RT Conference Proceedings
T1 Phenotypically heterogeneous loci in the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae.
A1 Mancera-Miranda, Laura
A1 López-Pagán, Nieves
A1 Rufián Plaza, José Sebastián
A1 Sánchez-Romero, María Antonia
A1 Gutierrez-Pozo, Gabriel
A1 Spröer, Cathrin
A1 Bunk, Boyke
A1 Ruiz-Albert, Francisco Javier
A1 Beuzón-López, Carmen del Rosario
K1 Bacterias fitopatógenas
K1 Pseudomonas syringae -  Genética
AB Phenotypic heterogeneity usually refers to the co-existance of different phenotypes within a population. Phenotypic differences may arise through genetic variation (genomic rearrangements or mutations) or through the response to differences in the stimuli as encountered within the microenvironment. But also, sometimes, the sources of variation may not be deterministic, i.e. directly related to stimuli, but a consequence of molecular noise in gene expression and/or a programmed event under genetic or epigenetic control.  A particular example of phenotypic heterogeneity is bistability. Bistability occurs when a bacterial clonal population splits into two subpopulations showing distinct phenotypes. Phenotypic heterogeneity can be beneficial in fluctuating environments by allowing some individuals within the clonal population to survive sudden changes (risk-spreading). It can also benefit the entire population through cooperation between individuals displaying phenotypic differences (division of labour). These processes and their biological relevance have been described in some animal pathogens, but little is known about them in plant-pathosystems. Pseudomonas syringae is a plant-pathogenic bacterium whose virulence depends on the expression of a type III secretion system (T3SS). Our team has previously reported that T3SS expression is bistable under inducing conditions, generating two subpopulations (T3SSON/T3SSOFF) that show differences in virulence. We have identified other loci including genes related to motility, biofilm formation and DNA methylation that also display phenotypic heterogeneity to very different degrees and with different dynamics and are at different stages on their molecular and biological characterization. Our latest advances on this front will be presented and discussed.
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10630/28049
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10630/28049
LA spa
NO Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech.
DS RIUMA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga
RD 21 ene 2026