Pectobacterium atrosepticum

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1. Classification

a. Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Enterobacteriales; Enterobacteriacea; Pectobacterium (1).

Species: Pectobacterium atrosepticum (1).

2. Description and significance

Pectobacterium atrosepticum (P. atrosepticum) is a Gram-negative species of phytopathogenic bacteria that falls under the family of Enterobacteriacea (1). P. atrosepticum is rod-shaped, motile, and does not form spores (2). The bacteria is found in temperate regions (3), where it is responsible for causing blackleg in potatoes, an infection that leads to the soft rot, decay, and eventual death of the crop (4). P. atrosepticum is important to human society due to the harmful economical effects it has on the agricultural industry (4). Genetic factors contributing to pathogenicity and virulence in P. atrosepticum have yet to be described. Current research seeks to gain a deeper understanding of optimal growth conditions for P. atrosepticum, as well as pathogenic effects of the microbe on a variety of different plants (4).

3. Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?

4. Cell structure

Interesting features of cell structure. Can be combined with “metabolic processes”

5. Metabolic processes

P. atrosepticum can metabolize a diverse amount of compounds including starch, lactose, maltose, sucrose, fructose, nucleotide sugar, amino sugar, propanoate, fatty acids, and pyruvate (8). This species of Pectobacterium contains catalase activity and is capable of metabolizing carbohydrates through both fermentation and oxidation (9). P. atrosepticum is capable of producing polyphenol oxidase activity with the help of the enzyme laccase (10). Laccase makes it possible for the cell to perform oxidation of ferulic acid in the presence of copper. Polyphenol oxidase-catalyzed polymerization of o-quinones causes the black pigment that is seen in the blackleg disease found in potatoes (10).

6. Ecology

While other species in this genus can survive in a wide variety of environments, P. atrosepticum can only host themselves in potato plants found in temperate climates (11). The optimal temperature for infection is 27०C (12). When not actively causing disease in crops, the bacteria cycle through a series of phases where they grow in the soil, on the surface of the plant, and then lay dormant within plant tissues (13). Once P. atrosepticum makes its way inside, it occupies the intercellular spaces and vascular tissues of the pores and wounds (13). When environmental conditions (specifically temperature and water and oxygen supply) become favorable, the bacteria can begin to cause infection (13). While oxygen availability and temperature are important factors, the presence of free water is most important for P. atrosepticum development (13).

7. Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

8. Current Research

Current research is assessing the recent upward trend of blackleg and soft rot incidence in seed potato crops in regions of Europe, specifically Great Britain. The high incidence of these longstanding problems reached a peak in Great Britain in the 1960s and agriculture has seen a decrease in the prevalence of the plant diseases until suspicions of the bacteria re-entering the soil in recent years (18). When multiple bacteria are present in the soil and roots of crops, temperature modulates which of the present pathogens will override the other and affect the mother tuber (18). Testing for the confirmed P. atrosepticum within the soil in the potato farms of Great Britain allows for plans of adaptation of the agriculture treatment and maintenance going forward in the presence of climate change. With the trend of dryer summers in Europe, the crops are at risk for drastic temperature changes as well as fluctuations in soil moisture (18). When there is moisture and higher concentrations of rainwater, the bacteria can more readily colonize potato roots and enter the vascular system of progeny tubers. Inducing the anaerobic conditions on the surface of the mother tubers favors bacterial growth, resulting in blackleg disease, stem rot, and lead to plant death (18). Research regarding the soil moisture as well as optimal temperatures for growth of P. atrosepticum will help with plans for rainwater harvesting equipment, irrigation technology, and as a last resort, geographical relocation of crop cultivation. Most recently, the genes of P. atrosepticum have been tested in an attempt to identify the differences of the gene expression within planta as compared to in vitro conditions. Through studying the effects of plant pathogens on tobacco plants and observing the colonization of the roots, the enzymatic reactions of the bacteria will be observed. The analysis of the RNA sequencing of P. atrosepticum has been used to attempt to identify the asymptomatic stage of the bacteria’s colonization, transitioning from point of colonization to soft-rot associated symptoms of the tobacco plants (14). Two strategies of tobacco colonization were observed to recognize this symptomless spread of the bacteria: 1) the initial, symptomless stage and spread of P. atrosepticum through xylem vessels, known as the stealth strategy and 2) the manifestation of soft-rot symptoms, known as the brute force strategy (14). Research regarding the effects of P. atrosepticum on a variety of different plants will expand knowledge on the pathogenicity of this bacterium.

9. References

It is required that you add at least five primary research articles (in same format as the sample reference below) that corresponds to the info that you added to this page. [Sample reference] Faller, A., and Schleifer, K. "Modified Oxidase and Benzidine Tests for Separation of Staphylococci from Micrococci". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 1981. Volume 13. p. 1031-1035.