Hypervariations of a protease-encoding gene, PD0218 (pspB), in Xylella fastidiosa strains causing almond leaf scorch and Pierce's disease in California.

ABSTRACT: Xylella fastidiosa is a gram-negative plant pathogenic bacterium that causes almond leaf scorch disease (ALSD) and Pierce's disease (PD) of grape in many regions of North America and Mexico. Of the two 16S rRNA gene genotypes described in California, A genotype strains cause ALSD only and G genotype strains cause both PD and ALSD. While G genotype strains cause two different diseases, little is known about their genetic variation. In this study, we identified a putative protease locus, PD0218 (pspB), in the genome of X. fastidiosa and evaluated the variation at this locus in X. fastidiosa populations. PD0218 contains tandem repeats of ACDCCA, translated to threonine and proline (TP), upstream of the putative protease conserved domain. Among 116 X. fastidiosa ALSD and PD strains isolated fr

SUBMITTER: Chen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2446566 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature