Insect pathogenicity in plant-beneficial pseudomonads: phylogenetic distribution and comparative genomics

TY - JOUR

T1 - Insect pathogenicity in plant-beneficial pseudomonads: phylogenetic distribution and comparative genomics

AU - Flury, Pascale

AU - Aellen, Nora

AU - Ruffner, Beat

AU - Pechy-Tarr, Maria

AU - Fataar, Shakira

AU - Metla, Zane

AU - Dominguez-Ferreras, Ana

AU - Bloemberg, Guido

AU - Frey, Joachim

AU - Goesmann, Alexander

AU - Raaijmakers, Jos M

AU - Duffy, Brion

AU - Hofte, Monica

AU - Blom, Jochen

AU - Smits, Theo H M

AU - Keel, Christoph

AU - Maurhofer, Monika

N1 - 6004, ME; Data archiving: data archived at publisher; Supplementary information available for this article at http://www.nature.com/ismej/journal/vaop/ncurrent/suppinfo/ismej20165s1.html

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas occupy diverse environments. The Pseudomonas fluorescens group is particularly well-known for its plant-beneficial properties including pathogen suppression. Recent observations that some strains of this group also cause lethal infections in insect larvae, however, point to a more versatile ecology of these bacteria. We show that 26 P. fluorescens group strains, isolated from three continents and covering three phylogenetically distinct sub-clades, exhibited different activities toward lepidopteran larvae, ranging from lethal to avirulent. All strains of sub-clade 1, which includes Pseudomonas chlororaphis and Pseudomonas protegens, were highly insecticidal regardless of their origin (animals, plants). Comparative genomics revealed that strains in this sub-clade possess specific traits allowing a switch between plant- and insect-associated lifestyles. We identified 90 genes unique to all highly insecticidal strains (sub-clade 1) and 117 genes common to all strains of sub-clade 1 and present in some moderately insecticidal strains of sub-clade 3. Mutational analysis of selected genes revealed the importance of chitinase C and phospholipase C in insect pathogenicity. The study provides insight into the genetic basis and phylogenetic distribution of traits defining insecticidal activity in plant-beneficial pseudomonads. Strains with potent dual activity against plant pathogens and herbivorous insects have great potential for use in integrated pest management for crops.

AB - Bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas occupy diverse environments. The Pseudomonas fluorescens group is particularly well-known for its plant-beneficial properties including pathogen suppression. Recent observations that some strains of this group also cause lethal infections in insect larvae, however, point to a more versatile ecology of these bacteria. We show that 26 P. fluorescens group strains, isolated from three continents and covering three phylogenetically distinct sub-clades, exhibited different activities toward lepidopteran larvae, ranging from lethal to avirulent. All strains of sub-clade 1, which includes Pseudomonas chlororaphis and Pseudomonas protegens, were highly insecticidal regardless of their origin (animals, plants). Comparative genomics revealed that strains in this sub-clade possess specific traits allowing a switch between plant- and insect-associated lifestyles. We identified 90 genes unique to all highly insecticidal strains (sub-clade 1) and 117 genes common to all strains of sub-clade 1 and present in some moderately insecticidal strains of sub-clade 3. Mutational analysis of selected genes revealed the importance of chitinase C and phospholipase C in insect pathogenicity. The study provides insight into the genetic basis and phylogenetic distribution of traits defining insecticidal activity in plant-beneficial pseudomonads. Strains with potent dual activity against plant pathogens and herbivorous insects have great potential for use in integrated pest management for crops.

KW - international

UR - http://www.nature.com/ismej/journal/vaop/ncurrent/suppinfo/ismej20165s1.html

U2 - 10.1038/ismej.2016.5

DO - 10.1038/ismej.2016.5

M3 - Article

SN - 1751-7370

VL - 10

SP - 2527

EP - 2542

JO - ISME Journal

JF - ISME Journal

ER -