Studies on chemotactic receptors in bacterial wilt pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15434
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38020:Applied microbiology-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Hida Akiko 広島大学, 統合生命科学研究科(先), 助教 (70825760)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 走化性 / 青枯病菌 / 走化性受容体 / MCP

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Motile bacteria sense chemical gradients in the environment through chemoreceptors and swim toward their favorable locations or away from unfavorable locations. This behavior is known as chemotaxis. In this study, 22 chemoreceptors of bacterial wilt pathogen were investigated, focusing on their ligand(s) and expression. The ligands of three chemoreceptors were newly identified. In addition, the expression pattern of 22 chemoreceptors in the presence of plant roots was revealed. These results suggest that the pathogen controls the expression level of its chemoreceptors and uses chemotaxis to specific compound(s) in plant infection.

Free Research Field

応用微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

青枯病菌は世界的に深刻な農作物被害をもたらしている植物病原細菌であり、現在有効な防除法の確立が求められている。そのような病原菌について、植物感染時の挙動を理解することは重要である。特に、植物体内に侵入した後の挙動についてはよく研究されているが、走化性のように感染に先立つ挙動についてあまり研究されておらず、“走化性”という視点での本病原菌の挙動の理解は新たな感染防除法の提案につながる可能性がある。