Project description:Here, we sought to describe qualitative and quantitative changes in the global gene expression profiles of susceptible Arabidopsis plants supporting the development of G. cichoracearum haustoria. We analyzed the features of compatibility at this infection stage, and further evaluated the contribution of the SA- and JA/ET-dependent defense signaling pathways in the pathogen-induced responses by comparing responses in infected wild-type, npr1-1, and jar1-1 plants. Our findings collectively contribute to knowledge regarding early host cell alterations generated in response to attack by this virulent obligate biotrophic fungus. Set of arrays organized by shared biological context, such as organism, tumors types, processes, etc. Disease State: plant infected/uninfected with Golovinomyces orontii Genotype: wt/mutant strains Keywords: Logical Set Computed
Project description:Here, we sought to describe qualitative and quantitative changes in the global gene expression profiles of susceptible Arabidopsis plants supporting the development of G. cichoracearum haustoria. We analyzed the features of compatibility at this infection stage, and further evaluated the contribution of the SA- and JA/ET-dependent defense signaling pathways in the pathogen-induced responses by comparing responses in infected wild-type, npr1-1, and jar1-1 plants. Our findings collectively contribute to knowledge regarding early host cell alterations generated in response to attack by this virulent obligate biotrophic fungus. Set of arrays organized by shared biological context, such as organism, tumors types, processes, etc. Disease State: plant infected/uninfected with Golovinomyces orontii Genotype: wt/mutant strains Keywords: Logical Set
Project description:The parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris produces specialized microRNAs that are specifically expressed at the haustorial interface. Some of these "Interface-Induced MicroRNAs" function to target host mRNAs. C. campestris haustoria can be induced in the absence of any host tissues using a combination of light and physical pressure. This experiment tested with such in vitro, host-free haustoria produced interface-induced microRNAs. Small RNA-seq was performed from three different treatments: Shoot tips of C. campestris without any haustoria formation, in vitro haustoria formed in the presence of host tissue (detached leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana) and in vitro haustoria formed in the absence of any host tissue.
Project description:Transcriptomic changes during haustoria formation in the parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum. We performed RNAseq on Phtheirospermum japonicum seedling infecting and not infecting over 5 time points during haustoria formation for the control treatment and over 3 time points for the ammonium nitrate and 6-Benzylaminipurine. We investigated the transcriptomic changes during haustoria formation and how this is affected in the transcritpome level by nitrate and cytokinin treatment.
Project description:Cuscuta campestris is an obligate stem parasite which uses an organ called the haustoria to divert water and photosynthates from the host. Previously, we have identified that at the haustorial interface between Cuscuta campestris and Arabidopsis thaliana, miRNAs generated by the parasite are able to move into the host and regulate host gene expression. This study identifies how long after attachment does trans-species miRNA transcription begin in Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum, as well as identifying which stage of haustoria development they become detectable. A time course was performed by harvesting interfaces every 24 hours post attachment, and samples were subjected to RNA extraction and sRNA sequencing. We have identified that in Arabidopsis thaliana, trans-species miRNAs become detectable two days post attachment. In S. lycopersicum, some trans-species miRNAs are detectable one day post attachment, but all become detectable by day 2. Secondary siRNA accumulation was detected four days post attachment in both hosts. In order to determine which stage of haustoria development trans-species miRNAs become detectable, vibratome sectioning was performed on the haustorial interfaces of both hosts. By looking at the morphology of the developing haustoria, it was determined that trans-species miRNAs become detectable during the adhesive phase. This suggests that trans-species miRNA production is one of the first steps of haustoria development, as the parasite tissue has not started to invade host tissue before they become detectable.
Project description:Cuscuta campestris is an obligate stem parasite which uses an organ called the haustoria to divert water and photosynthates from the host. Previously, we have identified that at the haustorial interface between Cuscuta campestris and Arabidopsis thaliana, miRNAs generated by the parasite are able to move into the host and regulate host gene expression. This study identifies how long after attachment does trans-species miRNA transcription begin in Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum, as well as identifying which stage of haustoria development they become detectable. A time course was performed by harvesting interfaces every 24 hours post attachment, and samples were subjected to RNA extraction and sRNA sequencing. We have identified that in Arabidopsis thaliana, trans-species miRNAs become detectable two days post attachment. In S. lycopersicum, some trans-species miRNAs are detectable one day post attachment, but all become detectable by day 2. Secondary siRNA accumulation was detected four days post attachment in both hosts. In order to determine which stage of haustoria development trans-species miRNAs become detectable, vibratome sectioning was performed on the haustorial interfaces of both hosts. By looking at the morphology of the developing haustoria, it was determined that trans-species miRNAs become detectable during the adhesive phase. This suggests that trans-species miRNA production is one of the first steps of haustoria development, as the parasite tissue has not started to invade host tissue before they become detectable.
Project description:Dodders (Cuscuta spp.) are obligate parasitic plants that obtain water and nutrients from the stems of host plants via specialized feeding structures called haustoria. Dodder haustoria facilitate bi-directional movement of viruses, proteins, and mRNAs between host and parasite, but the functional effects of these movements are not clear. Here we show that C. campestris haustoria accumulate high levels of many novel microRNAs (miRNAs) while parasitizing Arabidopsis thaliana hosts. Many of these miRNAs are 22 nts long, a usually rare size of plant miRNA associated with amplification of target silencing through secondary small interfering RNA (siRNA) production. Several A. thaliana mRNAs are targeted by C. campestris 22 nt miRNAs during parasitism, resulting in high levels of secondary siRNA production. The targeted mRNAs function in hormone perception, pathogen-defense signaling, phloem function, and stem-cell identity. Homologs of these target mRNAs from diverse plants also have high-confidence complementary sites to C. campestris miRNAs, suggesting that homologous mRNAs are targeted by C. campestris across its very broad host range. These data show that C. campestris miRNAs act as trans-species regulators of host gene expression, and suggest that they may act as virulence factors during parasitism.
Project description:We performed RNA-sequencing of Golovinomyces orontii-infected Arabidopsis leaves of wild type, the double or triple mutants of AtMLKLs to examine the role of AtMLKLs in response to the powdery mildew fungus.
Project description:Cuscuta campestris is an obligate parasitic plant that requires a host to complete its lifecycle. Parasite-host connections occur via an haustorium, a unique organ that acts as a bridge for the uptake of water, nutrients and macromolecules. Research on Cuscuta is often complicated by host influences, but comparable systems for growing the parasite in the absence of a host do not exist. We developed an axenic method to grow C. campestris on an Artificial Host System (AHS). We evaluated the effects of nutrients and phytohormones on parasite haustoria development and growth. Haustorium morphology and gene expression were characterized. The AHS consists of an inert, fibrous stick that mimics a host stem, wicking water and nutrients to the parasite. It enables C. campestris to exhibit a parasitic habit and develop through all stages of its lifecycle, including production of new shoots and viable seeds. Phytohormones NAA and BA affect haustoria morphology, and increase parasite fresh weight and biomass. Gene expression in AHS haustoria reflect process similar to those in haustoria on actual host plants. The AHS is a methodological improvement for studying Cuscuta biology by avoiding specific host effects on parasite and giving researchers full control of the parasite environment.
Project description:Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei is an obligate biotrohic fungal pathogen causing powdery mildew in barley. As for other biotrophic fungi, haustorial structures are at the centre of the biotrophic interaction and molecular exchanges, delivering fungal effectors or virulence factors, and taking nutrient from the host. Haustoria are originiated by the fungus, following successful penetration of the initial penetration peg through the plant cell call. Haustorial structures mainly of fungal origin, but they are surrounding by a plant component, the extrauhaustorial membrane and matrix (EHM and EHMx) forming the extrahuastorial complex (EHMc). The plant protein make-up of the plant extrahaustorial components remained unexplored, and this is a first study trying to describe plant proteome associated with haustoria using samples enriched for these structures. Therefore, proteomes of haustoria enriched samples from the epidermis of barley leaves infected with Blumeria graminins f.sp. hordei, the causing agent of barley powdery mildew, were compared to infected epidermis and un-infected epidermis to identify haustoria associated plant proteins. Haustoria were enriched from infected epidermis by digesting epidermal cell walls with cell wall degrading enzymes prior to enrichment for haustorial structures. Proteins identified in these samples were compared to infected and uninfected epidermis samples using a non-targeted label free semi-quantitation method.