Investigating molecular determinants involved in the interaction between Clavibacter michiganensis pv. michiganensis and tomato

Objective

The Gram-positive bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) is the causative agent of wilt and canker disease of tomato that is responsible for heavy damages to agricultural tomato crops worldwide. The molecular mechanisms underlying successful Cmm infection of tomato are poorly understood. Like other plants, tomato possesses an innate immunity system for detection of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), motifs found in conserved molecules of potential invading pathogens. Recognition of PAMPs occurs through transmembrane pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and results in activation of basal defense responses. Preliminary studies in the Sessa lab indicated that Cmm expresses an extracellular proteinaceous PAMP(s), which is recognized by tomato cells and induces typical basal defenses. Central goal of this proposal is to investigate how tomato plants sense invading Cmm bacteria to activate a first line of defense, and how Cmm overcomes this basal defense responses and develops a successful infection. To this aim, physiological assays will be used to characterize basal defense responses induced by Cmm in tomato plants and suspension-cultured cells. In addition, biochemical and analytical methods will be employed to isolate and identify Cmm proteins with PAMP activity. A proteomics approach based on multi-dimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT) will be used to identify secreted Cmm proteins. Follow up activities will identify among the secreted proteins virulence determinants and possibly PAMP activities. Finally, a screen of Cmm-induced tomato genes based on virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) techniques will identify tomato proteins involved in recognition of Cmm PAMP(s) and downstream signaling pathways. Together, this investigation will lead to characterization of tomato defense responses activated by Cmm and to the identification of central players in the Cmm-tomato interaction

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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• natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
• natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
• agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
• natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence pattern recognition

Programme(s)

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• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

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• PEOPLE-2007-4-3.IRG - Marie Curie Action: "International Reintegration Grants"

Call for proposal

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FP7-PEOPLE-IRG-2008
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Funding Scheme

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MC-IRG - International Re-integration Grants (IRG)

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