Towards Understanding Fire Blight: Virulence Mechanisms and Their Regulation in Erwinia Amylovora
R. Ryan McNally, Youfu Zhao and George W. Sundin
from: Bacteria-Plant Interactions: Advanced Research and Future Trends (Edited by: Jesús Murillo, Boris A. Vinatzer, Robert W. Jackson and Dawn L. Arnold). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2015) Pages: 61-82.
Abstract
Erwinia amylovora is the causal agent of fire blight, a destructive disease of rosaceous species like apple and pear. For more than thirty years, research regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying fire blight disease development has identified many genetic determinants required for virulence by E. amylovora. These included type III secretion and exopolysaccharide biosynthesis as well as other factors that contribute to pathogenicity. A host of regulatory mechanisms coordinate the activity of all virulence factors in E. amylovora and are integral to our understanding of the pathogenesis process. As the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant E. amylovora populations threatens our ability to successfully manage fire blight severity, a more complete understanding of E. amylovora biology will be of vital importance in developing robust management strategies for the future read more ...
