Plant parasitic nematode proteins and the host parasite interaction

Abstract

This review focuses on the proteins and secretions of sedentary plant parasitic nematodes potentially important for plant-nematode interactions. These nematodes are well equipped for parasitism of plants. Having acquired the ability to manipulate fundamental aspects of plant biology, they are able to hijack host-cell development to make their feeding site. They feed exclusively from feeding sites as they complete their life cycle, satisfying their nutritional demands for development and reproduction. Biochemical and genomic approaches have been used successfully to identify a number of nematode parasitism genes. So far, 65 204 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) have been generated for six Meloidogyne species and sequencing projects, currently in progress, will underpin genomic comparisons of Meloidogyne spp. with sequences of other pathogens and generate genechip microarrays to undertake profiling studies of up- and down-regulated genes during the infection process. RNA interference provides a molecular genetic tool to study gene function in parasitism. These methods should provide new data to help our understanding of how parasitic nematodes infect their hosts, leading to the identification of novel pathogenicity genes.

Characterization of the venom allergen—like protein (vap-1) and the fatty acid and retinol binding protein (far-1) genes in Meloidogyne hispanica

“…The FAR-1 protein binds to linolenic and linoleic acid, which are precursors of plant defence compounds in the jasmonic acid signaling pathway (Prior et al 2001;Curtis 2007). It was recently detected in the M. javanica cuticle surface and along the adjacent host root tissues and a continuous secretion of this protein into the intercellular space between the nematode body and the host cells was proposed (Iberkleid et al 2013).…”

“…This protein is present in the surface coat of potato cyst nematode species and binds fatty acids, including linoleic acids that are precursor of plant defence compounds (Prior et al 2001). These fatty acids are metabolized by lipoxygenase as part of the signalling pathway leading to the production of jasmonic acid and FAR-1 inhibited this biochemical process in vitro thus may have a role in the suppression of jasmonate synthesis and of the downstream signalling pathways, reducing host defences (Curtis 2007;Haegeman et al 2012). A study with M. javanica suggests that the MJ-FAR-1 protein has an important role in the infection process.…”

Plant-nematode Interactions: From Genomics to Metabolomics

“…de Almeida Engler et al (1999) reported that the enlarged nuclei and nucleoli in these expanding syncytia might be due to endocycles taking place within the feeding cells. The shape of esophageal glands also differs in the sedentary stages as compared to the motile 2 nd stage juvenile stage (Curtis, 2007) (Fig. 3A and B).…”

The Potential Role of Binding Proteins in Human Parasitic Infections: An In-Depth Look at the Novel Family of Nematode-Specific Fatty Acid and Retinol Binding Proteins

“…Nematode genomes encode for proteins specific to the phylum Nematoda, and are critically important for understanding nematode biology [4][5][6]. Proteins specific to the phylum Nematoda are ideal targets for drugs with low toxicity to the host and the environment.…”