Abstract
Abstract Essential genes are crucial for bacterial growth and the pathogenicity. However, how gene essentiality varies under distinct growth conditions and its role in virulence remains poorly understood. In this study, we constructed high-saturation Tn5 transposon mutant libraries for Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xac), the causative agent of citrus canker disease, which results in substantial economic losses to the citrus industry. These libraries were generated under two growth conditions: nutrient-rich medium (NB) and plant-mimicking medium (XVM2). The libraries achieved an average insertion density of 6.85 base pairs, ensuring high-quality coverage. Using these libraries, we identified 568 genes in both bacterial populations as essential genes of Xac, while the 61 (NB) and 54 (XVM2) as conditional essential genes. To validate the findings, two allele-replacement mutants, ∆ublA and ∆pgl, were generated based on variations in insertion density and gap ratios between two growth conditions. These mutants exhibited significant growth defects in XVM2 and compromised virulence in citrus plants, as evidenced by weaker canker symptoms and reduced bacterial populations in planta. Additionally, we performed a comparative analysis of essential gene conservation across the Xanthomonas genus and other species within the class Gammaproteobacteria. A pan-essentialome dataset was assembled from four Xanthomonas strains, revealing a broad pan-essentialome and a precise core-essentialome. To facilitate further research, we developed XanthoBrowser ( http://xacdb.lumoxuan.cn/), an online resource that provides user-friendly interface for searching and comparison of essential genes across four Xanthomonas strains. In conclusion, this study provides comprehensive insights into bacterial adaptation mechanisms and highlight potential targets for bactericide development.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Transposon libraries identified 568 genes as essential genes of Xac in both growth conditions.
- Taxon
- Xanthomonas citri
Xanthomonas citrit0 - Outcome
- essential genese0
- Value
- 568 genese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Xanthomonas citri”
e0“we identified 568 genes in both bacterial populations as essential genes of Xac”
Claim · model-written summary
In the nutrient-rich NB medium, 61 genes were identified as conditional essential genes of Xac.
- Taxon
- Xanthomonas citriXanthomonas citrit0
- Outcome
- conditional essential genese0
- Value
- 61e0
- Setting
- NBe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Xanthomonas citri”
e0“the 61 (NB) and 54 (XVM2) as conditional essential genes”
Claim · model-written summary
In the plant-mimicking XVM2 medium, 54 genes were identified as conditional essential genes of Xac.
- Taxon
- Xanthomonas citriXanthomonas citrit0
- Outcome
- conditional essential genese0
- Value
- 54e0
- Setting
- XVM2e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Xanthomonas citri”
e0“the 61 (NB) and 54 (XVM2) as conditional essential genes”
Claim · model-written summary
The Tn5 transposon mutant libraries reached an average insertion density of 6.85 base pairs.
Verbatim
e0“average insertion density of 6.85 base pairs”
Claim · model-written summary
The allele-replacement mutants of ublA and pgl showed significant growth defects in XVM2 medium.
- Taxon
- Xanthomonas citriXanthomonas citrit0
- Treatment
- allele-replacement mutantse0
- Outcome
- growthe1
- Direction
- defectse1
- Setting
- XVM2e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Xanthomonas citri”
e0“two allele-replacement mutants, ∆ublA and ∆pgl”
e1“These mutants exhibited significant growth defects in XVM2”
Claim · model-written summary
The ublA and pgl mutants had compromised virulence in citrus plants, with weaker canker symptoms and reduced bacterial populations in planta.
- Treatment
- allele-replacement mutantse0
- Interactor
- Xanthomonas citriXanthomonas citrit0pathogen
- Outcome
- virulencee1
- Direction
- compromisede1
CitrusNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Xanthomonas citri”
e0“two allele-replacement mutants, ∆ublA and ∆pgl”
e1“compromised virulence in citrus plants, as evidenced by weaker canker symptoms and reduced bacterial populations in planta”
Claim · model-written summary
Comparison of four Xanthomonas strains revealed a broad pan-essentialome and a precise core-essentialome.
- Taxon
- Xanthomonas citriXanthomonas citrit0
- Outcome
- broad pan-essentialome and a precise core-essentialomee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Xanthomonas citri”
e0“revealing a broad pan-essentialome and a precise core-essentialome”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors developed XanthoBrowser, an online resource for searching and comparing essential genes across four Xanthomonas strains.
Verbatim
e0“we developed XanthoBrowser ( http://xacdb.lumoxuan.cn/)”