title: Nematode neuropeptides as transgenic nematicides.
abstract: Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) seriously threaten global food security. Conventionally an integrated approach to PPN management has relied heavily on carbamate, organophosphate and fumigant nematicides which are now being withdrawn over environmental health and safety concerns. This progressive withdrawal has left a significant shortcoming in our ability to manage these economically important parasites, and highlights the need for novel and robust control methods. Nematodes can assimilate exogenous peptides through retrograde transport along the chemosensory amphid neurons. Peptides can accumulate within cells of the central nerve ring and can elicit physiological effects when released to interact with receptors on adjoining cells. We have profiled bioactive neuropeptides from the neuropeptide-like protein (NLP) family of PPNs as novel nematicides, and have identified numerous discrete NLPs that negatively impact chemosensation, host invasion and stylet thrusting of the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida. Transgenic secretion of these peptides from the rhizobacterium, Bacillus subtilis, and the terrestrial microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii reduce tomato infection levels by up to 90% when compared with controls. These data pave the way for the exploitation of nematode neuropeptides as a novel class of plant protective nematicide, using novel non-food transgenic delivery systems which could be deployed on farmer-preferred cultivars.
authors.affiliation: Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Warnock
authors.affiliation: Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Leonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, Canada.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.affiliation: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Colin C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aaron G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Maule
authors.affiliation: Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Johnathan J
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9597-3945
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dalzell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D017190:Secernentea Infections; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014431:Tylenchoidea
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D009479:Neuropeptides