Title of Project: the role of UvrD helicase and the SOS response in Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tomato strain DC3000 pathogenesis
Type: Research
Guide: Dr. Julie Zwiesler-Vollick

Plant pathogens are microbes which cause diseases in plants. They are an important economic and environmental problem. Study of the basic biology of plant pathogens should help us to predict and possibly prevent large infections of crop plants. It could also reveal new targets for pesticides. Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 (Pst DC3000) is a bacterial plant pathogen. It can infect both the economically important crop plant tomato as well as the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. Although other factors may be involved, it is known that Pst DC3000 virulence is dependent upon both the phytotoxin coronatine and the proteins secreted by the type III secretion system. Neither coronatine production nor the secretion of proteins by the type III system is constitutively active. While we are beginning to understand the regulation of these important processes, many factors remain unknown. Previous work has suggested that the SOS response may be involved in regulation of virulence. In this project, Derek Waterstradt proposes to generate additional mutants which lack components of the SOS pathway. The virulence, UV tolerance and general stress response of these mutants will then be evaluated.