Chun Keun Lim

Sensitive and Specific Detection of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae by Real-Time Bio-PCR Using Pathovar-Specific Primers Based on an rhs Family Gene

The present study describes bio-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to detect bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in rice. Successful control of X. oryzae. pv. oryzae requires a specific and reliable diagnostic tool. However, other X. oryzae pathovars are detected by currently available molecular and serological methods. In this study, SYBR Green real-time and conventional PCR primer sets were designed based on an rhs family gene of X. oryzae pv. oryzae KACC10331 because these genes are structurally diverse. The specificity of the primers was evaluated using purified DNA from 11 isolates of two X. oryzae pathovars, 21 other Xanthomonas species, and 4 other reference phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi. The assay was also able to detect at least two genome equivalents of cloned amplified target DNA using purified DNA. Thus, the SYBR Green real-time PCR-based method can be used for the rapid and specific detection of X. oryzae pv. oryzae and will potentially simplify and facilitate diagnosis and monitoring of this pathogen and guide plant disease management.

Identification of dspEF, hrpW, and hrpN loci and characterization of the hrpNEp gene in Erwinia pyrifoliae

Erwinia pyrifoliae, the causal pathogen of shoot blight in the Asian pear tree (Pyrus pyrifolia cv. Singo), is host-specific and endemic to Korea. To identify the genes associated with the hypersensitive response (HR) and pathogenicity, a genomic library of E. pyrifoliae WT3 was constructed, and the cosmid clone Escherichia coli (pCEP33) was selected. Sequence analysis of 19.7-kb pCEP33 determined disease-specific (dsp) region homolog and approximately 40% of the hrp genes, which included hrpW, hrpNEp, hrpV, hrpT, hrcC, hrpG, hrpF, and partial hrpE homologs, with respect to the cluster of Erwinia amylovora. Additionally, two open reading frames, ORFD and ORFE, were found downstream of the dspEF region. The results of the sequence analysis showed that the pCEP33 did not contain any hrp regulatory genes or most of the genes encoding components of the Hrp protein secretion system. The hrpNEp gene of E. pyrifoliae contained five intergenic nucleotide fragment insertions (INFIs) and produced the HR elicitor protein harpinEp, with a molecular mass of approximately 44 kDa. The purified HrpNEp protein elicited faster and stronger HR when infiltrated into tobacco leaves than did HrpNEa from E. amylovora. To observe the role of the hrpL gene in the expression of HrpNEp, the pEL2 containing hrpL was used to transform E. coli (pCEP33). Expression of HrpNEp in E. coli (pCEP33 + pEPL2) was detected with an immunoblot using antiserum raised against HrpNEp, indicating a role of hrpL gene in enhancing the expression of HrpNEp.

Characterization of an antibacterial substance produced by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora Ecc 32

A total of 88 strains of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Ecc) isolated from various host plants in several geographic regions were screened for production of antibacterial substances using the same strains as indicators. Of the 88 strains, 72 produced antibacterial substances. One of these 72 strains, a Brazilian strain Ecc 32, produced an antibacterial substance active against all tested Ecc strains on TSA medium. The antibacterial spectrum of the compound from Ecc 32 strain was limited to closely related strains of soft-rot Erwinia species. Such a narrow spectrum of activity is typical of bacteriocins. The compound produced by Ecc 32 strain, however, was resistant to some enzymes and detergents. Moreover, the compound was heat-stable and active over a wide pH range. The physical characteristics of the compound were not in agreement with those of bacteriocin or carotovoricin.

Species-specific Detection of Erwinia pyrifoliae by PCR Assay Using Enterobacterial Repetivive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) Primers

We designed a sensitive and specific PCR-based method with enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) primer to detect Erwinia pyrifoliae, which cause shoot blight in Asian pear, from a mixed culture and infected plant materials. The primers specifically detected only E. pyrifoliae and showed no cross-reactivity with other bacterial phytopathogens.