Terminal Reassortment Drives the Quantum Evolution of Type III Effectors in Bacterial Pathogens

PLoS Pathogens

John Stavrinides¹  David S Guttman¹  Wenbo Ma¹ 

[1] Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

关键词: Pseudomonas syringae;    Salmonella enterica;    Evolutionary genetics;    Xanthomonas campestris;    Bacterial pathogens;    Secretion systems;    Bacterial evolution;    Evolutionary processes;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.0020104

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Many bacterial pathogens employ a type III secretion system to deliver type III secreted effectors (T3SEs) into host cells, where they interact directly with host substrates to modulate defense pathways and promote disease. This interaction creates intense selective pressures on these secreted effectors, necessitating rapid evolution to overcome host surveillance systems and defenses. Using computational and evolutionary approaches, we have identified numerous mosaic and truncated T3SEs among animal and plant pathogens. We propose that these secreted virulence genes have evolved through a shuffling process we have called “terminal reassortment.” In terminal reassortment, existing T3SE termini are mobilized within the genome, creating random genetic fusions that result in chimeric genes. Up to 32% of T3SE families in species with relatively large and well-characterized T3SE repertoires show evidence of terminal reassortment, as compared to only 7% of non-T3SE families. Terminal reassortment may permit the near instantaneous evolution of new T3SEs and appears responsible for major modifications to effector activity and function. Because this process plays a more significant role in the evolution of T3SEs than non-effectors, it provides insight into the evolutionary origins of T3SEs and may also help explain the rapid emergence of new infectious agents.

【 授权许可】

CC BY