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VapD in Xylella fastidiosa is a thermostable protein with ribonuclease activity

  • Juliano S. Mendes
  • , André S. Da Santiago
  • , Marcelo A.S. Toledo
  • , Luciana K. Rosselli-Murai
  • , Marianna T.P. Favaro
  • , Clelton A. Santos
  • , Maria Augusta C. Horta
  • , Aline Crucello
  • , Lilian L. Beloti
  • , Fabian Romero
  • , Ljubica Tasic
  • , Alessandra A. De Souza
  • , Anete P. De Souza
  • Universidade Estadual de Campinas
  • Centro APTA Citros Sylvio Moreira/IAC

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Xylella fastidiosa strain 9a5c is a gram-negative phytopathogen that is the causal agent of citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), a disease that is responsible for economic losses in Brazilian agriculture. The most well-known mechanism of pathogenicity for this bacterial pathogen is xylem vessel occlusion, which results from bacterial movement and the formation of biofilms. The molecular mechanisms underlying the virulence caused by biofilm formation are unknown. Here, we provide evidence showing that virulence-associated protein D in X. fastidiosa (Xf-VapD) is a thermostable protein with ribonuclease activity. Moreover, protein expression analyses in two X. fastidiosa strains, including virulent (Xf9a5c) and nonpathogenic (XfJ1a12) strains, showed that Xf-VapD was expressed during all phases of development in both strains and that increased expression was observed in Xf9a5c during biofilm growth. This study is an important step toward characterizing and improving our understanding of the biological significance of Xf-VapD and its potential functions in the CVC pathosystem.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0145765
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume10
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2015
Externally publishedYes

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