no DNA. Como PthA2 afetou o crescimento de cepas de levedura na presença de um agente alquilante do DNA, sugere-se que PthA2 inibe ubiquitinação K63 requerida em vias de reparo aos danos no DNA, e não é alvo deste processo como acreditava-se inicialmente. A proteína Cyp de citros também foi capaz de complementar o fenótipo de leveduras mutantes na maquinaria transcricional, de tal forma que PthAs poderiam aumentar as taxas de transcrição através da modulação da atividade de um complexo proteico associado com controle da transcrição / Abstract: Citrus canker, caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac), is a disease that affect most species of the genus Citrus occurring in virtually every continent, and stands as a threat to the Brazilian citrus industry. The bacterium uses a type III effector protein PthA to modulate transcription in the host plant and promote the development of disease symptoms. PthA proteins belong to the AvrBs3/PthA family and carry a domain comprising tandem repeats of 34 amino acids that mediates protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Elucidate how PthA activates transcription is of great importance for the elucidation of its mode of action and pathogenicity of Xac. This study aimed to confirm in vivo and in vitro interactions between Xac protein PthA and sweet orange proteins in a yeast two-hybrid screening. Here, in addition to the interaction with the ?- importin protein, known to mediate the nuclear import of AvrBs3, we described new interactions of PthAs with citrus proteins involved in folding and K63-linked ubiquitination. PthAs 2 and 3 preferentially interact with a citrus cyclophilin (Cyp) and with TDX, a tetratricopeptide domaincontaining thioredoxin. It was found that PthAs 2 and 3, but not 1 and 4, interact with the ubiquitinconjugating enzyme complex formed by Ubc13 and ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme variant (Uev), required for K63-linked ubiquitination and DNA repair. We show that Cyp, TDX and Uev interact with each other, and that Cyp and Uev localize to the nucleus of plant cells. Furthermore, the citrus Ubc13 and Uev proteins complement the DNA repair phenotype of the yeast mutants, strongly indicating that they are also involved in K63-linked ubiquitination and DNA repair. How PthA2 affected the growth of yeast cells in the presence of a DNA damage agent, suggests that PthA2 inhibits K63-linked ubiquitination required for DNA repair, and is not the target of this process as it was believed initially. The citrus protein Cyp was also able to complement the phenotype of yeast mutants in the transcriptional machinery, such that PthAs could increase the rates of transcription by modulating the activity of a protein complex associated with control of transcription / Doutorado / Bioquimica / Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

Orientador: Celso Eduardo Benedetti / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T01:56:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Souza_TiagoAntoniode_M.pdf: 8040684 bytes, checksum: 0b9836df8d96343f09503df5056436cd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: O cancro cítrico, causado pela bactéria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac), é uma doença que afeta a maioria das espécies do gênero Citrus, ocorrendo praticamente em todos os continentes, e se destaca como uma das ameaças à citricultura brasileira. O mecanismo molecular pelo qual Xac causa o cancro não é inteiramente conhecido, entretanto, sabe-se que a bactéria ao infectar a planta, utiliza o sistema secretório tipo ??? (TTSS) para injetar proteínas de patogenicidade, entre elas PthAs da família AvrBs3/PthA. Quando expresso na célula hospedeira, PthA induz lesões características do cancro como hipertrofia e hiperplasia. Estudos recentes demonstram que membros dessa família atuam como fatores de transcrição. Portanto, a elucidação de como PthA ativa a transcrição é de grande importância para o entendimento do seu mecanismo de ação e desenvolvimento das lesões do cancro. Neste contexto, o presente projeto teve como objetivo caracterizar interações entre a proteína PthA de Xac e as proteínas CsARF (Auxin Response Factor) e CsHMG (High-mobility group) de laranja doce (Citrus sinensis), previamente identificadas em ensaios de duplo híbrido de leveduras. CsARF tem elevada similaridade com AtARF2, um repressor transcricional envolvido na via de sinalização por auxinas. Hormônios vegetais desempenham um importante papel na interação planta-patógeno e em nosso laboratório verificamos que auxinas são importantes para o desenvolvimento dos sintomas do cancro. CsARF foi capaz de interagir com a maioria das variantes de PthA tanto in vitro quanto em ensaios de duplo-híbrido de leveduras. A interação de CsARF com PthA se dá através dos domínios C-terminal Aux/IAA e B3 de ligação ao DNA. Verificamos que o promotor do gene de uma expansina de citros, induzido por Xac e auxina, apresenta possíveis sítios de ligação das proteínas CsARF e PthA. Dados de EMSA indicam que PthA e CsARF ligam em sítios adjacentes no promotor da expansina de citros e que a interação de PthA com CsARF poderia deslocá-la do promotor. A proteína CsHMG é semelhante a AtHMGB1 de Arabidopsis thaliana, envolvida em crescimento celular. CsHMG interagiu com todas as variantes de PthA, sendo que essa interação envolve uma região rica em leucinas (LRR), idêntica nas quatro variantes de PthA. Verificou-se também que CsHMG é capaz de ligar DNA de forma inespecífica. Por outro lado, CsHMG ligou RNA in vitro, com especificidade para RNAs ricos em uridina (poly-U). Como PthA age como fator de transcrição eucarioto, não é surpreendente que proteínas do hospedeiro envolvidas com regulação gênica sejam capazes de interagir com esse efetor, sugerindo um novo modo de ação de proteínas efetoras bacterianas. / Abstract: Citrus canker disease, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac), affects almost all citrus species and represents a major threat to the Brazilian citriculture. The molecular mechanism by which Xac causes citrus canker disease is poorly understood, however the bacterium injects pathogenicity proteins through a type III secretion system (TTSS) including proteins of AvrBs3/PthA family proteins. When transiently expressed in host cells, PthAs alter transcription of the host cell to the benefit of the pathogen, leading to the development of the cancer lesions, including hypertrophy and hyperplasia. These proteins are thought to acts as eukaryotic transcriptional factors, binding and activating directly promoters of host genes. Therefore, elucidating how activates PthA transcription is very important to understanding the mechanisms governing the development of canker lesions. To elucidate how PthA activates transcription and to establish its molecular mode of action, a two-hybrid approach was used to identify host proteins that interact with PthA and therefore could be important for the development of the canker lesions. Among the citrus proteins identified, we selected for studies a CsARF (Auxin Response Factor) and a CsHMG (High-mobility group), both involved in regulation of gene transcription. CsARF shares high similarity to the Arabidopsis thaliana ARF2, involved in the auxin signaling pathway. This is in line with our previous studies showing that auxin is required for canker development. The interactions between all variants of PthA were analyzed both in vivoand in vitro and depend on the repeat domain of PthAs. The B3 DNA binding and the Aux/IAA domains of CsARF are both involved in protein-protein interactions. Interestingly, the citrus promoter of a citrus expansin gene that is up-regulated by Xac and auxin contains putative CsARF and PthA binding sites. Since these sites are located adjacent in this promoter, it is suggested that the interaction of PthA with CsARF might somehow affect the regulation of the expansin promoter. CsHMG is highly similar to the A. thaliana HMGB1 involved in cell growth. CsHMG interacts with all PthA variants and its interaction was shown to be mediated primarly by the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) region of PthAs. CsHMG binds to DNA in a non-specific fashion; surprisingly, however, CsHMG shows an as yet unreported ability to bind to synthetic RNA forms with an apparent specificity to poly-U probes. PthA acts like an eukaryotic transcription factor and is not surprising that host proteins involved with gene regulation can interact with this effector, suggesting a new mode of action of these bacterial effector proteins. / Mestrado / Genetica Vegetal e Melhoramento / Mestre em Genética e Biologia Molecular

Orientador: Celso Eduardo Benedetti / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T05:56:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pereira_AndreLuizAraujo_D.pdf: 43759919 bytes, checksum: 379266575f1db46c7d620232efb9ba13 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O cancro cítrico resulta da interação compatível entre a bactéria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri e Citrus spp. A doença não tem cura, é de fácil disseminação e difícil controle. O cenário é preocupante, pois a doença diminui drasticamente o rendimento e a qualidade dos frutos de plantas infectadas, ocasionando um forte impacto econômico na citricultura mundial. Os principais sintomas do cancro cítrico, resultantes dos processos de hipertrofia (aumento do volume celular) e hiperplasia (aumento da divisão celular), são dependentes da proteína efetora PthA de X. citri. PthA integra a família de fatores de transcrição conhecida como efetores ativadores de transcrição (transcription activator-like ou TAL). O principal homólogo de PthA é o efetor AvrBs3 de X. campestris pv. vesicatoria que atua regulando a transcrição de genes do hospedeiro em benefício do patógeno. A similaridade entre estas proteínas gira em torno de 97%, sugerindo, portanto, função semelhante para PthA. Através de uma série de microarranjos, investigou-se o perfil de expressão gênica de laranja doce (Citrus sinensis) dependente de PthA (X. citri) e de PthCs de X. aurantifolii, uma bactéria que causa cancro cítrico apenas no limão galego e que, em laranja doce, induz uma reação de hipersensibilidade. Desta forma, verificou-se a regulação positiva ou negativa de uma série de genes. Os PthCs regularam negativamente genes associados à sinalização por auxina e induziram a expressão de genes de defesa e silenciamento gênico. Em contrapartida, PthAs induziram uma série de genes intimamente relacionados aos sintomas de cancrose, incluindo: genes associados aos processos de aumento e divisão celular, síntese e remodelamento de parede celular, bem como genes envolvidos na sinalização por auxina e giberelina. Neste sentido, efetuou-se o isolamento de regiões promotoras de cinco genes, os quais são potencialmente regulados por PthA. A análise destas regiões revelou a presença de um possível TATA-box notavelmente semelhante àquele encontrado no gene upa20, denominado UPA-box (up-regulated por AvrBs3), sugerindo que estes genes poderiam ser transativados por PthA em citros. De fato, ensaios de retardamento de mobilidade eletroforética (electrophoretic mobility shift assay ou EMSA), demonstraram a ligação específica de PthA2 e 4 ao TATA-box encontrado na região promotora do gene que codifica uma proteínas relacionada à patogênese (pathogenesis-related proteins ou PR). Este resultado corrobora com a hipótese de que os efetores TAL atuam como proteínas ligadoras de elementos TATA. Finalmente, experimentos de co-imunoprecipitação de cromatina (ChIP) e cotransformação demonstraram, ainda que em resultados preliminares, que particularmente PthA4 é capaz de transativar pr5 in planta. Embora o cancro cítrico ainda não seja completamente entendido a nível molecular, os dados aqui apresentados sugerem fortemente a ação de PthAs como fatores de transcrição, bem como aponta candidatos à regulação positiva intimamente associados aos processos de hipertrofia e hiperplasia. Além disso, as regiões promotoras aqui isoladas podem ajudar no desenvolvimento de novas estratégias para a geração de plantas resistentes à cancrose / Abstract: Citrus canker is a result of a compatible interaction between Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri and Citrus spp. There is no cure for citrus canker, and the disease is easily spread and difficult to be managed. The scenario is threatening since the disease dramatically diminishes the quality of fruits in infected plants leading to great economic losses for the world citrus producers. The main citrus canker symptoms known as hypertrophy (cell enlargement) and hyperplasia (cell division) are PthA-dependent. PthA is an effector protein from X. citri which belongs to the TAL effectors (transcription activatorlike) family. The closest homologue of PthA is AvrBs3 from Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, a TAL effector that acts as a transcriptional factor to modulate host transcription to the pathogen's benefit. Similarity shared by these two proteins is around 97%, suggesting that PthA plays a similar role in the citrus host. Through a number of microarray experiments, we investigate the gene transcription in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) in response to the transient expression of PthA from X. citri or PthC from X. aurantifolii, pathotype C, a bacteria that causes citrus canker in Mexican lime but in orange trigger a hypersensitive response in sweet orange. We observed that PthCs down-regulated various auxin signaling genes and induced the expression of genes involved in defense and gene silencing. On the other hand, PthAs induces several genes implicated in canker development such as cell division and elongation, cell-wall synthesis and remodeling, synthesis, mobilization and signaling of auxin and gibberellin. Promoter regions of PthA-induced genes were isolated and shown to have predicted PthA and PthC binding sites at or near their putative TATA boxes. Moreover, competition gel shift assays confirmed that PthA4 shows preferential binding to the TATA box of the pathogenesis-related (pr5) gene promoter, supporting the idea that TAL effectors may act as general TATA-binding proteins. Finally, both chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and co-transformation assays demonstrated however as preliminary results, that PthA4 is able to transactivate pr5 in planta. Albeit the molecular mechanism by which citrus canker develop remains elusive at the molecular level, we provided data supporting the notion that PthA acts as a transcriptional factor, as well as identified PthA-induced genes associated with hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Furthermore, the promoter regions isolated here might be useful to obtain citrus plants resistant to the canker bacteria / Doutorado / Bioquimica / Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

Orientador: Adilma Regina Pippa Scamparini / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T02:50:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luvielmo_MarciadeMello_D.pdf: 3297730 bytes, checksum: dc80c8868bb6f8fa43b93b87d5e0bae3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo fazer uma seleção de linhagens de X. campestris para a produção de goma xantana e verificar o efeito do processo de ¿stress¿ alcalino em diferentes condições de produção deste biopolímero, através da avaliação da produção de goma e da viscosidade aparente, que é um fator de elevada relevância para designar em quais processos e setores da indústria a goma xantana será aplicada. A pesquisa também teve como objetivo investigar as mudanças na estrutura da goma xantana causadas pelo ¿stress¿ alcalino, e as mudanças na ultraestrutura das células, assim como a disposição da goma em diferentes etapas da sua produção e em diferentes tempos de ¿stress¿ alcalino, a fim de contribuir com uma maior compreensão desse complexo processo. Foi selecionada a linhagem X. campestris pv. manihotis 280-95, como a de melhor desempenho em produção e qualidade, com uma produção de goma xantana de 10,8 g/L. A partir destes estudos, X. campestris pv. manihotis 280-95 passou a ser a bactéria utilizada para os estudos posteriores. O maior valor de produção de goma xantana foi atingido em ¿stress¿ alcalino com pH 12 (EA12), seguido do ¿stress¿ alcalino em pH 11 (EA11) e ¿stress¿ alcalino em pH 8 (EA08). Porém a qualidade da goma obtida após o processo de EA12 é menor se comparada à obtida sem o processo de ¿stress¿ alcalino. O hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) foi o álcali que apresentou melhor desempenho para o processo de ¿stress¿ alcalino. A produção de goma xantana (g.L-1) e as viscosidades aparentes das gomas não foram afetadas nos diferentes tempos de ¿stress¿ alcalino (EA12) testados nesse estudo (1h, 2h, 3h e 4h), na faixa de taxa de deformação testada (0 ¿ 60 s-1). A produção de goma xantana obtida da fermentação realizada em bioreator de 2 L utilizando X. campestris pv. manihotis 280-95 foi maior após o processo de ¿stress¿ alcalino por 24 horas (EA24h). Ao final de 72 horas de fermentação 9,43 g.L-1 de goma xantana foram obtidos e após 24 horas de ¿stress¿ alcalino, a produção foi 74,8% maior (16,48 g.L-1). No estudo das ultraestruturas (capítulo IV) foi possível visualizar cada passo dos processos e verificar que, mesmo no inóculo puro, observa-se também uma pequena produção de goma xantana próximo a algumas células. No final da fermentação (FF), observou-se o início de mudanças estruturais nas bactérias, como a vacuolização citoplasmática e a descontinuidade da membrana, podendo sugerir um início no processo de lise bacteriana. Após o ¿stress¿ alcalino (EA12-1h), foram observadas acentuadas diferenças estruturais nas células bacterianas. O conteúdo citoplasmático das bactérias tornou-se mais vacuolizado e verificou-se descontinuidade nas membranas das células bacterianas, indicando processo de lise bacteriana. A goma xantana que se apresentou agrupada em grumos, adquiriu uma conformação organizada em círculos concêntricos. Finalmente, pode ser mencionado que novos estudos com diferentes linhagens e condições de processo devem ser realizados procurando-se sempre melhores resultados de produção e qualidade desse biopolímero / Abstract: The present study had as objective to make a selection of strains of X. campestris for the production of xanthan gum and to verify the effect of the process of alkaline "stress" at different conditions of production of this biopolymer, through the evaluation of the gum production and of the apparent viscosity, which is a factor of high relevance, in order to allocate which processes and sections of the industry the xanthan gum will be applied in. The research also aimed to investigate changes in the structure of the xanthan gum caused by the alkaline "stress", changes in the ultrastructure of the cells, as well as the disposition of the gum at different stages of its production and at different times of alkaline "stress", so as to contribute with a better understanding of such compound process. The strain was selected X. campestris pv. manihotis 280-95, as better acting in production and quality, with a production of xanthan gum of 10,8 g.L-1 starting from these studies, X. campestris pv. manihotis 280-95 started to be the bacterium used for the subsequent studies. The largest value of production of gum xantana was reached in alkaline "stress" with pH 12 (EA12), followiedby the alkaline "stress" in pH 11 (EA11) and alkaline "stress" in pH 8 (EA08). However, the quality of the gum obtained after the process of EA12 is worse compared to what was obtained without the process of alkaline "stress." The hydroxide of sodium (NaOH) was the alkali that presented better results in obtaining the process of alkaline "stress." The production of xanthan gum (g.L-1) and the apparent viscosities of the gums were not affected in the different times of alkaline "stress" (EA12) tested in that study (1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00), at the shear rate range tested (0 - 60 s-1). The production of xanthan gum obtained from the fermentation accomplished in bioreactor of 2 L using X. campestris pv. manihotis 280-95 was larger after the process of alkaline "stress" within 24 hours (EA24h). At the end of 72 hours of fermentation 9,43 g.L-1 of xanthan gum were obtained and after 24 hours of alkaline "stress", the production was 74,8% larger (16,48 g.L-1). In the study of the ultrastructures (chapter IV) it was possible to observe each step of the processes and to verify that, even in the pure inoculum, it is also observed a small production of gum close to some cells. Atthe end of the fermentation (FF), the beginning of structural changes was observed in the bacteria, as the vacuum cytoplasm and the discontinuity of the membrane, could suggest a beginning in the process of bacterial lise. After the alkaline "stress" (EA12-1h), accentuated structural differences were observed in the bacterial cells. The content cytoplasm of the bacteria became more vacuuming and discontinuity was verified in the membranes of the bacterial cells, indicating process of bacterial lysis. The resulting xanthan gum presented in clots, acquired an organized conformationin concentric circles. Finally, it can be mentioned that new studies with different strains and process conditions should be accomplished being always sought better production results and quality of that biopolymer / Doutorado / Doutor em Ciência de Alimentos

Orientador: Henrique Ferreira / Coorientadora: Isabel Cristiane da Silva / Banca: Alessandra Alves de Souza / Banca: Fernando Carlos Pagnocca / Resumo: O agente etiológico do cancro cítrico, Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X.citri), infecta todas as variedades de citros de interesse econômico ao redor do mundo. Sem controle químico eficaz, a única forma aconselhada de se evitar a propagação da doença é a erradicação de plantas. Essa prática, porém, não é aceita pelos citricultores e demanda grandes investimentos em inspeção de pomares por pessoal treinado no reconhecimento da doença. Nos últimos anos, a legislação para controle do cancro cítrico tem sofrido afrouxamentos que resultaram em um progressivo aumento da doença no maior produtor mundial de laranja, o estado de São Paulo. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo estender um projeto que vem sendo realizado em nosso grupo que é o desenvolvimento de substâncias inibidoras de crescimento de X. citri (galatos de alquila). No presente trabalho, quatro novas moléculas, originadas a partir de galatos de alquila - galatos de alquila acetilados - demonstraram inibir o crescimento de X.citri de modo similar ao da canamicina (controle positivo), observado pelo ensaio Resazurin Microtiter Assay Plate (REMA). Em observações com microscopia de fluorescência e utilizando-se uma linhagem de X.citri com septo marcado, a localização da proteína GFP-ZapA foi rapidamente perturbada após o tratamento, sugerindo que as substâncias poderiam ter a maquinaria de divisão celular como alvo. Entretanto, em ensaios bioquímicos com FtsZ purificada de X. citri na presença dos galatos de alquila acetilados, verificou-se que essas drogas têm pouca ou nenhuma ação na sedimentação e na inibição da atividade GTPásica de FtsZ, ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico) / Abstract: Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X.citri) is the etiological agent of citrus canker, a disease that affects all the varieties of citrus of economic importance around the world. Currently, eradication of infected trees constitutes the only effective practice to control the spread of X. citri. This disease has enormous social and economic impact in the orange juice production industry, especially concerning the difficulties to inspect plantations and to persuade growers to eliminate foci of the disease. Regarding this, recent relaxations in the policies of eradication within the state of São Paulo, the main orange producer in the world, indicate that citrus canker may become endemic in this area. The current proposal aims to extend the work that is being done in our research group, developing inhibitors of X. citri growth (alkyl gallates). In this study, four new molecules originated from alkyl gallates - acetylated alkyl gallates - were able to inhibit the X.citri growth, similarly to kanamycin (positive control), assessed by Resazurin Microtiter Plate Assay (REMA). In fluorescent microscopy assay, using a mutant strain of X. citri labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in ZapA, the drugs were able to disrupt the location of septa, suggesting that the substances may have the cell division machinery as a target. However, in biochemical assays using FtsZ purified from X. citri in the presence of the drugs, the drugs showed low or no effect on the sedimentation or GTPase activity of FtsZ. Instead of this, they showed reasonable effect on membrane permeability and probably ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

In Quebec, bacterial leaf spot of lettuce was observed for the first time in 1994. Since this first mention, the disease has been observed each year and the severity varied with environmental conditions. Little information was available on this disease because until recently it was only sporadically observed around the world following the first mention in 1918. In this project, we found that two groups of Xanthomonas caused the bacterial leaf spot of lettuce according to the BIOLOG profiles. From the results of strain characterization, a semi-selective medium has been developed to detect and quantify X. campestris pv. vitians. This medium is made of maltose, tryptone, methyl green, phosphate salts, amoxicillin, cephalothin, cycloheximide and trace elements. It allowed us to carry out studies on the ecology of the pathogen and on the disease epidemiology. The effect of weather conditions on bacterial population size and the bacterial leaf spot development has been studied. Weather parameters influencing the bacterial population were the number of hours with temperature higher than 28°C, the number of hours with wind velocity lower than 1 km per hour, the number of hours with relative humidity lower than 45% and the minimum relative humidity. The weather parameters that significantly discriminated between disease increase categories were the mean solar radiation, the number of hours with relative humidity higher than 90%, the mean relative humidity and the maximum temperature. Looking at the relationship between X. campestris pv. vitians population size and host plant development, it was shown that both bacterial population size and disease severity increased with leaf age. Mathematical models were developed to show these relationships. This information will be useful in disease management to decide when to apply bactericides and when to harvest. Finally, an exploratory study was conducted looking at the effects of nutrients on the size of saprophytic bacterial

Black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (X. c pv. campestris) is a major disease constraint to cabbage production. The control of black rot is difficult and resistant cultivars could play an important role in reducing the losses due to the disease. Information on the distribution and diversity of X. c pv. campestris is critical before any meaningful disease resistance screening can be done. However, little is known about the diversity and international significance of South African X. c pv. campestris strains. To assess the genetic diversity and international significance of X. c pv. campestris strains in South Africa, strains of the pathogen were obtained from cabbage growing districts in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces of South Africa in 2010. International strains were obtained from international culture collections. Isolates from South Africa were purified and race typed using differential sets of Brassica spp according to Nickerson–Zwaan protocols. Four races, race 1(14%), race 3 (7%), race 4 (68%) and race 6 (10%) of the pathogen were identified. Repetitive DNA polymerase chain reaction–based fingerprinting using Eric– and Box–primers were used to assess the genetic diversity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis allowed clear and reproducible differentiation of the PCR products. Of the amplified loci for South African isolates 5 loci were present in at least 90 % of the isolates for Eric–profiles and 6 in at least 80% of the isolates for Box–profiles. Of these prominent loci, none had corresponding high presence in international isolates. While no loci had a presence greater than 51% and 61% for Eric– and Box– profiles in international isolates, respectively, several loci among South African isolates were unique to isolates from specific geographic origin. Generated fingerprints of X. c pv. campestris were similar for the South African isolates and distinguishable from those of X. c pv. armoraciae and X. c pv. raphani reference strains. However, when international X. c pv. campestris were considered, no profile pattern was observed to be unique to international X. c pv. campestris isolates as was the case with South African isolates. Eric– and Box–PCR profiles of international isolates varied widely with some isolates having profile patterns similar to those of reference strains. Cluster analysis divided X. c pv. campestris into two major groups, the South African group and the international isolates group. The South African group could be divided into subgroups, which clustered according to the geographical origin of the isolates. The same was observed for international isolates, which generally clustered isolates according to country of origin. However, isolates from different countries also clustered together. A few X. c pv. campestris strains of international origin clustered with the South African isolates group. Furthermore, a few South African isolates were clustered in the international isolate group. Although X. c pv. campestris distribution may be unique to its geographical origin, our findings, based on the present data set, suggest wide spread of the pathogen both at national and international level. The existence of different races, genetic variability and international distribution of the pathogen should be considered when resistant crucifer cultivars are bred to control black rot of crucifers / Thesis (M.Sc. (Microbiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (X. c pv. campestris) is a major disease constraint to cabbage production. The control of black rot is difficult and resistant cultivars could play an important role in reducing the losses due to the disease. Information on the distribution and diversity of X. c pv. campestris is critical before any meaningful disease resistance screening can be done. However, little is known about the diversity and international significance of South African X. c pv. campestris strains. To assess the genetic diversity and international significance of X. c pv. campestris strains in South Africa, strains of the pathogen were obtained from cabbage growing districts in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces of South Africa in 2010. International strains were obtained from international culture collections. Isolates from South Africa were purified and race typed using differential sets of Brassica spp according to Nickerson–Zwaan protocols. Four races, race 1(14%), race 3 (7%), race 4 (68%) and race 6 (10%) of the pathogen were identified. Repetitive DNA polymerase chain reaction–based fingerprinting using Eric– and Box–primers were used to assess the genetic diversity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis allowed clear and reproducible differentiation of the PCR products. Of the amplified loci for South African isolates 5 loci were present in at least 90 % of the isolates for Eric–profiles and 6 in at least 80% of the isolates for Box–profiles. Of these prominent loci, none had corresponding high presence in international isolates. While no loci had a presence greater than 51% and 61% for Eric– and Box– profiles in international isolates, respectively, several loci among South African isolates were unique to isolates from specific geographic origin. Generated fingerprints of X. c pv. campestris were similar for the South African isolates and distinguishable from those of X. c pv. armoraciae and X. c pv. raphani reference strains. However, when international X. c pv. campestris were considered, no profile pattern was observed to be unique to international X. c pv. campestris isolates as was the case with South African isolates. Eric– and Box–PCR profiles of international isolates varied widely with some isolates having profile patterns similar to those of reference strains. Cluster analysis divided X. c pv. campestris into two major groups, the South African group and the international isolates group. The South African group could be divided into subgroups, which clustered according to the geographical origin of the isolates. The same was observed for international isolates, which generally clustered isolates according to country of origin. However, isolates from different countries also clustered together. A few X. c pv. campestris strains of international origin clustered with the South African isolates group. Furthermore, a few South African isolates were clustered in the international isolate group. Although X. c pv. campestris distribution may be unique to its geographical origin, our findings, based on the present data set, suggest wide spread of the pathogen both at national and international level. The existence of different races, genetic variability and international distribution of the pathogen should be considered when resistant crucifer cultivars are bred to control black rot of crucifers / Thesis (M.Sc. (Microbiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.