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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339786
Research Project: Novel Methods for Controlling Trichothecene Contamination of Grain and Improving the Climate Resilience of Food Safety and Security Programs

Location: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research

Title: Characterization of effectors from Fusarium graminearum

Author
item Hao, Guixia
item Vaughan, Martha
item McCormick, Susan
item Kelly, Amy
item Ward, Todd

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), which reduces crop yield and quality by producing various mycotoxins. Effectors play an important role in the pathogenesis of many bacterial and fungal pathogens. In this study, 26 effector candidates were selected for investigation. The expression of these effectors was evaluated during pathogenesis in wheat. Our analysis revealed that some effectors were highly up-regulated at the early or late infection stage. Expression of the effector gene located at the FGSG_03598 locus was strongly upregulated 36 h post inoculation but was then reduced at 7 d post inoculation. FGSG_03598 encodes a 309-aa protein that shares homology to sialidases from other organisms. Sialidases play important roles in diverse biological processes such as biofilm formation and microbial pathogenesis. The FGSG_03598 protein contains a signal peptide but no transmembrane domain. Further examination of the protein sequence suggests that the protein is secreted from the fungus and targeted to the plant chloroplast. Knock-out mutant of FGSG_03598 exhibited reduced FHB development. The role of FGSG_03598 in pathogen virulence and its localization in plant are under investigation.