Abstract
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a nematode species that has damaged pine trees worldwide, but its pathogenesis has not been fully characterized. α-pinene helps protect host species during the early B. xylophilus infection and colonization stages. In this study, we identified potential molecular mimicry proteins based on a comparative transcriptomic analysis of B. xylophilus. The expression levels of three genes encoding secreted B. xylophilus proteins were influenced by α-pinene. We cloned one gene encoding a thaumatin-like protein, Bx-tlp-2 (accession number MK000287), and another gene encoding a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, Bx-cpi (accession number MK000288). Additionally, α-pinene appeared to induce Bx-tlp-1 expression, but had the opposite effect on Bx-cpi expression. An analysis of the expression of the potential molecular mimicry proteins in B. xylophilus infecting pine trees revealed that the α-pinene content was consistent with the expression levels of Bx-tlp-1 (Bx-cpi) and Pm-tlp (Pm-cpi) over time. Thus, these genes likely have important roles contributing to the infection of pine species by B. xylophilus. The results of this study may be relevant for future investigations of the functions of Bx-tlp-1, Bx-tlp-2 and Bx-cpi, which may provide a point to explore the relationship between B. xylophilus and host pines.
Highlights
Pine wilt disease (PWD), due to the pine wood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle [1], has extensively damaged pine trees in Asia (Japan, China and South Korea) [2,3,4] and Europe (Portugal and Spain) [5,6,7,8]
An earlier investigation on the B. xylophilus secreted proteome revealed that two Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) and one cysteine proteinase (CP) inhibitor are highly similar to the proteins in pine trees [23]
We identified potential molecular mimicry proteins based on comparative B. xylophilus transcriptomics data [22]
Summary
Pine wilt disease (PWD), due to the pine wood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle [1], has extensively damaged pine trees in Asia (Japan, China and South Korea) [2,3,4] and Europe (Portugal and Spain) [5,6,7,8]. The molecular changes mediating the resistance of B. xylophilus to α-pinene have been examined via a comparative transcriptomic analysis of nematodes [22] The results of this previous study, combined with the findings of other B. xylophilus investigations, including a large-scale proteomic analysis [23], may be relevant for future studies on PWD and the pathogenicity of PWNs. Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are crucial for plant defenses against pathogens and abiotic stresses [24]. An earlier investigation on the B. xylophilus secreted proteome revealed that two TLPs and one cysteine proteinase (CP) inhibitor are highly similar to the proteins in pine trees (i.e., molecular mimicry) [23]. Cystatins regulate normal physiological processes, with decreases in their abundance possibly leading to disease They may participate in defenses against microbial infections [44]. The results described may be useful for verifying and characterizing the interaction between B. xylophilus and host pines
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