Burkholderia gladioli strain NGJ1 deploys a prophage tail-like protein to feed on fungi

Abstract

Fungal pathogens are responsible for approximately two third of the infectious plant diseases. Due to extensive usages, pathogens have evolved resistance against most of the commonly used fungicides. Rice sheath blight disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani remains a serious threat to global sustainable agriculture. The pathogen has a complex biology and has been reported occurring world-wide causing necrosis and dampingoff on numerous host plant species. The pathogen is polymorphic and despite extensive efforts, till today no source of complete disease resistance has been identified against this pathogen. We have recently discovered a novel bacterium Burkholderia gladioli strain NGJ1 which has broad spectrum mycophagus ability. We also demonstrated that the bacteria NGJ1 deploys a prophage tail like protein (Bg_9562) to feed over fungi in a T3SS dependant manner. Moreover we observed that Bg_9562 protein has a broad spectrum antifungal activity on Rhizoctonia solani as well as several other phytopathogenic fungi. Furthermore, being equipped to kill and feed upon fungi, the mycophagous bacteria can serve as an experimental tool box to facilitate discovery of novel anti-fungal molecules. This opens up a new biotechnological application of this prophage tail like protein in controlling fungal diseases in rice as well as in other plants.