“ <i>Candidatus</i> Liberibacter asiaticus” Secretes Nonclassically Secreted Proteins That Suppress Host Hypersensitive Cell Death and Induce Expression of Plant Pathogenesis-Related Proteins
Peixiu Du, Chao Zhang, Xiuping Zou, Zongcai Zhu, Hailin Yan, Hada Wuriyanghan, Weimin Li
Abstract
In this study, we present a combined computational and experimental methodology that allows a rapid and efficient identification of the ncSecPs from bacteria, in particular the unculturable bacteria like CLas. Meanwhile, the study determined that a number of CLas ncSecPs suppressed HR-based cell death, and thus indicated a novel role for the bacterial ncSecPs in extracellular milieu. More importantly, these ncSecPs were found to suppress cell death presumably by utilizing host PR proteins. The data overall provide a novel clue to understand the CLas pathogenesis and also suggest a new way by which phytopathogens manipulate host cellular machinery to establish infection.