Strategies for bacterial tagging and gene expression in plant-host colonization studies

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 43; no. 8; pp. 1626 - 1638
• Main Authors: Ramos, Humberto J.O., Yates, M. Geoffrey, Pedrosa, Fábio O., Souza, Emanuel M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological containment system; Broad-host-range vectors; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Insertional vectors; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Plant–bacterial interactions; Soil science; Insertional vectors; Biological containment system; Plant–bacterial interactions; Gene expression; Broad-host-range vectors; Biological system; Host plant; Tagging; Host range; Bacteria; Soil science; Vector; Plant―bacterial interactions; Colonization; Plant microorganism relation
• ISSN: 0038-0717; 1879-3428
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.03.029

Bacteria are extraordinarily diverse microorganisms with a huge potential to benefit environmental and agricultural systems. Comprehensive studies in complex habitats such as soils and plants have led to the development of genetic tools to evaluate gene expression and bacterial colonization under controlled or environmental conditions and to obtain genetically engineered organisms for environmental release. In addition, current advances in genomic and metagenomic research will add to the number of genes with potential for biotechnological applications, which will require the development of appropriate genetic systems to fulfill their potential for both industrial and agricultural applications. The aim of the present review is to assess the approaches and recent progress in vector design and genetic tools to study and manipulate plant–bacterial interactions, as well as strategies to construct genetically modified strains for environmental release. ► Genetic systems to industrial and agricultural applications. ► Genetic tools to evaluate gene expression and bacterial colonization under controlled or environmental conditions. ► Genetic tools to study and manipulate plant–bacterial interactions. ► Biological containment systems for rhizobia.