XXXX . michiganensis: first steps in the understanding of virulence of a Gram-positive phytopathogenic bacterium.

@entity49354 @entity415 @entity523 @entity49355 @entity563
@entity49355 . michiganensis is a plant-pathogenic actinomycete. It infects @entity523 , spreads through the xylem and causes bacterial wilt and canker. The wild-type strain NCPPB382 carries two plasmids, pCM1 and pCM2. The cured plasmid-free derivative CMM100 is still able to colonize @entity523 , but no disease symptoms develop indicating that all genes required for successful infection, establishment and growth in the plant reside on the chromosome. Both plasmids carry one virulence factor, a gene encoding a cellulase, CelA in case of pCM1 and a putative @entity563 protease Pat-1 on pCM2. These genes can independently convert the non-virulent strain CMM100 into a pathogen causing wilt on tomatoes. Currently, genome projects for Cmm and the closely related @entity415 -pathogen @entity49354 have been initiated. The data from the genome project shall give clues on further genes involved in plant-microbe interaction that can be tested experimentally. Especially, identification of genes related to host-specificity through genome comparison of the two subspecies might be possible.
