Title |
Genome-Wide Analysis of Secondary Metabolite Gene Clusters in Ophiostoma ulmi and Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Reveals a Fujikurin-Like Gene Cluster with a Putative Role in Infection
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Published in |
Frontiers in Microbiology, June 2017
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DOI | 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01063 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Nicolau Sbaraini, Fábio C. Andreis, Claudia E. Thompson, Rafael L. M. Guedes, Ângela Junges, Thais Campos, Charley C. Staats, Marilene H. Vainstein, Ana T. Ribeiro de Vasconcelos, Augusto Schrank |
Abstract |
The emergence of new microbial pathogens can result in destructive outbreaks, since their hosts have limited resistance and pathogens may be excessively aggressive. Described as the major ecological incident of the twentieth century, Dutch elm disease, caused by ascomycete fungi from the Ophiostoma genus, has caused a significant decline in elm tree populations (Ulmus sp.) in North America and Europe. Genome sequencing of the two main causative agents of Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma ulmi and Ophiostoma novo-ulmi), along with closely related species with different lifestyles, allows for unique comparisons to be made to identify how pathogens and virulence determinants have emerged. Among several established virulence determinants, secondary metabolites (SMs) have been suggested to play significant roles during phytopathogen infection. Interestingly, the secondary metabolism of Dutch elm pathogens remains almost unexplored, and little is known about how SM biosynthetic genes are organized in these species. To better understand the metabolic potential of O. ulmi and O. novo-ulmi, we performed a deep survey and description of SM biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in these species and assessed their conservation among eight species from the Ophiostomataceae family. Among 19 identified BGCs, a fujikurin-like gene cluster (OpPKS8) was unique to Dutch elm pathogens. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that orthologs for this gene cluster are widespread among phytopathogens and plant-associated fungi, suggesting that OpPKS8 may have been horizontally acquired by the Ophiostoma genus. Moreover, the detailed identification of several BGCs paves the way for future in-depth research and supports the potential impact of secondary metabolism on Ophiostoma genus' lifestyle. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 48 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Ph. D. Student | 10 | 21% |
Student > Master | 9 | 19% |
Researcher | 6 | 13% |
Student > Postgraduate | 6 | 13% |
Professor | 4 | 8% |
Other | 8 | 17% |
Unknown | 5 | 10% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
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Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 22 | 46% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 9 | 19% |
Chemistry | 3 | 6% |
Environmental Science | 2 | 4% |
Social Sciences | 1 | 2% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 11 | 23% |