Multisite Field Evaluation of Bacteriophages for Fire Blight Management: Incorporation of Ultraviolet Radiation Protectants and Impact on the Apple Flower Microbiome.

Fire blight, a disease of pome fruits caused by the bacterium , has become increasingly difficult to manage after the emergence of streptomycin-resistant strains. Alternative antibiotics and copper are available; however, these chemicals have use restrictions in some countries and also can carry risks of phytotoxicity. Therefore, there is growing interest in biological-based management options, with bacteriophage (phages) showing promise, as these naturally occurring pathogens of bacteria are easy to isolate and grow.

Evaluation of Plant Defense Inducers and Plant Growth Regulators for Fire Blight Management Using Transcriptome Studies and Field Assessments.

Fire blight, caused by , is a destructive disease of pome fruit trees. In the United States, apple and pear growers rely on applications of copper and antibiotics during bloom to control fire blight, but such methods have already led to regional instances of resistance. In this study, we used transcriptome analyses and field trials to evaluate the effectiveness of three commercially available plant defense elicitors and one plant growth regulator for fire blight management.

H generated by fermentation in the human gut microbiome influences metabolism and competitive fitness of gut butyrate producers.

Background: Hydrogen gas (H) is a common product of carbohydrate fermentation in the human gut microbiome and its accumulation can modulate fermentation. Concentrations of colonic H vary between individuals, raising the possibility that H concentration may be an important factor differentiating individual microbiomes and their metabolites. Butyrate-producing bacteria (butyrogens) in the human gut usually produce some combination of butyrate, lactate, formate, acetate, and H in branched fermentation pathways to manage reducing power generated during the oxidation of glucose to acetate and carbon dioxide.

Elucidating the Obligate Nature and Biological Capacity of an Invasive Fungal Corn Pathogen.

Tar spot is a devasting corn disease caused by the obligate fungal pathogen . Since its initial identification in the United States in 2015, has become an increasing threat to corn production. Despite this, has remained largely understudied at the molecular level, due to difficulties surrounding its obligate lifestyle.

Identification of novel virulence factors in Erwinia amylovora through temporal transcriptomic analysis of infected apple flowers under field conditions.

The enterobacterial pathogen Erwinia amylovora uses multiple virulence-associated traits to cause fire blight, a devastating disease of apple and pear trees. Many virulence-associated phenotypes have been studied that are critical for virulence and pathogenicity. Despite the in vitro testing that has revealed how these systems are transcriptionally regulated, information on when and where in infected tissues these genes are being expressed is lacking.