EVALUATING THE ROLES OF PILI IN TWITCHING AND LONG DISTANCE MOVEMENT OF XYLELLA FASTIDIOSA IN GRAPE XYLEM AND IN THE COLONIZATION

• Author(s): Burr, Thomas; Hoch, Harvey; Lindow, Steven; Meng, Yizhi; Purcell, Alexander;
• Abstract: Xylella fastidiosa cells were shown to exhibit twitching motility upstream in microfabricated artificial xylem vessels. Such motility is due to extension and retraction of type IV pili present on the poles of the bacteria. Importantly, such upstream migration was subsequently demonstrated in planta. A survey of isolates from California, Texas and South Carolina revealed that all possessed motility characteristics. A number of mutants deficient in genes associated with type IV pilus functions were created, many of which may be useful in exploring targets for slowing development of the bacterial mass in xylem vessels. Type IV and type I pili were shown to have pronounced effects on colony and biofilm development.
• Publication Date: Dec 2005
• Journal: 2005 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium