Patogenômica para estudos de classificação taxonômica de Dickeya spp.

Abstract

The Dickeya genus comprises Gram-negative, mesophilic, phytopathogenic bacteria that are among the primary causes of soft rot in various crops. These bacteria can infect plants through wounds or natural openings, leading to the emergence of symptoms that are characterized by the liquefaction of plant tissue, particularly storage organs such as rhizomes, bulbs, and tubers. This has significant economic implications, affecting the main agricultural products, such as potatoes, corn and even ornamental plants, which are among the top 10 most relevant phytopathogenic bacteria. This study employs a genomic analysis approach to taxonomically classify two isolates (CCRMP144 and CCRMP250) of Dickeya spp. in addition to identifying and characterizing the resistance and virulence genes of the Dickeya dadantii species. The methodology employed bioinformatics techniques, including Tetra Correlation Search analysis (TCS) and Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI), in association with a phylogenomic tree inference. Resistance and virulence genes were obtained through an alignment against three databases, CARD for antibiotic resistance, BacMet for genes related to resistance to heavy metals and biocides, and VFDB to identify virulence genes. The methodology successfully characterized the isolates as belonging to the Dickeya dadantii species. The identification and characterization of resistance and virulence genes revealed the core, accessory, and exclusive genes of the species. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of our methodology for taxonomic classification and provided insights into the pathogenesis, environment, and adaptability of these isolates, which are crucial for developing more effective soft rot management and control strategies.