title: Chitosan nanoparticles: A positive modulator of innate immune responses in plants.
abstract: The immunomodulatory role of the natural biopolymer, chitosan, has already been demonstrated in plants, whilst its nanoparticles have only been examined for biomedical applications. In our present study, we have investigated the possible ability and mechanism of chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) to induce and augment immune responses in plants. CNP-treatment of leaves produced significant improvement in the plant's innate immune response through induction of defense enzyme activity, upregulation of defense related genes including that of several antioxidant enzymes as well as elevation of the levels of total phenolics. It is also possible that the extracellular localization of CNP may also play a role in the observed upregulation of defense response in plants. Nitric oxide (NO), an important signaling molecule in plant defense, was also observed to increase following CNP treatment. However, such CNP-mediated immuno-stimulation was significantly mitigated when NO production was inhibited, indicating a possible role of NO in such immune induction. Taken together, our results suggest that CNP may be used as a more effective phytosanitary or disease control agent compared to natural chitosan for sustainable organic cultivation.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019 India.
authors.forename: Swarnendu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019 India.
authors.forename: Nilanjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019 India.
authors.forename: Adhiraj
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019 India.
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology &Guha Center for Genetic Engineering &Biotechnology, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, India.
authors.forename: Koustubh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Panda
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019 India.
authors.forename: Krishnendu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Acharya
mesh_terms: D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D048271:Chitosan; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate