title: Domain switching and host recognition.
abstract: The collective function of secreted pathogen effector molecules is to enhance the virulence and avirulence activity of the pathogen during the infection of its host. While the activity of a majority of pathogen effectors is unknown, several classes of effector molecules have been well characterized. Among these include proteins which function to modulate host defences either through proteolysis, post-translational modifications, or by directly manipulating the host transcriptional machinery that regulates the induction of defence responses. In recent years, several key advances have been made in the characterization of the latter class of effector molecules. Among these include research characterizing the processes associated with host nuclear import and the targeting of host transcriptional defences. While current research is beginning to reveal the biochemical and genetic mechanisms controlling the induction of host resistance, the signalling events that control host specificity remain largely unknown. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, work by Nissan et al. sheds light onto the molecular-genetic patterns involved in determining host specificity and pathogen virulence in the Pantoea-gypsophila interaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, 105 Center for Integrated Plant Systems, East Lansing, MI 48824-1311, USA.
authors.forename: Miaoying
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000382:microbiology; D029748:Caryophyllaceae / Q000382:microbiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D020636:Pantoea / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013045:Species Specificity; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C113709:HsvG protein, Pantoea agglomerans; D015534:Trans-Activators