Contribution of Erwinia amylovora Exopolysaccharides Amylovoran and Levan to Biofilm Formation: Implications in Pathogenicity

Erwinia amylovora is a highly virulent, necrogenic, vascular pathogen of rosaceous species that produces the exopolysaccharide amylovoran, a known pathogenicity factor, and levan, a virulence factor. An in vitro crystal violet staining and a bright-field microscopy method were used to demonstrate th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytopathology 2009-11, Vol.99 (11), p.1237-1244
Main Authors: Koczan, Jessica M, McGrath, Molly J, Zhao, Youfu, Sundin, George W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
amylovoran
apples
bacterial adhesion
Bacterial plant pathogens
biofilm
Biofilms
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Movement
Erwinia amylovora
Erwinia amylovora - pathogenicity
Erwinia amylovora - physiology
Fructans - metabolism
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hexosyltransferases - genetics
Host-Pathogen Interactions
in vitro studies
levan
Malus
Malus - microbiology
Malus domestica
Microscopy, Confocal
mortality
mutants
Mutation
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
Plant Diseases - microbiology
plant pathogenic bacteria
polysaccharides
Polysaccharides, Bacterial - metabolism
Pyrus - microbiology
scanning electron microscopy
shoots
translocation (plant physiology)
ultrastructure
virulence
xylem
Xylem - microbiology
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Summary:Erwinia amylovora is a highly virulent, necrogenic, vascular pathogen of rosaceous species that produces the exopolysaccharide amylovoran, a known pathogenicity factor, and levan, a virulence factor. An in vitro crystal violet staining and a bright-field microscopy method were used to demonstrate that E. amylovora is capable of forming a biofilm on solid surfaces. Amylovoran and levan production deletion mutants were used to determine that amylovoran was required for biofilm formation and that levan contributed to biofilm formation. In vitro flow cell and confocal microscopy were used to further reveal the architectural detail of a mature biofilm and differences in biofilm formation between E. amylovora wild-type (WT), Δams, and Δlsc mutant cells labeled with green fluorescent protein or yellow fluorescent protein. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of E. amylovora WT cells following experimental inoculation in apple indicated that extensive biofilm formation occurs in xylem vessels. However, Δams mutant cells were nonpathogenic and died rapidly following inoculation, and Δlsc mutant cells were not detected in xylem vessels and were reduced in movement into apple shoots. These results demonstrate that biofilm formation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of E. amylovora.
ISSN:0031-949X
1943-7684
DOI:10.1094/phyto-99-11-1237