Mobile genetic elements of Xylella fastidiosa and their contribution to pathogenicity

Abstract

Xylella fastidiosa is a destructive bacterial plant pathogen affecting hundreds of plant families, including important crops such as olive and citrus trees and vines. The pathogenicity of this bacterium rests in a group of genes that encode toxins, enzymes, fimbrial/afimbrial adhesins, cell–cell aggregation proteins and other virulence factors. We investigated the contribution of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) to the pathogenicity of X. fastidiosa. Using computational tools, we analysed 94 X. fastidiosa genomes corresponding to the three most important subspecies to identify insertion sequences (ISs) and prophages. Results indicate that the distribution and diversity of ISs are modest, with a few families widespread throughout the subspecies of X. fastidiosa. The prophages are abundant, and play a more significant role in the pathogenicity of X. fastidiosa. Prophages are common in the subspecies of X. fastidiosa and contribute to numerous genes related to pathogenicity. The phylogenetic analyses suggest that prophages are recently acquired and that the rearranging of pathogenicity genes triggered by them could generate strains with new pathogenic capacities. Finally, the contribution of MGEs to the pathogenesis of X. fastidiosa was evidenced by determining their association with virulence genes using a Bayesian framework for phylogenetic analysis of character evolution.