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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #418092
Research Project: Development of Applied Management Systems for Diseases of Perennial Crops with Emphasis on Vector-Borne Pathogens of Grapevine and Citrus

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: DNA methylation and biofilm formation in Xylella fastidiosa

Author
item Burbank, Lindsey
item ARMENDARIZ, PARIZ - California Polytechnic State University

Submitted to: Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/26/2024
Publication Date: 11/16/2024
Citation: Burbank, L.P., Armendariz, P. 2024. DNA methylation and biofilm formation in Xylella fastidiosa. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. Presented at the ABCMS 2024, November 13-16 in Pittsburg, PA. (ng)

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Xylella fastidiosa is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes disease in various agricultural plants, characterized by forming extensive biofilms and colonizing xylem tissue. Biofilm formation is a complex process requiring significant changes in gene expression. DNA methylation can greatly affect gene expression and various phenotypes in bacteria. Biofilm formation was observed in Escherichia coli when the modification methylase (XfasM23_1700) gene from X. fastidiosa was expressed on a plasmid. This study analyzes gene expression changes regulated by the XfasM23_1700 gene to illustrate how DNA methylation promotes biofilm formation in X. fastidiosa. RNA-sequencing of transformed E. coli including the XfasM23_1700 gene from X. fastidiosa was performed and the sequence data was analyzed using Galaxy online bioinformatics platform. Sequence files underwent a quality control check, and then were aligned to the E. coli reference genome. Additionally, aligned reads were counted and differences in gene counts between E. coli expressing the XfasM23_1700 gene and the control strain (lacking the XfasM23_1700 gene) were analyzed for statistical significance. Several genes, including some with functions in biofilm development, demonstrated both up and down-regulation. Identifying crucial genes and pathways influencing biofilm formation may explain X. fastidiosa’s mechanism of pathogenicity and unravel avenues for mitigating its transmission.