Natural competence in the bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa varies across genotypes and is associated with adhesins.

ABSTRACT: Natural competence is one of the mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer, an important process that contributes to host-use evolution and other types of environmental adaptation in bacteria. Recently, the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa has undergone expansion of its host and geographic ranges. Natural competence has been empirically documented for a few strains of X. fastidiosa, but its prevalence across genotypes and populations is largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the natural competence in vitro of 142 X. fastidiosa strains from diverse hosts and geographic origins, and revealed substantial variability among strains, particularly across subspecies. X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa strains were largely naturally competent, while only 15% of studied subsp. multiplex strains

SUBMITTER: Liu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12700405 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature