Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Pages: 2527-2542

Journal: The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology

Volume number: 10

ISSN: 1751-7362

eISSN: 1751-7370

Open access status: Green

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.5

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract: 
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.

Harvard Citation style: Flury, P., Aellen, N., Ruffner, B., Pechy-Tarr, M., Fataar, S., Metla, Z., et al. (2016) Insect pathogenicity in plant-beneficial pseudomonads: phylogenetic distribution and comparative genomics, The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology, 10, pp. 2527-2542. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.5

APA Citation style: Flury, P., Aellen, N., Ruffner, B., Pechy-Tarr, M., Fataar, S., Metla, Z., Dominguez-Ferreras, A., Bloemberg, G., Frey, J., Goesmann, A., Raaijmakers, J., Duffy, B., Hofte, M., Blom, J., Smits, T., Keel, C., & Maurhofer, M. (2016). Insect pathogenicity in plant-beneficial pseudomonads: phylogenetic distribution and comparative genomics. The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology. 10, 2527-2542. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.5