Complete Genome Assemblies of All Xanthomonas translucens Pathotype Strains Reveal Three Genetically Distinct Clades

• Published in: Frontiers in microbiology Vol. 12; p. 817815
• Main Authors: Goettelmann, Florian, Roman-Reyna, Veronica, Cunnac, Sébastien, Jacobs, Jonathan M, Bragard, Claude, Studer, Bruno, Koebnik, Ralf, Kölliker, Roland
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media 02.03.2022; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: comparative genomics; complete genomes; host adaptation; Life Sciences; Microbiology; phylogeny; virulence factors; Xanthomonas translucens; Xanthomonas translucens; complete genomes; phylogeny; host adaptation; comparative genomics; virulence factors
• ISSN: 1664-302X; 1664-302X
• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.817815

The species comprises phytopathogenic bacteria that can cause serious damage to cereals and to forage grasses. So far, the genomic resources for were limited, which hindered further understanding of the host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level and the development of disease-resistant cultivars. To this end, we complemented the available complete genome sequence of the pv. pathotype strain DSM 18974 by sequencing the genomes of all the other 10 pathotype strains using PacBio long-read technology and assembled complete genome sequences. Phylogeny based on average nucleotide identity (ANI) revealed three distinct clades within the species, which we propose to classify as clades Xt-I, Xt-II, and Xt-III. In addition to 2,181 core genes, a total of 190, 588, and 168 genes were found to be exclusive to each clade, respectively. Moreover, 29 non-transcription activator-like effector (TALE) and 21 TALE type III effector classes were found, and clade- or strain-specific effectors were identified. Further investigation of these genes could help to identify genes that are critically involved in pathogenicity and/or host adaptation, setting the grounds for the development of new resistant cultivars.