title: Zoosporic plant pathogens produce bacterial autoinducer-2 that affects Vibrio harveyi quorum sensing.
abstract: The frequent coisolation of bacteria with Phytophthora and Pythium species suggests possible interspecies communication. Zoospore-free fluids (ZFF) from bacteria-free and nutrient-depleted zoospore suspensions were examined to investigate the production of autoinducer-2 (AI-2), a bacterial interspecies signal molecule, by zoosporic oomycetes. ZFF from Phytophthora nicotianae, Phytophthora sojae, and Pythium aphanidermatum triggered luminescence of the Vibrio harve7yi AI-2 reporter, indicating the presence of AI-2 in zoospore extracellular products and the potential of cross-kingdom communication between oomycetes and bacteria. The production of AI-2 by zoospores was confirmed by chemical assays. These results provide a new insight into the physiology and ecology of oomycetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia Beach, VA 23455-3363, USA.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Bobby W K
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Zhaohui Sunny
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chuanxue
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006714:Homoserine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D007783:Lactones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D049449:Luminescence; D010838:Phytophthora / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D011775:Pythium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014733:Vibrio / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; C091088:N-octanoylhomoserine lactone; D006714:Homoserine