Our new findings from the Burdman lab were featured in the Hebrew University and Jerusalem Post. Researchers: Irene Jiménez-Guerrero, Monica Sonawane, Noam Eckshtain-Levi, Za Khai Tuang, Gustavo Mateus da Silva, Francisco Pérez-Montaño, Meirav Leibman-Markus, Rupali Gupta, Lianet Noda-Garcia, Maya Bar, Saul Burdman; In this work, we focused on the effector AopW1, revealing its role in host adaptation and providing new insights into the HopW1 family of bacterial effectors, with the abstract of this paper accessible here. Acidovorax citrulli, the bacterium that causing disease to melon and watermelon, has two major genetic groups with different host preferences. Group I strains are more associated with melons, while Group II strains are more aggressive towards watermelons. We discovered that these groups differ in their arsenal of type-III secreted protein effectors, which are crucial in manipulating host metabolism to promote disease. Our study sheds light on how these effectors, particularly AopW1, contribute to the pathogen’s virulence and host preference. This knowledge is vital for developing strategies to combat bacterial fruit blotch and protect melon and watermelon crops.
TUANG ZA KHAI’ gen: Israel ah Ciah Ding Vai (CK Khai)
TUANG ZA KHAI’ gen Zomite Israel ah a ciah ciah tampitak a omkhin te tawh sia CK Khai’ YouTube channel ahi, anuai aa mun pan ki en thei ding hi. Himun pan video ki en thei ding.
INTERVIEW: Tuang Za Khai & CK Khai (Life Experience in Jerusalem)
Tuang Za Khai-in Jerusalem (Israel) ah a tuahkhak, thu haksa, thu manpha, aa kipan a tuahkhak thu tuamtuamte tawh kisai sia CK Khai ltawh holimna In this interview, Tuang Za Khai shared his experiences in Israel. His research works, daily life, and other experience in Jerusalem, and Israel. Watch the interview by clicking here.
Natural variation in a short region of the Acidovorax citrulli type III-secreted effector AopW1 is associated with differences in cytotoxicity and host adaptation
Natural variation in a short region of the Acidovorax citrulli type III-secreted effector AopW1 is associated with differences in cytotoxicity and host adaptation. Abstract: Bacterial fruit blotch, caused by Acidovorax citrulli, is a serious disease of melon and watermelon. The strains of the pathogen belong to two major genetic groups: group I strains are strongly associated with melon, while group II strains are more aggressive on watermelon. A. citrulli secretes many protein effectors to the host cell via the type III secretion system. Here we characterized AopW1, an effector that shares similarity to the actin cytoskeleton-disrupting effector HopW1 of Pseudomonas syringae and with effectors from other plant-pathogenic bacterial species. AopW1 has a highly variable region (HVR) within amino acid positions 147 to 192, showing 14 amino acid differences between group I and II variants. We show that group I AopW1 is more toxic to yeast and Nicotiana benthamiana cells than group II AopW1, having stronger actin filament disruption activity, and increased ability to induce cell death and reduce callose deposition. We further demonstrated the importance of some amino acid positions within the HVR for AopW1 cytotoxicity. Cellular analyses revealed that AopW1 also localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplasts, and plant endosomes. We also show that overexpression of the endosome-associated protein EHD1 attenuates AopW1-induced cell death and increases defense responses. Finally, we show that sequence variation in AopW1 plays a significant role in the adaptation of group I and II strains to their preferred hosts, melon and watermelon, respectively. This study provides new insights into the HopW1 family of bacterial effectors and provides first evidence on the involvement of EHD1 in response to biotic stress. Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.16507
INTERVIEW PART II: Tuang Za Khai & Zomi Post Media
Tulaitak aa Israel gam ah apiang buaina lianpi ahi, (Hamas-Israel Conflict) tawh kisai Dr. Tuang Za Khai leh Zomi Post Media te holimna. Part #2 Click here to watch the interview.
Tuang Za Khai & Zomi Post Media (Interview Part I)
Tulaitak aa Israel gam ah apiang buaina lianpi ahi, (Hamas-Israel Conflict) tawh kisai Dr. Tuang Za Khai leh Zomi Post Media te holimna. Part #1 Watch the interview here.