Posted on 09/13/2009 10:31:04 PM PDT by neverdem
Findings yield deep insights into the pathogen’s remarkable adaptability, suggest a “two-speed” genomic strategy that enables it to outwit plant hosts
A large international research team has decoded the genome of the notorious organism that triggered the Irish potato famine in the mid-19th century and now threatens this season’s tomato and potato crops across much of the US.
Published in the September 9 online issue of the journal Nature, the study reveals that the organism boasts an unusually large genome size — more than twice that of closely related species — and an extraordinary genome structure, which together appear to enable the rapid evolution of genes, particularly those involved in plant infection. These data expose an unusual mechanism that enables the pathogen to outsmart its plant hosts and may help researchers unlock new ways to control it.
“This pathogen has an exquisite ability to adapt and change, and that’s what makes it so dangerous,” said senior author Chad Nusbaum, co-director of the Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. “We now have a comprehensive view of its genome, revealing the unusual properties that drive its remarkable adaptability. Hopefully, this knowledge can foster novel approaches to diagnose and respond to outbreaks.”
“Our findings suggest a ‘two-speed’ genome, meaning that different parts of the genome are evolving at different rates,” said co-lead author Sophien Kamoun, head of the Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, UK. “Future sequencing of additional strains and close relatives of this pathogen will help test this hypothesis and could transform our understanding of how it adapts to immune plants."
The potato famine that gripped Europe, particularly Ireland, in the mid 1800’s was the work of an insidious organism known as Phytophthora infestans. Long considered a fungus, it is now known to be a member...
(Excerpt) Read more at broadinstitute.org ...
Hat tip to Science News.
This is premium content at Nature News, but Broad Communications linked the open access original article at Nature, which is not the same as Nature News. Go figure.
Genome sequence and analysis of the Irish potato famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans
micro ping
What’s the deal..
What do you mean?
Unfortunately, Ireland didn’t have Frito-Lay Corp and the entire state of Idaho when the Potato Famine hit them. Those folks are probably going to murder this bug in the cradle.
Averted catastrophe?
Dan Quayle refused to comment.
I said what I meant.
I’m glad you know what you meant.
The rest of us are puzzled.
What you see me post is what you get. Look at keywords, topics & links. What else do you think I mean? This bug still causes grief with spuds and tomatoes.
Dude.
It killed many before me.
[snip}
The potato famine that gripped Europe, particularly Ireland, in the mid 1800’s was the work of an insidious organism known as Phytophthora infestans. Long considered a fungus, it is now known to be a member of the oomycetes or “water molds,” which are more closely related to the malaria parasite than to fungi. P. infestans thrives in cool, wet weather, and can infect potatoes, tomatoes and other related plants, causing a “late blight” disease that can decimate entire fields in just a few days.
[snip]
These findings not only expand the catalog of known P. infestans genes, they also highlight a critical subset of genes undergoing rapid turnover. Further studies of these genes will foster a deeper understanding of plant infection and help identify potential targets for fighting back.
And not a minute too soon.
You or him? Both?
Bragging, or bemoaning, that you are one; or are you trolling for one; or is it your affirmative excuse for your previous cryptic comments?
Is it meant as a conciliatory greeting, an espression of exasperation, an accusation, or a pejorative?
Is it meant as some kind of cryto thread hijacking?
So many question you raise with your non sequiturs.
It causes trouble with chile too.
Hmmm...
Ping... An odd topic, but interesting. (Thanks, neverdem!)
Thanks for the ping.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.