title: Molecular properties of a venom allergen-like protein suggest a parasitic function in the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.
abstract: The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a destructive pest in several countries including Japan, China and Korea. Of three genes encoding the venom allergen-like protein in B. xylophilus, Bxvap-1 showed the highest transcript levels at the pine-grown propagative stage. In addition, western blot and immunohistochemical analyses using anti-BxVap-1 polyclonal antibody verified a specific increase in BxVap-1 expression levels at the pine-grown propagative stage. Using immunohistochemistry, BxVap-1 was detected around the putative oesophageal glands and metacarpus, suggesting that BxVap-1 is secreted into the host pine tree and is involved in the parasitic mechanism. To explain the parasitic role of BxVap-1, we measured the migration rate inside pine seedlings of B. xylophilus either with or without Bxvap-1 knockdown by RNA interference. Bxvap-1 knockdown resulted in a significantly lower migration rate in the >6cm region compared with the control B. xylophilus. These results suggest that BxVap-1 is involved in B. xylophilus migration, perhaps by suppressing the pine tree defence mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, 151-921 Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Yil Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Si Hyeock
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002681:China; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007564:Japan; D028223:Pinus / Q000469:parasitology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D056910:Republic of Korea; D017187:Tylenchida / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014688:Venoms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D014688:Venoms; D037521:Virulence Factors