Identification and functional analysis of secreted effectors from phytoparasitic nematodes

Plant effectostimulins and nematode SUbventral-Gland Regulator promote parasitism

Plant parasitic nematodes secrete effectors to promote disease progression. However, the mechanisms by which plant hosts and nematodes trigger the expression of these effector genes remain elusive. Recently, Pellegrin et al. discovered that plant-derived stimulants and the nematode SUbventral-Gland Regulator aid in the activation of effector genes in cyst nematodes.

The nematode effector calreticulin competes with the high mobility group protein OsHMGB1 for binding to the rice calmodulin-like protein OsCML31 to enhance rice susceptibility to Meloidogyne graminicola

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola secretes effectors into rice tissues to modulate host immunity. Here, we characterised MgCRT1, a calreticulin protein of M. graminicola, and identified its target in the plant. In situ hybridisation showed MgCRT1 mRNA accumulating in the subventral oesophageal gland in J2 nematodes. Immunolocalization indicated MgCRT1 localises in the giant cells during parasitism. Host-induced gene silencing of MgCRT1 reduced the infection ability of M. graminicola, while over-expressing MgCRT1 enhanced rice susceptibility to M. graminicola. A yeast two-hybrid approach identified the calmodulin-like protein OsCML31 as an interactor of MgCRT1. OsCML31 interacts with the high mobility group protein OsHMGB1 which is a conserved DNA binding protein. Knockout of OsCML31 or overexpression of OsHMGB1 in rice results in enhanced susceptibility to M. graminicola. In contrast, overexpression of OsCML31 or knockout of OsHMGB1 in rice decreases susceptibility to M. graminicola. The GST-pulldown and luciferase complementation imaging assay showed that MgCRT1 decreases the interaction of OsCML31 and OsHMGB1 in a competitive manner. In conclusion, when M. graminicola infects rice and secretes MgCRT1 into rice, MgCRT1 interacts with OsCML31 and decreases the association of OsCML31 with OsHMGB1, resulting in the release of OsHMGB1 to enhance rice susceptibility.

Lactic acid induced defense responses in tobacco against Phytophthora nicotianae

Induced resistance is considered an eco-friendly disease control strategy, which can enhance plant disease resistance by inducing the plant's immune system to activate the defense response. In recent years, studies have shown that lactic acid can play a role in plant defense against biological stress; however, whether lactic acid can improve tobacco resistance to Phytophthora nicotianae, and its molecular mechanism remains unclear. In our study, the mycelial growth and sporangium production of P. nicotianae were inhibited by lactic acid in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Application of lactic acid could reduce the disease index, and the contents of total phenol, salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), lignin and H2O2, catalase (CAT) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities were significantly increased. To explore this lactic acid-induced protective mechanism for tobacco disease resistance, RNA-Seq analysis was used. Lactic acid enhances tobacco disease resistance by activating Ca2+, reactive oxygen species (ROS) signal transduction, regulating antioxidant enzymes, SA, JA, abscisic acid (ABA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) signaling pathways, and up-regulating flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes. This study demonstrated that lactic acid might play a role in inducing resistance to tobacco black shank disease; the mechanism by which lactic acid induces disease resistance includes direct antifungal activity and inducing the host to produce direct and primed defenses. In conclusion, this study provided a theoretical basis for lactic acid-induced resistance and a new perspective for preventing and treating tobacco black shank disease.

Characterization of regulatory genes Plhffp and Plpif1 involved in conidiation regulation in Purpureocillium lavendulum

Purpureocillium lavendulum is an important biocontrol agent against plant-parasitic nematodes, primarily infecting them with conidia. However, research on the regulatory genes and pathways involved in its conidiation is still limited. In this study, we employed Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation to generate 4,870 random T-DNA insertion mutants of P. lavendulum. Among these mutants, 131 strains exhibited abnormal conidiation, and further in-depth investigations were conducted on two strains (designated as #5-197 and #5-119) that showed significantly reduced conidiation. Through whole-genome re-sequencing and genome walking, we identified the T-DNA insertion sites in these strains and determined the corresponding genes affected by the insertions, namely Plhffp and Plpif1. Both genes were knocked out through homologous recombination, and phenotypic analysis revealed a significant difference in conidiation between the knockout strains and the wild-type strain (ku80). Upon complementation of the ΔPlpif1 strain with the corresponding wildtype allele, conidiation was restored to a level comparable to ku80, providing further evidence of the involvement of this gene in conidiation regulation in P. lavendulum. The knockout of Plhffp or Plpif1 reduced the antioxidant capacity of P. lavendulum, and the absence of Plhffp also resulted in decreased resistance to SDS, suggesting that this gene may be involved in the integrity of the cell wall. RT-qPCR showed that knockout of Plhffp or Plpif1 altered expression levels of several known genes associated with conidiation. Additionally, the analysis of nematode infection assays with Caenorhabditis elegans indicated that the knockout of Plhffp and Plpif1 indirectly reduced the pathogenicity of P. lavendulum towards the nematodes. The results demonstrate that Agrobacterium tumefaciens - mediated T-DNA insertion mutagenesis, gene knockout, and complementation can be highly effective for identifying functionally important genes in P. lavendulum.

Two Candidate Meloidogyne javanica Effector Genes, MjShKT and MjPUT3: A Functional Investigation of Their Roles in Regulating Nematode Parasitism

During parasitism, root-knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. inject molecules termed effectors that have multifunctional roles in construction and maintenance of nematode feeding sites. As an outcome of transcriptomic analysis of Meloidogyne javanica, we identified and characterized two differentially expressed genes encoding the predicted proteins MjShKT, carrying a Stichodactyla toxin (ShKT) domain, and MjPUT3, carrying a ground-like domain, both expressed during nematode parasitism of the tomato plant. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization revealed expression of MjShKT and MjPUT3 in the dorsal esophageal glands, suggesting their injection into host cells. MjShKT expression was upregulated during the parasitic life stages, to a maximum at the mature female stage, whereas MjPUT3 expression increased in third- to fourth-stage juveniles. Subcellular in-planta localization of MjShKT and MjPUT3 using a fused fluorescence marker indicated MjShKT co-occurrence with the endoplasmic reticulum, the perinuclear endoplasmatic reticulum, and the Golgi organelle markers, while MjPUT3 localized, to some extent, within the endoplasmatic reticulum and was clearly observed within the nucleoplasm. MjShKT inhibited programmed cell death induced by overexpression of MAPKKKα and Gpa2/RBP-1. Overexpression of MjShKT in tomato hairy roots allowed an increase in nematode reproduction, as indicated by the high number of eggs produced on roots overexpressing MjShKT. Roots overexpressing MjPUT3 were characterized by enhanced root growth, with no effect on nematode development on those roots. Investigation of the two candidate effectors suggested that MjShKT is mainly involved in manipulating the plant effector-triggered immune response toward establishment and maintenance of active feeding sites, whereas MjPUT3 might modulate roots morphology in favor of nematode fitness in the host roots. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Host-delivered RNAi-mediated silencing of the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) effector genes, Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23, confers resistance in Arabidopsis and impairs reproductive ability of the root-knot nematode

Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23 effector genes play a significant role during Meloidogyne incognita parasitism on Arabidopsis roots. The role of these genes was confirmed by demonstrating the decrease of the level of susceptibility of Arabidopsis by the  silencing of Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23 genes using HD-RNAi technology. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are the most damaging pathogens severely affecting global food production. The sustainable options to minimize menace of nematode populations through economically feasible measures are limited. Thus, the development of innovative and target-specific strategies that aid in their management is imperative. RNAi technology has emerged as a sustainable and target-specific alternative to control phytonematodes. Here, we characterized two novel subventral gland and dorsal gland-specific effectors, Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23, to determine their potential effectiveness in controlling M. incognita. Comparative developmental profiling using qRT-PCR revealed higher expression of both effectors in the adult nematode female. Furthermore, functional evaluation of Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23 dsRNA cassettes was performed using host-delivered RNAi (HD-RNAi) in Arabidopsis. The transgenic lines were examined against M. incognita, and the phenotypic effect of HD-RNAi was evident with a 61% and 51% reduction in gall formation in the Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23 RNAi lines, respectively. A significant drop in the nematode adult females by 59% for Mi-msp10 and 49% for Mi-msp23-RNAi lines was observed. Similarly, production in egg masses decreased significantly by 76% (Mi-msp10) and 60% (Mi-msp23) for the RNAi lines, which eventually decreased the reproductive factor by 92% and 75%, respectively. The gene expression analysis showed a significant decrease in the transcript level by up to 72% (Mi-msp10) and 66% (Mi-msp23) in M. incognita females feeding on RNAi lines, providing further evidence of effective gene silencing. Overall, our findings provide useful information and support further development of RNAi-based strategies to control M. incognita.

The Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2 (MjMCM2) of Meloidogyne javanica is a potential effector regulating the cell cycle in nematode-induced galls

Root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne spp. induce enlarged multinucleate feeding cells—galls—in host plant roots. Although core cell-cycle components in galls follow a conserved track, they can also be usurped and manipulated by nematodes. We identified a candidate effector in Meloidogyne javanica that is directly involved in cell-cycle manipulation—Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2 (MCM2), part of MCM complex licensing factor involved in DNA replication. MjMCM2, which is induced by plant oxilipin 9-HOT, was expressed in nematode esophageal glands, upregulated during parasitic stages, and was localized to plant cell nucleus and plasma membrane. Infected tomato hairy roots overexpressing MjMCM2 showed significantly more galls and egg-mass-producing females than wild-type roots, and feeding cells showed more nuclei. Phylogenetic analysis suggested seven homologues of MjMCM2 with unknown association to parasitism. Sequence mining revealed two RxLR-like motifs followed by SEED domains in all Meloidogyne spp. MCM2 protein sequences. The unique second RxLR-like motif was absent in other Tylenchida species. Molecular homology modeling of MjMCM2 suggested that second RxLR2-like domain is positioned on a surface loop structure, supporting its function in polar interactions. Our findings reveal a first candidate cell-cycle gene effector in M. javanica—MjMCM2—that is likely secreted into plant host to mimic function of endogenous MCM2.

The Bursaphelenchus xylophilus effector BxML1 targets the cyclophilin protein (CyP) to promote parasitism and virulence in pine

BACKGROUND

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is the causal agent of pine wilt disease (PWD) that has caused enormous ecological and economic losses in China. The mechanism in the interaction between nematodes and pine remains unclear. Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) secrete effectors into host plant tissues. However, it is poorly studied that role of effector in the infection of pine wood nematode (PWN).

RESULTS

We cloned, characterized and functionally validated the B. xylophilus effector BxML1, containing an MD-2-related lipid-recognition (ML) domain. This protein inhibits immune responses triggered by the molecular pattern BxCDP1 of B. xylophilus. An insitu hybridization assay demonstrated that BxML1 was expressed mainly in the dorsal glands and intestine of B. xylophilus. Subcellular localization analysis showed the presence of BxML1 in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Furthermore, number of B. xylophilus and morbidity of pine were significantly reduced in Pinus thunbergii infected with B. xylophilus when BxML was silenced. Using yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and coimmunoprecipitation (CoIP) assays, we found that the BxML1 interacts with cyclophilin protein PtCyP1 in P. thunbergii.

CONCLUSIONS

This study illustrated that BxML1 plays a critical role in the B. xylophilus-plant interaction and virulence of B. xylophilus.

Morphological characterization reveals new insights into giant cell development of Meloidogyne graminicola on rice

Three types of nematode-feeding sites (NFSs) caused by M. graminicola on rice were suggested, and the NFS polarized expansion stops before the full NFS maturation that occurs at adult female stage. Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., secrete effectors and recruit host genes to establish their feeding sites giant cells, ensuring their nutrient acquisition. There is still a limited understanding of the mechanism underlying giant cell development. Here, the three-dimensional structures of M. graminicola-caused nematode-feeding sites (NFSs) on rice as well as changes in morphological features and cytoplasm density of the giant cells (GCs) during nematode parasitism were reconstructed and characterized by confocal microscopy and the Fiji software. Characterization of morphological features showed that three types of M. graminicola-caused NFSs, type I-III, were detected during parasitism at the second juvenile (J2), the third juvenile (J3), the fourth juvenile (J4) and adult female stages. Type I is the majority at all stages and type II develops into type I at J3 stage marked by its longitudinal growth. Meanwhile, NFSs underwent polarized expansion, where the lateral and longitudinal expansion ceased at later parasitic J2 stage and the non-feeding J4 stage, respectively. The investigation of giant cell cytoplasm density indicates that it reaches a peak at the midpoint of early parasitic J2 and adult female stages. Our data suggest the formation of three types of NFSs caused by M. graminicola on rice and the NFS polarized expansion stopping before full NFS maturation, which provides unprecedented spatio-temporal characterization of development of giant cells caused by a root-knot nematode.

Characterization of Five Meloidogyne incognita Effectors Associated with PsoRPM3

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are devastating parasites that invade thousands of plants. In this study, five RKN effectors, which might interact with Prunussogdiana resistance protein PsoRPM3, were screened and identified. In situ hybridisation results showed that MiCal, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh and MiACPS are expressed in the subventral oesophageal glands (SvG), and MiTSPc hybridization signals are found in the dorsal esophageal gland (DG) of Meloidogyne incognita in the pre-J2. RT-qPCR data indicated that the expression of MiCal, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, and MiACPS genes are highly expressed in M. incognita of pra-J2 and J3/J4 stages. The expression of MiTSPc increased significantly in the female stage of M. incognita. Moreover, all effectors found in this study localize in the cytoplasm and nucleus when transiently expressed in plant cells. In addition, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, MiACPS and MiTSPc can elicit the ROS burst and strong hypersensitive response (HR), as well as significant ion leakage. Our data suggest that MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, MiACPS and MiTSPc effectors may be involved in triggering the immune response of the host plant.

Effectors of Root-Knot Nematodes: An Arsenal for Successful Parasitism

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are notorious plant-parasitic nematodes first recorded in 1855 in cucumber plants. They are microscopic, obligate endoparasites that cause severe losses in agriculture and horticulture. They evade plant immunity, hijack the plant cell cycle, and metabolism to modify healthy cells into giant cells (GCs) - RKN feeding sites. RKNs secrete various effector molecules which suppress the plant defence and tamper with plant cellular and molecular biology. These effectors originate mainly from sub-ventral and dorsal oesophageal glands. Recently, a few non-oesophageal gland secreted effectors have been discovered. Effectors are essential for the entry of RKNs in plants, subsequently formation and maintenance of the GCs during the parasitism. In the past two decades, advanced genomic and post-genomic techniques identified many effectors, out of which only a few are well characterized. In this review, we provide molecular and functional details of RKN effectors secreted during parasitism. We list the known effectors and pinpoint their molecular functions. Moreover, we attempt to provide a comprehensive insight into RKN effectors concerning their implications on overall plant and nematode biology. Since effectors are the primary and prime molecular weapons of RKNs to invade the plant, it is imperative to understand their intriguing and complex functions to design counter-strategies against RKN infection.

Systematic Investigation of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Main Subtropical Crops in Guangxi Province, China

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are a pathogenic group that causes momentous crop yield loss by retarding plant growth and development through plant parasitization. In this study, the distribution of PPNs based on the main crops in Guangxi Province of China was investigated. A total of 425 samples of soil or roots from sugarcane, rice, maize, and soybean were collected in 68 counties, and a total of 48 order/family/genera of PPNs were identified, of which some genera were found in more than one crop. A total of 31 order/family/genera of PPNs were found in rice, among which Hirschmanniella was the most abundant, accounting for 79.23%, followed by Tylenchorhynchus (34.43%). Forty order/family/genera were observed in maize, of which the dominant genera were Pratylenchus and Tylenchorhynchus at 45.14% and 32.64%, respectively. In addition, 30 order/family/genera of PPNs were detected from sugarcane, and the percentages of Tylenchorhynchus and Helicotylenchus were 70.42% and 39.44%, respectively. The main crop of Eastern ecological regions was rice, with a high frequency of Hirschmanniella. The greatest frequency of Pratylenchus was found in the Western eco-region, which had a large area of maize. In the Northern eco-region, rice and maize were popular, with abundant Hirschmanniella and Helicotylenchus. In the Central eco-region, Pratylenchus was detected on the main crop of sugarcane. Hirschmanniella (72.94%) was dominant in clay, and Tylenchorhynchus (54.17%) showed the highest frequency in loam. The distribution of PPNs varied with different altitudes. The diversity of this phenomenon was closely related to host plants. These results could improve understanding of the distribution of PPNs and provide important information for controlling PPNs.

Characterization of Superoxide Dismutase from the Potato Cyst Nematode, Globodera pallida

Potato cyst nematodes (PCNs), such as Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis, are some of the most agriculturally and economically important pests of potato. Upon nematode infection, a principal component of plant defense is the generation of the reactive oxygen species (ROSs). ROSs are highly toxic molecules that cause damage to pathogens and host alike. To infect the plant, nematodes protect themselves from ROSs by activating their own antioxidant processes and ROS scavenging enzymes. One of these enzymes is a superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), which prevents cellular damage by catalyzing conversion of the superoxide radical (O₂^-·) to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and molecular oxygen (O₂). We have isolated a putatively secreted isoform of a Cu-Zn SOD (SOD-3) from G. pallida and localized the expression of this gene in the posterior region of the nematode. Furthermore, we studied the expression of the SOD-3 gene during early parasitic stages of infection (24 to 72 h) in the susceptible potato cultivar Desiree, the resistant potato cultivar Innovator, and an immune host, Solanum sisymbriifolium. The SOD-3 gene was significantly upregulated, regardless of the host type; however, the expression pattern differed between the susceptible and the resistant or immune hosts. This finding suggests that SOD-3 gene is responding to infection in plant roots differently depending on whether the nematode is experiencing a compatible or an incompatible interaction.

Mining nematode protein secretomes to explain lifestyle and host specificity

Parasitic nematodes are highly successful pathogens, inflicting disease on humans, animals and plants. Despite great differences in their life cycles, host preference and transmission modes, these parasites share a common capacity to manipulate their host's immune system. This is at least partly achieved through the release of excretory/secretory proteins, the most well-characterized component of nematode secretomes, that are comprised of functionally diverse molecules. In this work, we analyzed published protein secretomes of parasitic nematodes to identify common patterns as well as species-specific traits. The 20 selected organisms span 4 nematode clades, including plant pathogens, animal parasites, and the free-living species Caenorhabditis elegans. Transthyretin-like proteins were the only component common to all adult secretomes; many other protein classes overlapped across multiple datasets. The glycolytic enzymes aldolase and enolase were present in all parasitic species, but missing from C. elegans. Secretomes from larval stages showed less overlap between species. Although comparison of secretome composition across species and life-cycle stages is challenged by the use of different methods and depths of sequencing among studies, our workflow enabled the identification of conserved protein families and pinpointed elements that may have evolved as to enable parasitism. This strategy, extended to more secretomes, may be exploited to prioritize therapeutic targets in the future.

Advances in the biological control of phytoparasitic nematodes via the use of nematophagous fungi

Agricultural production is one of most important activities for food supply and demand, that provides a source of raw materials, and generates commercial opportunities for other industries around the world. It may be both positively and negatively affected by climatic and biological factors. Negative biological factors are those caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Given the serious problems posed by phytoparasitic nematodes for farmers, causing crop losses globally every year, the agrochemical industry has developed compounds with the capacity to inhibit their development; however, they can cause the death of other beneficial organisms and their lixiviation can contaminate the water table. On the other hand, the positive biological factors are found in biotechnology, the scientific discipline that develops products, such as nematophagous fungi (of which Purpureocillium lilacinum and Pochonia chlamydosporia have the greatest potential), for the control of pests and/or diseases. The present review focuses on the importance of nematophagous fungi, particularly sedentary endoparasitic nematodes, their research on the development of biological control agents, the mass production of fungi Purpureocillium lilacinum and Pochonia chlamydosporia, and their limited commercialization due to the lack of rigorous methods that enable the anticipation of complex interactions between plant and phytopathogenic agents.

Transcriptome analysis of resistant and susceptible mulberry responses to Meloidogyne enterolobii infection

BACKGROUND

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is an important sericulture crop; however, root-knot nematode infection seriously limits its production. Understanding the mechanism of interaction between mulberry and nematode is important for control of infection.

RESULTS

Using sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly, we identified 55,894 unigenes from root samples of resistant and susceptible mulberry cultivars at different stages after infection with the nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii; 33,987 of these were annotated in the Nr, SWISS-PROT, KEGG, and KOG databases. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed key genes involved in hormone metabolic processes, plant hormone signal transduction, flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and peroxisomal and photosynthetic pathways. Analysis of key trends in co-expression networks indicated that expression of unigenes 0,015,083, 0,073,272, 0,004,006, and 0,000,628 was positively correlated with resistance to M. enterolobii. Unigene 0015083 encodes tabersonine 16-O-methyltransferase (16OMT), which is involved in alkaloid biosynthesis. Unigene 0073272 encodes a transcription factor contributing to nitric oxide accumulation during plant immune responses. Unigenes 0,004,006 and 0,000,628 encode ERF and MYB transcription factors, respectively, involved in plant hormone signaling. We verified the accuracy of transcriptome sequencing results by RT-qPCR of 21 DEGs.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study increase our understanding of the resistance mechanisms and candidate genes involved in mulberry-M. enterolobii interaction. Thus, our data will contribute to the development of effective control measures against this pathogen.

Transcriptome Analysis and miRNA Target Profiling at Various Stages of Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita Development for Identification of Potential Regulatory Networks

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are a group of plant-parasitic nematodes that cause damage to various plant species and extensive economical losses. In this study, we performed integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression data to explore the regulation of miRNA and mRNA in RKNs. In particular, we aimed to elucidate the mRNA targets of Meloidogyne incognita miRNAs and variations of the RKN transcriptome during five stages of its life cycle. Stage-wise RNA sequencing of M. incognita resulted in clean read numbers of 56,902,902, 50,762,456, 40,968,532, 47,309,223, and 51,730,234 for the egg, J2, J3, J4, and female stages, respectively. Overall, stage-dependent mRNA sequencing revealed that 17,423 genes were expressed in the transcriptome of M. incognita. The egg stage showed the maximum number of transcripts, and 12,803 gene transcripts were expressed in all stages. Functional Gene Ontology (GO) analysis resulted in three main GO classes: biological process, cellular components, and molecular function; the detected sequences were longer than sequences in the reference genome. Stage-wise selected fragments per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads (FPKM) values of the top 10 stage-specific and common mRNAs were used to construct expression profiles, and 20 mRNAs were validated through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Next, we used three target prediction programs (miRanda, RNAhybrid, and PITA) to obtain 2431 potential target miRNA genes in RKNs, which regulate 8331 mRNAs. The predicted potential targets of miRNA were generally involved in cellular and metabolic processes, binding of molecules in the cell, membranes, and organelles. Stage-wise miRNA target analysis revealed that the egg stage contains heat shock proteins, transcriptional factors, and DNA repair proteins, whereas J2 includes DNA replication, heat shock, and ubiquitin-conjugating pathway-related proteins; the J3 and J4 stages are represented by the major sperm protein domain and translation-related proteins, respectively. In the female stage, we found proteins related to the maintenance of molybdopterin-binding domain-containing proteins and ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. In total, 29 highly expressed stage-specific mRNA-targeting miRNAs were analyzed using qRT-PCR to validate the sequence analysis data. Overall, our findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms occurring at various developmental stages of the RKN life cycle, thus aiding in the identification of potential control strategies.

The Two Faces of Nematode Infection: Virulence and Immunomodulatory Molecules From Nematode Parasites of Mammals, Insects and Plants

Helminths stage a powerful infection that allows the parasite to damage host tissue through migration and feeding while simultaneously evading the host immune system. This feat is accomplished in part through the release of a diverse set of molecules that contribute to pathogenicity and immune suppression. Many of these molecules have been characterized in terms of their ability to influence the infectious capabilities of helminths across the tree of life. These include nematodes that infect insects, known as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and plants with applications in agriculture and medicine. In this review we will first discuss the nematode virulence factors, which aid parasite colonization or tissue invasion, and cause many of the negative symptoms associated with infection. These include enzymes involved in detoxification, factors essential for parasite development and growth, and highly immunogenic ES proteins. We also explore how these parasites use several classes of molecules (proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids) to evade the host's immune defenses. For example, helminths release immunomodulatory molecules in extracellular vesicles that may be protective in allergy and inflammatory disease. Collectively, these nematode-derived molecules allow parasites to persist for months or even years in a host, avoiding being killed or expelled by the immune system. Here, we evaluate these molecules, for their individual and combined potential as vaccine candidates, targets for anthelminthic drugs, and therapeutics for allergy and inflammatory disease. Last, we evaluate shared virulence and immunomodulatory mechanisms between mammalian and non-mammalian plant parasitic nematodes and EPNs, and discuss the utility of EPNs as a cost-effective model for studying nematode-derived molecules. Better knowledge of the virulence and immunomodulatory molecules from both entomopathogenic nematodes and soil-based helminths will allow for their use as beneficial agents in fighting disease and pests, divorced from their pathogenic consequences.

Genome streamlining in a minute herbivore that manipulates its host plant

The tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici, is among the smallest animals on earth. It is a worldwide pest on tomato and can potently suppress the host's natural resistance. We sequenced its genome, the first of an eriophyoid, and explored whether there are genomic features associated with the mite's minute size and lifestyle. At only 32.5 Mb, the genome is the smallest yet reported for any arthropod and, reminiscent of microbial eukaryotes, exceptionally streamlined. It has few transposable elements, tiny intergenic regions, and is remarkably intron-poor, as more than 80% of coding genes are intronless. Furthermore, in accordance with ecological specialization theory, this defense-suppressing herbivore has extremely reduced environmental response gene families such as those involved in chemoreception and detoxification. Other losses associate with this species' highly derived body plan. Our findings accelerate the understanding of evolutionary forces underpinning metazoan life at the limits of small physical and genome size.

Conferring root-knot nematode resistance via host-delivered RNAi-mediated silencing of four Mi-msp genes in Arabidopsis

The root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita is considered one of the most damaging pests among phytonematodes. The majority of nematode oesophageal gland effector genes are indispensable in facilitating M. incognita parasitization of host plants. We report the effect of host-delivered RNAi (HD-RNAi) silencing of four selected M. incognita effector genes, namely, Mi-msp3, Mi-msp5, Mi-msp18 and Mi-msp24, in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mi-msp5, Mi-msp18 and Mi-msp24, which are dorsal gland genes, were found to be maximally expressed in the adult female stage, whereas Mi-msp3, which is a sub-ventral gland gene, was maximally expressed in an earlier stage. In transgenic plants expressing dsRNA, the reduction in the number of galls on roots was 89 %, 78 %, 86 % and 89 % for the Mi-msp3, Mi-msp5, Mi-msp18 and Mi-msp24 RNAi events, respectively. Moreover, gene transcript abundance was significantly reduced in RKN females feeding on dsRNA-expressing lines by up to 60 %, 84 %, 31 % and 61 % for Mi-msp3, Mi-msp5, Mi-msp18 and Mi-msp24, respectively. Furthermore, the M. incognita reproduction factor was reduced up to 71-, 344-, 107- and 114-fold in Arabidopsis plants expressing Mi-msp3, Mi-msp5, Mi-msp18 and Mi-msp24 dsRNA constructs, respectively. This study provides a set of potential target genes to curb nematode infestation in economically important crops via the HD-RNAi approach.

Evolutionarily conserved plant genes responsive to root-knot nematodes identified by comparative genomics

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, genus Meloidogyne) affect a large number of crops causing severe yield losses worldwide, more specifically in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Several plant species display high resistance levels to Meloidogyne, but a general view of the plant immune molecular responses underlying resistance to RKNs is still lacking. Combining comparative genomics with differential gene expression analysis may allow the identification of widely conserved plant genes involved in RKN resistance. To identify genes that are evolutionary conserved across plant species, we used OrthoFinder to compared the predicted proteome of 22 plant species, including important crops, spanning 214 Myr of plant evolution. Overall, we identified 35,238 protein orthogroups, of which 6,132 were evolutionarily conserved and universal to all the 22 plant species (PLAnts Common Orthogroups-PLACO). To identify host genes responsive to RKN infection, we analyzed the RNA-seq transcriptome data from RKN-resistant genotypes of a peanut wild relative (Arachis stenosperma), coffee (Coffea arabica L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.) challenged by Meloidogyne spp. using EdgeR and DESeq tools, and we found 2,597 (O. glaberrima), 743 (C. arabica), 665 (A. stenosperma), and 653 (G. max) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the resistance response to the nematode. DEGs' classification into the previously characterized 35,238 protein orthogroups allowed identifying 17 orthogroups containing at least one DEG of each resistant Arachis, coffee, soybean, and rice genotype analyzed. Orthogroups contain 364 DEGs related to signaling, secondary metabolite production, cell wall-related functions, peptide transport, transcription regulation, and plant defense, thus revealing evolutionarily conserved RKN-responsive genes. Interestingly, the 17 DEGs-containing orthogroups (belonging to the PLACO) were also universal to the 22 plant species studied, suggesting that these core genes may be involved in ancestrally conserved immune responses triggered by RKN infection. The comparative genomic approach that we used here represents a promising predictive tool for the identification of other core plant defense-related genes of broad interest that are involved in different plant-pathogen interactions.

Transcriptome and Parasitome Analysis of Beet Cyst Nematode Heterodera schachtii

Beet cyst nematodes depend on a set of secretory proteins (effectors) for the induction and maintenance of their syncytial feeding sites in plant roots. In order to understand the relationship between the beet cyst nematode H. schachtii and its host, identification of H. schachtii effectors is crucial and to this end, we sequenced a whole animal pre-infective J2-stage transcriptome in addition to pre- and post-infective J2 gland cell transcriptome using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and identified a subset of sequences representing putative effectors. Comparison between the transcriptome of H. schachtii and previously reported related cyst nematodes and root-knot nematodes revealed a subset of esophageal gland related sequences and putative effectors in common across the tested species. Structural and functional annotation of H. schachtii transcriptome led to the identification of nearly 200 putative effectors. Six putative effector expressions were quantified using qPCR and three of them were functionally analyzed using RNAi. Phenotyping of the RNAi nematodes indicated that all tested genes decrease the level of nematodes pathogenicity and/or the average female size, thereby regulating cyst nematode parasitism. These discoveries contribute to further understanding of the cyst nematode parasitism.

Development of nematode resistance in Arabidopsis by HD-RNAi-mediated silencing of the effector gene Mi-msp2

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are devastating parasites that infect thousands of plants. As RKN infection is facilitated by oesophageal gland effector genes, one such effector gene, Mi-msp2, was selected for a detailed characterization. Based on domain analysis, the Mi-MSP2 protein contains an ShKT domain, which is likely involved in blocking K⁺ channels and may help in evading the plant defence response. Expression of the Mi-msp2 gene was higher in juveniles (parasitic stage of RKNs) than in eggs and adults. Stable homozygous transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing Mi-msp2 dsRNA were generated, and the numbers of galls, females and egg masses were reduced by 52-54%, 60-66% and 84-95%, respectively, in two independent RNAi lines compared with control plants. Furthermore, expression analysis revealed a significant reduction in Mi-msp2 mRNA abundance (up to 88%) in female nematodes feeding on transgenic plants expressing dsRNA, and northern blot analysis confirmed expression of the Mi-msp2 siRNA in the transgenic plants. Interestingly, a significant reduction in the reproduction factor was observed (nearly 40-fold). These data suggest that the Mi-msp2 gene can be used as a potential target for RKN management in crops of economic importance.

Genomic dissection of an extended phenotype: Oak galling by a cynipid gall wasp

Galls are plant tissues whose development is induced by another organism for the inducer's benefit. 30,000 arthropod species induce galls, and in most cases the inducing effectors and target plant systems are unknown. Cynipid gall wasps are a speciose monophyletic radiation that induce structurally complex galls on oaks and other plants. We used a model system comprising the gall wasp Biorhiza pallida and the oak Quercus robur to characterise inducer and host plant gene expression at defined stages through the development of galled and ungalled plant tissues, and tested alternative hypotheses for the origin and type of galling effectors and plant metabolic pathways involved. Oak gene expression patterns diverged markedly during development of galled and normal buds. Young galls showed elevated expression of oak genes similar to legume root nodule Nod factor-induced early nodulin (ENOD) genes and developmental parallels with oak buds. In contrast, mature galls showed substantially different patterns of gene expression to mature leaves. While most oak transcripts could be functionally annotated, many gall wasp transcripts of interest were novel. We found no evidence in the gall wasp for involvement of third-party symbionts in gall induction, for effector delivery using virus-like-particles, or for gallwasp expression of genes coding for plant hormones. Many differentially and highly expressed genes in young larvae encoded secretory peptides, which we hypothesise are effector proteins exported to plant tissues. Specifically, we propose that host arabinogalactan proteins and gall wasp chitinases interact in young galls to generate a somatic embryogenesis-like process in oak tissues surrounding the gall wasp larvae. Gall wasp larvae also expressed genes encoding multiple plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs). These have functional orthologues in other gall inducing cynipids but not in figitid parasitoid sister groups, suggesting that they may be evolutionary innovations associated with cynipid gall induction.

Plant galls are induced by organisms that manipulate host plant development to produce novel structures. The organisms involved range from mutualistic (such as nitrogen fixing bacteria) to parasitic. In the case of parasites, the gall benefits only the gall-inducing partner. A wide range of organisms can induce galls, but the processes involved are understood only for some bacterial and fungal galls. Cynipid gall wasps induce diverse and structurally complex galls, particularly on oaks (Quercus). We used transcriptome and genome sequencing for one gall wasp and its host oak to identify genes active in gall development. On the plant side, when compared to normally developing bud tissues, young gall tissues showed elevated expression of loci similar to those found in nitrogen-fixing root nodules of leguminous plants. On the wasp side, we found no evidence for involvement of viruses or microorganisms carried by the insects in gall induction or delivery of inducing stimuli. We found that gall wasps express many genes whose products may be secreted to the host, including enzymes that degrade plant cell walls. Genome comparisons between galling and non-galling relatives showed cell wall-degrading enzymes are restricted to gall inducers, and hence potentially key components of a gall inducing lifestyle.

The genome of the migratory nematode, Radopholus similis, reveals signatures of close association to the sedentary cyst nematodes

Radopholus similis, commonly known as the burrowing nematode, is an important pest of myriad crops and ornamentals including banana (Musa spp.) and Citrus spp. In order to characterize the potential role of putative effectors encoded by R. similis genes we compared predicted proteins from a draft R. similis genome with other plant-parasitic nematodes in order to define the suite of excreted/secreted proteins that enable it to function as a parasite and to ascertain the phylogenetic position of R. similis in the Tylenchida order. Identification and analysis of candidate genes encoding for key plant cell-wall degrading enzymes including GH5 cellulases, PL3 pectate lyases and GH28 polygalactouranase revealed a pattern of occurrence similar to other PPNs, although with closest phylogenetic associations to the sedentary cyst nematodes. We also observed the absence of a suite of effectors essential for feeding site formation in the cyst nematodes. Clustering of various orthologous genes shared by R. similis with other nematodes showed higher overlap with the cyst nematodes than with the root-knot or other migratory endoparasitic nematodes. The data presented here support the hypothesis that R. similis is evolutionarily closer to the cyst nematodes, however, differences in the effector repertoire delineate ancient divergence of parasitism, probably as a consequence of niche specialization. These similarities and differences further underscore distinct evolutionary relationships during the evolution of parasitism in this group of nematodes.

Development of a Species-Specific PCR for Detection and Quantification of Meloidogyne hapla in Soil Using the 16D10 Root-Knot Nematode Effector Gene

The Northern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) is an important soilborne pathogen of numerous agricultural crops in temperate regions. Accurate detection and quantification is vital to supporting informed pest management decisions. However, traditional methods of manual nematode extraction and morphology-based identification are time-consuming and require highly specialized training. Molecular methods may expand the diagnostician's toolkit beyond those methods that rely on this disappearing specialized skillset. However, molecular assays targeting the internal transcribed spacer region may lead to inaccurate results because of intraspecific variability. The Meloidogyne spp. effector gene 16D10 was assessed as a target for a SYBR Green I quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for detection and quantification of M. hapla. M. hapla-specific qPCR primers were developed and evaluated for specificity against five M. hapla isolates and 14 other plant-parasitic nematodes. A standard curve was generated by relating the quantification cycle (Cq) to the log of M. hapla population densities artificially introduced into soil. The influence of soil inhibitors on quantitative amplification was assessed by generating a dilution series from DNA extracted from pure nematode cultures and inoculated soil. Extracts from soil produced significantly higher Cq values than those produced from pure culture extracts. The utility of the qPCR was evaluated using soil samples collected from three naturally infested potato fields, resulting in a significant positive relationship between populations estimated using qPCR and populations derived from manual counting. The qPCR developed in this study provides a useful method for detecting and quantifying M. hapla in soil and demonstrates the utility of effector genes in plant-parasitic nematode diagnostics. The ability to use effector genes as targets for qPCR and other molecular detection and quantification methods may open additional avenues of novel research and support development of improved species-level diagnostics.

Plant-parasitic nematode effectors - insights into their diversity and new tools for their identification

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are a large group of obligate biotrophic pathogens that secrete molecules, called effectors, involved in parasitism. The majority of work in molecular phytonematology has focused on the root-knot and cyst nematodes, which are both sedentary endoparasitic nematodes. More recently, inexpensive sequencing technology has facilitated effector searches in PPNs with different parasitic lifestyles. Work in different PPN species suggests that effectors are diverse, and selection pressure from plant hosts has contributed to the presence of large, expanded effector gene families. The identification of promoter elements/motifs preceding effector gene sequences suggests that promoter analysis can computationally predict new putative effectors. However, until a method of genetic transformation is available for PPNs, work on characterizing effectors will be hindered.

RNAi-Based Biocontrol of Wheat Nematodes Using Natural Poly-Component Biostimulants

With the growing global demands on sustainable food production, one of the biggest challenges to agriculture is associated with crop losses due to parasitic nematodes. While chemical pesticides have been quite successful in crop protection and mitigation of damage from parasites, their potential harm to humans and environment, as well as the emergence of nematode resistance, have necessitated the development of viable alternatives to chemical pesticides. One of the most promising and targeted approaches to biocontrol of parasitic nematodes in crops is that of RNA interference (RNAi). In this study we explore the possibility of using biostimulants obtained from metabolites of soil streptomycetes to protect wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) against the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae by means of inducing RNAi in wheat plants. Theoretical models of uptake of organic compounds by plants, and within-plant RNAi dynamics, have provided us with useful insights regarding the choice of routes for delivery of RNAi-inducing biostimulants into plants. We then conducted in planta experiments with several streptomycete-derived biostimulants, which have demonstrated the efficiency of these biostimulants at improving plant growth and development, as well as in providing resistance against the cereal cyst nematode. Using dot blot hybridization we demonstrate that biostimulants trigger a significant increase of the production in plant cells of si/miRNA complementary with plant and nematode mRNA. Wheat germ cell-free experiments show that these si/miRNAs are indeed very effective at silencing the translation of nematode mRNA having complementary sequences, thus reducing the level of nematode infestation and improving plant resistance to nematodes. Thus, we conclude that natural biostimulants produced from metabolites of soil streptomycetes provide an effective tool for biocontrol of wheat nematode.

The potato cyst nematode effector RHA1B is a ubiquitin ligase and uses two distinct mechanisms to suppress plant immune signaling

Plant pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, oomycetes and nematodes, rely on wide range of virulent effectors delivered into host cells to suppress plant immunity. Although phytobacterial effectors have been intensively investigated, little is known about the function of effectors of plant-parasitic nematodes, such as Globodera pallida, a cyst nematode responsible for vast losses in the potato and tomato industries. Here, we demonstrate using in vivo and in vitro ubiquitination assays the potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida) effector RHA1B is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that employs multiple host plant E2 ubiquitin conjugation enzymes to catalyze ubiquitination. RHA1B was able to suppress effector-triggered immunity (ETI), as manifested by suppression of hypersensitive response (HR) mediated by a broad range of nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) immune receptors, presumably via E3-dependent degradation of the NB-LRR receptors. RHA1B also blocked the flg22-triggered expression of Acre31 and WRKY22, marker genes of pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP)‐triggered immunity (PTI), but this did not require the E3 activity of RHA1B. Moreover, transgenic potato overexpressing the RHA1B transgene exhibited enhanced susceptibility to G. pallida. Thus, our data suggest RHA1B facilitates nematode parasitism not only by triggering degradation of NB-LRR immune receptors to block ETI signaling but also by suppressing PTI signaling via an as yet unknown E3-independent mechanism.

Globodera pallida is a plant-parasitic cyst nematode that causes vast losses in economically important crops such as potato and tomato. To successfully parasitize host plants, G. pallida produces proteins called effectors to overcome plant defenses. Here, we report identification of a novel G. pallida effector RHA1B as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which is responsible for ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated protein degradation in general. We found that RHA1B can suppress plant defense signaling via both E3-dependent and -independent manners. In particular, it promotes degradation of a broad range of NB-LRR immune receptors. In addition, expression of RHA1B in potato plants made the plants more susceptible to G. pallida infection, indicating that RHA1B acts as an effector that aids parasitism. Overall, we found RHA1B as the first effector with ubiquitin ligase activity identified from eukaryotic pathogen infecting plants or animals. Our data suggest nematode uses RHA1B as a powerful weapon to manipulate host cellular signaling pathways, thereby interfering with plant immunity for successful parasitism.

Two venom allergen-like proteins, HaVAP1 and HaVAP2, are involved in the parasitism of Heterodera avenae

Despite the fact that venom allergen-like proteins (VAPs) have been identified in many animal- and plant-parasitic nematodes, studies on VAPs in Heterodera avenae, which is an important phytonematode, are still in their infancy. Here, we isolated, cloned and characterized two VAPs, named HaVAP1 and HaVAP2, from H. avenae. The two encoded proteins, HaVAP1 and HaVAP2, harbour an SCP-like domain each, but share only 38% identity with each other. HaVAP1 and HaVAP2 are expressed in subventral and dorsal oesophageal glands, respectively. HaVAP1 is expressed mainly at the early stages, whereas HaVAP2 accumulates principally at the late stages. Both HaVAP1 and HaVAP2 are secreted when expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, but HaVAP1 is delivered into chloroplasts, whereas HaVAP2 is translocated to the nucleus without signal peptides. Knocking down HaVAP1 increased the virulence of H. avenae. In contrast, silencing of HaVAP2 hampered the parasitism of H. avenae. Both HaVAP1 and HaVAP2 suppressed the cell death induced by BAX in N. benthamiana leaves. Moreover, HaVAP2 physically interacted with a CYPRO4-like protein (HvCLP) of Hordeum vulgare in the nucleus of the plant. It is reasonable to speculate that the changes in the transcript of HvCLP are associated with HaVAP2 during the parasitism of H. avenae. All results obtained in this study show that both HaVAP1 and HaVAP2 are involved in the parasitism of H. avenae, but they possess different functions, broadening our understanding of the parasitic mechanism of H. avenae.

The novel cyst nematode effector protein 30D08 targets host nuclear functions to alter gene expression in feeding sites

Cyst nematodes deliver effector proteins into host cells to manipulate cellular processes and establish a metabolically hyperactive feeding site. The novel 30D08 effector protein is produced in the dorsal gland of parasitic juveniles, but its function has remained unknown. We demonstrate that expression of 30D08 contributes to nematode parasitism, the protein is packaged into secretory granules and it is targeted to the plant nucleus where it interacts with SMU2 (homolog of suppressor of mec-8 and unc-52 2), an auxiliary spliceosomal protein. We show that SMU2 is expressed in feeding sites and an smu2 mutant is less susceptible to nematode infection. In Arabidopsis expressing 30D08 under the SMU2 promoter, several genes were found to be alternatively spliced and the most abundant functional classes represented among differentially expressed genes were involved in RNA processing, transcription and binding, as well as in development, and hormone and secondary metabolism, representing key cellular processes known to be important for feeding site formation. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the 30D08 effector is secreted from the nematode and targeted to the plant nucleus where its interaction with a host auxiliary spliceosomal protein may alter the pre-mRNA splicing and expression of a subset of genes important for feeding site formation.

Host-mediated RNAi of a Notch-like receptor gene in Meloidogyne incognita induces nematode resistance

GLP-1 (abnormal germline proliferation) is a Notch-like receptor protein that plays an essential role in pharyngeal development. In this study, an orthologue of Caenorhabditis elegans glp-1 was identified in Meloidogyne incognita. A computational analysis revealed that the orthologue contained almost all the domains present in the C. elegans gene: specifically, the LIN-12/Notch repeat, the ankyrin repeat, a transmembrane domain and different ligand-binding motifs were present in orthologue, but the epidermal growth factor-like motif was not observed. An expression analysis showed differential expression of glp-1 throughout the life cycle of M. incognita, with relatively higher expression in the egg stage. To evaluate the silencing efficacy of Mi-glp-1, transgenic Arabidopsis plants carrying double-stranded RNA constructs of glp-1 were generated, and infection of these plants with M. incognita resulted in a 47-50% reduction in the numbers of galls, females and egg masses. Females obtained from the transgenic RNAi lines exhibited 40-60% reductions in the transcript levels of the targeted glp-1 gene compared with females isolated from the control plants. Second-generation juveniles (J2s), which were descendants of the infected females from the transgenic lines, showed aberrant phenotypes. These J2s exhibited a significant decrease in the overall distance from the stylet to the metacorpus region, and this effect was accompanied by disruption around the metacorporeal bulb of the pharynx. The present study suggests a role for this gene in organ (pharynx) development during embryogenesis in M. incognita and its potential use as a target in the management of nematode infestations in plants.

The root-knot nematode effector MiPFN3 disrupts plant actin filaments and promotes parasitism

Root-knot nematodes secrete effectors that manipulate their host plant cells so that the nematode can successfully establish feeding sites and complete its lifecycle. The root-knot nematode feeding structures, their “giant cells,” undergo extensive cytoskeletal remodeling. Previous cytological studies have shown the cytoplasmic actin within the feeding sites looks diffuse. In an effort to study root-knot nematode effectors that are involved in giant cell organogenesis, we have identified a nematode effector called MiPFN3 (Meloidogyne incognita Profilin 3). MiPFN3 is transcriptionally up-regulated in the juvenile stage of the nematode. In situ hybridization experiments showed that MiPFN3 transcribed in the nematode subventral glands, where it can be secreted by the nematode stylet into the plant. Moreover, Arabidopsis plants that heterologously expressed MiPFN3 were more susceptible to root-knot nematodes, indicating that MiPFN3 promotes nematode parasitism. Since profilin proteins can bind and sequester actin monomers, we investigated the function of MiPFN3 in relation to actin. Our results show that MiPFN3 suppressed the aberrant plant growth phenotype caused by the misexpression of reproductive actin (AtACT1) in transgenic plants. In addition, it disrupted actin polymerization in an in vitro assay, and it reduced the filamentous actin network when expressed in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Over a decade ago, cytological studies showed that the cytoplasmic actin within nematode giant cells looked fragmented. Here we provide the first evidence that the nematode is secreting an effector that has significant, direct effects on the plant’s actin cytoskeleton.

Root-knot nematodes are microscopic plant pests that infect plant roots and significantly reduce yields of many crop plants. The nematodes enter the plant roots and modify plant cells into complex, multinuclear feeding sites called giant cells. The formation and maintenance of giant cells is critical to nematode survival. During giant cell organogenesis, the progenitor plant cells undergo many morphological changes, including a re-organization of the cytoplasmic actin cytoskeleton. As a result, the giant cell cytoplasmic actin appears fragmented and disorganized. Plant cells can regulate their actin filament assembly, in part, through the expression of actin binding proteins such as profilins. Here we show that infectious nematode juveniles express a profilin called MiPFN3. Expression of MiPFN3 in Arabidopsis plants made the plants more susceptible to root-knot nematodes, indicating that MiPFN3 acts as an effector that aids parasitism. We show evidence that the expression MiPFN3 in plant cells causes the fragmentation of plant actin filaments. The work here demonstrates that nematode effector MiPFN3 can directly affect plant actin filaments, whose reorganization is necessary for giant cell formation.

Genome-wide identification and comprehensive analysis of Excretory/Secretory proteins in nematodes provide potential drug targets for parasite control

Nematodes are responsible for causing severe diseases in plants, humans and other animals. Infection is associated with the release of Excretory/Secretory (ES) proteins into host cytoplasm and interference with the host immune system which make them attractive targets for therapeutic use. The identification of ES proteins through bioinformatics approaches is cost- and time-effective and could be used for screening of potential targets for parasitic diseases for further experimental studies. Here, we identified and functionally annotated 93,949 ES proteins, in the genome of 73 nematodes using integration of various bioinformatics tools. 30.6% of ES proteins were found to be supported at RNA level. The predicted ES proteins, annotated by Gene Ontology terms, domains, metabolic pathways, proteases and enzyme class analysis were enriched in molecular functions of proteases, protease inhibitors, c-type lectin and hydrolases which are strongly associated with typical functions of ES proteins. We identified a total of 452 ES proteins from human and plant parasitic nematodes, homologues to DrugBank-approved targets and C. elegans RNA interference phenotype genes which could represent potential targets for parasite control and provide valuable resource for further experimental studies to understand host-pathogen interactions.

A novel Meloidogyne graminicola effector, MgMO237, interacts with multiple host defence-related proteins to manipulate plant basal immunity and promote parasitism

Plant-parasitic nematodes can secrete effector proteins into the host tissue to facilitate their parasitism. In this study, we report a novel effector protein, MgMO237, from Meloidogyne graminicola, which is exclusively expressed within the dorsal oesophageal gland cell and markedly up-regulated in parasitic third-/fourth-stage juveniles of M. graminicola. Transient expression of MgMO237 in protoplasts from rice roots showed that MgMO237 was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the host cells. Rice plants overexpressing MgMO237 showed an increased susceptibility to M. graminicola. In contrast, rice plants expressing RNA interference vectors targeting MgMO237 showed an increased resistance to M. graminicola. In addition, yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that MgMO237 interacted specifically with three rice endogenous proteins, i.e. 1,3-β-glucan synthase component (OsGSC), cysteine-rich repeat secretory protein 55 (OsCRRSP55) and pathogenesis-related BetvI family protein (OsBetvI), which are all related to host defences. Moreover, MgMO237 can suppress host defence responses, including the expression of host defence-related genes, cell wall callose deposition and the burst of reactive oxygen species. These results demonstrate that the effector MgMO237 probably promotes the parasitism of M. graminicola by interacting with multiple host defence-related proteins and suppressing plant basal immunity in the later parasitic stages of nematodes.

Characterization of Putative Effectors from the Cereal Cyst Nematode Heterodera avenae

Few molecular details of effectors of Heterodera avenae parasitism are known. We performed a high-throughput sequencing analysis of the H. avenae transcriptome at five developmental stages. A total of 82,549 unigenes were ultimately obtained, and 747 transcripts showed best hits to genes putatively encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes in plant-parasitic nematodes that play an important role in the invasion process. A total of 1,480 unigenes were homologous to known phytonematode effectors, and 63 putative novel effectors were identified in the H. avenae transcriptomes. Twenty-three unigenes were analyzed by qRT-PCR and confirmed to be highly expressed during at least one developmental stage. For in situ hybridization, 17 of the 22 tested putative effectors were specifically expressed and located in the subventral gland cells, and five putative novel effectors were specifically expressed in the dorsal gland. Furthermore, 115 transcripts were found to have putative lethal RNA interference (RNAi) phenotypes. Three target genes with lethal RNAi phenotypes and two of the four tested putative effectors were associated with a decrease in the number of cysts through in vitro RNAi technology. These transcriptomic data lay a foundation for further studies of interactions of H. avenae with cereal and H. avenae parasitic control.

Meloidogyne incognita PASSE-MURAILLE (MiPM) Gene Encodes a Cell-Penetrating Protein That Interacts With the CSN5 Subunit of the COP9 Signalosome

The pathogenicity of phytonematodes relies on secreted virulence factors to rewire host cellular pathways for the benefits of the nematode. In the root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita, thousands of predicted secreted proteins have been identified and are expected to interact with host proteins at different developmental stages of the parasite. Identifying the host targets will provide compelling evidence about the biological significance and molecular function of the predicted proteins. Here, we have focused on the hub protein CSN5, the fifth subunit of the pleiotropic and eukaryotic conserved COP9 signalosome (CSN), which is a regulatory component of the ubiquitin/proteasome system. We used affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS) to generate the interaction network of CSN5 in M. incognita-infected roots. We identified the complete CSN complex and other known CSN5 interaction partners in addition to unknown plant and M. incognita proteins. Among these, we described M. incognita PASSE-MURAILLE (MiPM), a small pioneer protein predicted to contain a secretory peptide that is up-regulated mostly in the J2 parasitic stage. We confirmed the CSN5-MiPM interaction, which occurs in the nucleus, by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Using MiPM as bait, a GST pull-down assay coupled with MS revealed some common protein partners between CSN5 and MiPM. We further showed by in silico and microscopic analyses that the recombinant purified MiPM protein enters the cells of Arabidopsis root tips in a non-infectious context. In further detail, the supercharged N-terminal tail of MiPM (NTT-MiPM) triggers an unknown host endocytosis pathway to penetrate the cell. The functional meaning of the CSN5-MiPM interaction in the M. incognita parasitism is discussed. Moreover, we propose that the cell-penetrating properties of some M. incognita secreted proteins might be a non-negligible mechanism for cell uptake, especially during the steps preceding the sedentary parasitic phase.

Anatomical Alterations in Plant Tissues Induced by Plant-Parasitic Nematodes

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) interact with plants in different ways, for example, through subtle feeding behavior, migrating destructively through infected tissues, or acting as virus-vectors for nepoviruses. They are all obligate biotrophic parasites as they derive their nutrients from living cells which they modify using pharyngeal gland secretions prior to food ingestion. Some of them can also shield themselves against plant defenses to sustain a relatively long lasting interaction while feeding. This paper is centered on cell types or organs that are newly induced in plants during PPN parasitism, including recent approaches to their study based on molecular biology combined with cell biology-histopathology. This issue has already been reviewed extensively for major PPNs (i.e., root-knot or cyst nematodes), but not for other genera (viz. Nacobbus aberrans, Rotylenchulus spp.). PPNs have evolved with plants and this co-evolution process has allowed the induction of new types of plant cells necessary for their parasitism. There are four basic types of feeding cells: (i) non-hypertrophied nurse cells; (ii) single giant cells; (iii) syncytia; and (iv) coenocytes. Variations in the structure of these cells within each group are also present between some genera depending on the nematode species viz. Meloidogyne or Rotylenchulus. This variability of feeding sites may be related in some way to PPN life style (migratory ectoparasites, sedentary ectoparasites, migratory ecto-endoparasites, migratory endoparasites, or sedentary endoparasites). Apart from their co-evolution with plants, the response of plant cells and roots are closely related to feeding behavior, the anatomy of the nematode (mainly stylet size, which could reach different types of cells in the plant), and the secretory fluids produced in the pharyngeal glands. These secretory fluids are injected through the stylet into perforated cells where they modify plant cytoplasm prior to food removal. Some species do not produce specialized feeding sites (viz. Ditylenchus, Subanguina), but may develop a specialized modification of the root system (e.g., unspecialized root galls or a profusion of roots). This review introduces new data on cell types and plant organs stimulated by PPNs using sources varying from traditional histopathology to new holistic methodologies.

Adapted Biotroph Manipulation of Plant Cell Ploidy

Diverse plant biotrophs that establish a sustained site of nutrient acquisition induce localized host endoreduplication. Endoreduplication is a process by which cells successively replicate their genomes without mitosis, resulting in an increase in nuclear DNA ploidy. Elevated ploidy is associated with enhanced cell size, metabolic capacity, and the capacity to differentiate. Localized host endoreduplication induced by adapted plant biotrophs promotes biotroph colonization, development, and/or proliferation. When induced host endoreduplication is limited, biotroph growth and/or development are compromised. Herein, we examine a diverse set of plant-biotroph interactions to identify (a) common host components manipulated to promote induced host endoreduplication and (b) biotroph effectors that facilitate this induced host process. Shared mechanisms to promote host endoreduplication and development of nutrient exchange/feeding sites include manipulation centered on endocycle entry at the G2-M transition as well as yet undefined roles for differentiation regulators (e.g., CLE peptides) and pectin/cell wall modification.

Serotonin Regulates the Feeding and Reproductive Behaviors of Pratylenchus penetrans

The success of all plant-parasitic nematodes is dependent on the completion of several complex behaviors. The lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is an economically important parasite of a diverse range of plant hosts. Unlike the cyst and root-knot nematodes, P. penetrans moves both within and outside of the host roots and can feed from both locations. Adult females of P. penetrans require insemination by actively moving males for reproduction and can lay eggs both within and outside of the host roots. We do not have a complete understanding of the molecular basis for these behaviors. One candidate modulator of these behaviors is the neurotransmitter serotonin. Previous research demonstrated an effect of exogenously applied serotonin on the feeding and male mating behaviors of cyst and root-knot nematodes. However, there are no data on the role of exogenous serotonin on lesion nematodes. Similarly, there are no data on the presence and function of endogenous serotonin in any plant-parasitic nematode. Here, we establish that exogenous serotonin applied to P. penetrans regulates both feeding and sex-specific behaviors. Furthermore, using immunohistochemistry and pharmacological assays, our data suggest that P. penetrans utilizes endogenous serotonin to regulate both feeding and sex-specific behaviors.

Plant-parasitic nematodes: towards understanding molecular players in stress responses

BACKGROUND

Plant-parasitic nematode interactions occur within a vast molecular plant immunity network. Following initial contact with the host plant roots, plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) activate basal immune responses. Defence priming involves the release in the apoplast of toxic molecules derived from reactive species or secondary metabolism. In turn, PPNs must overcome the poisonous and stressful environment at the plant-nematode interface. The ability of PPNs to escape this first line of plant immunity is crucial and will determine its virulence.

SCOPE

Nematodes trigger crucial regulatory cytoprotective mechanisms, including antioxidant and detoxification pathways. Knowledge of the upstream regulatory components that contribute to both of these pathways in PPNs remains elusive. In this review, we discuss how PPNs probably orchestrate cytoprotection to resist plant immune responses, postulating that it may be derived from ancient molecular mechanisms. The review focuses on two transcription factors, DAF-16 and SKN-1 , which are conserved in the animal kingdom and are central regulators of cell homeostasis and immune function. Both regulate the unfolding protein response and the antioxidant and detoxification pathways. DAF-16 and SKN-1 target a broad spectrum of Caenorhabditis elegans genes coding for numerous protein families present in the secretome of PPNs. Moreover, some regulatory elements of DAF-16 and SKN-1 from C. elegans have already been identified as important genes for PPN infection.

CONCLUSION

DAF-16 and SKN-1 genes may play a pivotal role in PPNs during parasitism. In the context of their hub status and mode of regulation, we suggest alternative strategies for control of PPNs through RNAi approaches.

Identification of Two Meloidogyne hapla Genes and an Investigation of Their Roles in the Plant-Nematode Interaction

Root-knot nematodes are soil-borne pathogens that invade and establish feeding sites in plant roots. They have an extremely broad host range, including most vascular plants. During infection of a susceptible host, root-knot nematodes secrete molecules called effectors that help them establish an intimate interaction with the plant and, at the same time, allow them to evade or suppress plant immune responses. Despite the fact that Meloidogyne hapla is a significant pest on several food crops, no effectors have been characterized from this root-knot nematode species thus far. Using the published genome and proteome from M. hapla, we have identified and characterized two genes, MhTTL2 and Mh265. MhTTL2 encodes a predicted secreted protein containing a transthyretin-like protein domain. The expression of MhTTL2 was up-regulated during parasitic life stages of the nematode, and in situ hybridization showed that MhTTL2 was expressed in the amphids, suggesting it has a role in the nematode nervous system during parasitism. We also studied the gene Mh265. The Mh265 transcript was localized to the subventral esophageal glands. An upregulation in Mh265 expression coincided with the pre- and early-parasitic life stages of the nematode. When Mh265 was constitutively expressed in plants, it enhanced their susceptibility to nematodes. These transgenic plants were also compromised in flg22-induced callose deposition, suggesting the Mh265 is modulating plant basal immune responses.

Tomato progeny inherit resistance to the nematode Meloidogyne javanica linked to plant growth induced by the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma atroviride

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are major crop pathogens worldwide. Trichoderma genus fungi are recognized biocontrol agents and a direct activity of Trichoderma atroviride (Ta) against the RKN Meloidogyne javanica (Mj), in terms of 42% reduction of number of galls (NG), 60% of number of egg masses and 90% of number of adult nematodes inside the roots, has been observed in tomato grown under greenhouse conditions. An in vivo split-root designed experiment served to demonstrate that Ta induces systemic resistance towards Mj, without the need for the organisms to be in direct contact, and significantly reduces NG (20%) and adult nematodes inside tomato roots (87%). The first generation (F1) of Ta-primed tomato plants inherited resistance to RKN; although, the induction of defenses occurred through different mechanisms, and in varying degrees, depending on the Ta-Mj interaction. Plant growth promotion induced by Ta was inherited without compromising the level of resistance to Mj, as the progeny of Ta-primed plants displayed increased size and resistance to Mj without fitness costs. Gene expression results from the defense inductions in the offspring of Ta-primed plants, suggested that an auxin-induced reactive oxygen species production promoted by Ta may act as a major defense strategy during plant growth.

Protein-Protein Interaction Assays with Effector-GFP Fusions in Nicotiana benthamiana

Plant parasites secrete proteins known as effectors into host tissues to manipulate host cell structures and functions. One of the major goals in effector biology is to determine the host cell compartments and the protein complexes in which effectors accumulate. Here, we describe a five-step pipeline that we routinely use in our lab to achieve this goal, which consists of (1) Golden Gate assembly of pathogen effector-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions into binary vectors, (2) Agrobacterium-mediated heterologous protein expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf cells, (3) laser-scanning confocal microscopy assay, (4) anti-GFP coimmunoprecipitation-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (coIP/MS) assay, and (5) anti-GFP western blotting. This pipeline is suitable for rapid, cost-effective, and medium-throughput screening of pathogen effectors in planta.

Parasitic Nematode Immunomodulatory Strategies: Recent Advances and Perspectives

More than half of the described species of the phylum Nematoda are considered parasitic, making them one of the most successful groups of parasites. Nematodes are capable of inhabiting a wide variety of niches. A vast array of vertebrate animals, insects, and plants are all identified as potential hosts for nematode parasitization. To invade these hosts successfully, parasitic nematodes must be able to protect themselves from the efficiency and potency of the host immune system. Innate immunity comprises the first wave of the host immune response, and in vertebrate animals it leads to the induction of the adaptive immune response. Nematodes have evolved elegant strategies that allow them to evade, suppress, or modulate host immune responses in order to persist and spread in the host. Nematode immunomodulation involves the secretion of molecules that are capable of suppressing various aspects of the host immune response in order to promote nematode invasion. Immunomodulatory mechanisms can be identified in parasitic nematodes infecting insects, plants, and mammals and vary greatly in the specific tactics by which the parasites modify the host immune response. Nematode-derived immunomodulatory effects have also been shown to affect, negatively or positively, the outcome of some concurrent diseases suffered by the host. Understanding nematode immunomodulatory actions will potentially reveal novel targets that will in turn lead to the development of effective means for the control of destructive nematode parasites.

A Novel Meloidogyne incognita Effector Misp12 Suppresses Plant Defense Response at Latter Stages of Nematode Parasitism

Secreted effectors in plant root-knot nematodes (RKNs, or Meloidogyne spp.) play key roles in their parasite processes. Currently identified effectors mainly focus on the early stage of the nematode parasitism. There are only a few reports describing effectors that function in the latter stage. In this study, we identified a potential RKN effector gene, Misp12, that functioned during the latter stage of parasitism. Misp12 was unique in the Meloidogyne spp., and highly conserved in Meloidogyne incognita. It encoded a secretory protein that specifically expressed in the dorsal esophageal gland, and highly up-regulated during the female stages. Transient expression of Misp12-GUS-GFP in onion epidermal cell showed that Misp12 was localized in cytoplast. In addition, in planta RNA interference targeting Misp12 suppressed the expression of Misp12 in nematodes and attenuated parasitic ability of M. incognita. Furthermore, up-regulation of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) pathway defense-related genes in the virus-induced silencing of Misp12 plants, and down-regulation of SA pathway defense-related genes in Misp12-expressing plants indicated the gene might be associated with the suppression of the plant defense response. These results demonstrated that the novel nematode effector Misp12 played a critical role at latter parasitism of M. incognita.