Gene expression changes throughout the life cycle allow a bacterial plant pathogen to persist in diverse environmental habitats.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial pathogens exhibit a remarkable ability to persist and thrive in diverse ecological niches. Understanding the mechanisms enabling their transition between habitats is crucial to control dissemination and potential disease outbreaks. Here, we use Ralstonia solanacearum, the causing agent of the bacterial wilt disease, as a model to investigate pathogen adaptation to water and soil, two environments that act as bacterial reservoirs, and compare this information with gene expression in planta. Gene expression in water resembled that observed during late xylem colonization, with an intriguing induction of the type 3 secretion system (T3SS). Alkaline pH and nutrient scarcity-conditions also encountered during late infection stages-were identified as the triggers for this T3SS induction

SUBMITTER: de Pedro-Jove R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10763947 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature