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Nature Reviews. Microbiology Jul 2017Biotrophic fungal plant pathogens establish an intimate relationship with their host to support the infection process. Central to this strategy is the secretion of a... (Review)
Review
Biotrophic fungal plant pathogens establish an intimate relationship with their host to support the infection process. Central to this strategy is the secretion of a range of protein effectors that enable the pathogen to evade plant immune defences and modulate host metabolism to meet its needs. In this Review, using the smut fungus Ustilago maydis as an example, we discuss new insights into the effector repertoire of smut fungi that have been gained from comparative genomics and discuss the molecular mechanisms by which U. maydis effectors change processes in the plant host. Finally, we examine how the expression of effector genes and effector secretion are coordinated with fungal development in the host.
Topics: Fungal Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Genomics; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Plant Diseases; Transcription Factors; Ustilago; Virulence
PubMed: 28479603
DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro.2017.33 -
Annual Review of Phytopathology 2009The Ustilago maydis-maize pathosystem has emerged as the current model for plant pathogenic basidiomycetes and as one of the few models for a true biotrophic interaction... (Review)
Review
The Ustilago maydis-maize pathosystem has emerged as the current model for plant pathogenic basidiomycetes and as one of the few models for a true biotrophic interaction that persists throughout fungal development inside the host plant. This is based on the highly advanced genetic system for both the pathogen and its host, the ability to propagate U. maydis in axenic culture, and its unique capacity to induce prominent disease symptoms (tumors) on all aerial parts of maize within less than a week. The corn smut pathogen, though economically not threatening, will continue to serve as a model for related obligate biotrophic fungi such as the rusts, but also for closely related smut species that induce symptoms only in the flower organs of their hosts. In this review we describe the most prominent features of the U. maydis-maize pathosystem as well as genes and pathways most relevant to disease. We highlight recent developments that place this system at the forefront of understanding the function of secreted effectors in eukaryotic pathogens and describe the expected spin-offs for closely related species exploiting comparative genomics approaches.
Topics: Host-Parasite Interactions; Plant Diseases; Ustilago; Zea mays
PubMed: 19400641
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-080508-081923 -
Trends in Genetics : TIG May 1992Recent studies of the corn smut fungus life cycle and its regulation by two mating type loci and other genes provide a cornucopia of challenges in cell biology, genetics... (Review)
Review
Recent studies of the corn smut fungus life cycle and its regulation by two mating type loci and other genes provide a cornucopia of challenges in cell biology, genetics and protein structure. The fungus can exist in two states: nonpathogenic and pathogenic. The change from one state to the other is accompanied by a change in morphology (yeast-like to filamentous) and growth properties (saprophytic to parasitic).
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Fungal Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Genes, Fungal; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; Homeodomain Proteins; Molecular Sequence Data; Plant Tumors; Reproduction; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Spores, Fungal; Ustilago; Zea mays
PubMed: 1369743
DOI: 10.1016/0168-9525(92)90220-x -
Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B Aug 2008The dimorphic phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis encounters different environments during its life cycle. As free-living unicellular haploid cell, the fungus must... (Review)
Review
The dimorphic phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis encounters different environments during its life cycle. As free-living unicellular haploid cell, the fungus must compete with other microorganisms for space and nutrients. As a pathogen, it also has to withstand the defense reactions of its host plant corn and to subvert the plant metabolism for its own purposes. During these interactions small molecules produced by the fungus serve important functions in the communication with its host and other organisms. The genome sequence of U. maydis makes it possible to deduce the full inventory of enzymatic functions that are involved in the production of these secondary metabolites. Although the fungus is known to secrete interesting small molecules the genome contains surprisingly few genes involved in the biosynthesis of polyketides (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS). Additional genes predicted to be part of secondary metabolism are located in subtelomeric regions suggesting that they are subject to high genetic and genomic variation. Here we review the pathways for the production of extracellular glycolipids that serve as biosurfactants, iron-chelating siderophores, tryptophan-derived indole pigments and indole acetic acid, the elucidation of which has greatly profited from the availability of the U. maydis genome sequence.
Topics: Biochemistry; Fungal Proteins; Genomics; Glycolipids; Indoleacetic Acids; Siderophores; Tryptophan; Ustilago
PubMed: 18585066
DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2008.05.007 -
PLoS Pathogens 2012
Review
Topics: Host-Pathogen Interactions; Plant Diseases; Plants; Ustilago
PubMed: 23133380
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002955 -
Current Microbiology Aug 2019The basidiomycete Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic organism responsible for corn smut disease. In recent years, it has become one of the most promising models for... (Review)
Review
The basidiomycete Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic organism responsible for corn smut disease. In recent years, it has become one of the most promising models for biochemical and biotechnological research due to advantages, such as rapid growth, and easy genetic manipulation. In some aspects, this yeast is more similar to complex eukaryotes, such as humans, compared to standard laboratory yeast models. U. maydis can be employed as a tool to explore physiological processes with more versatility than other fungi. Previously, U. maydis was only considered as a phytopathogenic fungus, but different studies have shown its potential as a research model. Therefore, numerous promising studies have focused on deepening our understanding of the natural interactions, enzyme production, and biotechnological capacity. In this review, we explore general characteristics of U. maydis, both as pathogenic and "innocuous" basidiomycete. Additionally, a comparison with other yeast models focusing on genetic, biochemical, and biotechnological research are analyzed, to emphasize the versatility, dynamism, and novelty that U. maydis has as a research model. In this review, we highlight the applications of the yeast form of the fungus; however, since the filamentous form is also of relevance, it is addressed in the present work, as well.
Topics: Biotechnology; Genetics, Microbial; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Models, Biological; Plant Diseases; Ustilago; Zea mays
PubMed: 30689003
DOI: 10.1007/s00284-019-01629-4 -
Mycopathologia Apr 2016Ustilago, a common fungal parasite of grains, is infrequently isolated as a pathogen in humans. We describe a case of Ustilago echinata infection following an open... (Review)
Review
Ustilago, a common fungal parasite of grains, is infrequently isolated as a pathogen in humans. We describe a case of Ustilago echinata infection following an open distal tibia fracture, review the current literature of this genus as a cause of invasive fungal infection in humans, and discuss management issues.
Topics: Adult; Antifungal Agents; Base Sequence; DNA, Fungal; Fractures, Open; Humans; Male; Martial Arts; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycoses; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Tibia; Ustilago; Young Adult
PubMed: 26590580
DOI: 10.1007/s11046-015-9967-1 -
Trends in Cell Biology Feb 2008The use of fungal model systems, such as Saccharomyces cerevisisae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has contributed enormously to our understanding of essential cellular... (Review)
Review
The use of fungal model systems, such as Saccharomyces cerevisisae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has contributed enormously to our understanding of essential cellular processes in animals. Here, we introduce the corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis as a new model organism for studying cell biological processes. Genome-wide analysis demonstrates that U. maydis is more closely related to humans than to budding yeast, and numerous proteins are shared only by U. maydis and Homo sapiens. Growing evidence suggests that basic principles of long-distance transport, mitosis and motor-based microtubule organization are conserved between U. maydis and humans. The fungus U. maydis, therefore, offers a unique system for the study of certain mammalian processes.
Topics: Biological Transport; Cell Polarity; DNA Repair; Genomics; Humans; Microtubules; Mitosis; Models, Biological; Proteomics; Ustilago
PubMed: 18243705
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2007.11.008 -
Microbiology (Reading, England) Jun 2001
Review
Topics: Genes, Fungal; Mutation; Plant Diseases; Signal Transduction; Ustilago; Virulence
PubMed: 11390671
DOI: 10.1099/00221287-147-6-1395 -
Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B Nov 2019From the evening of March 12, till dinner on March 13, 2017, the 1st International Ustilago/Smut Convergence took place as a workshop prior to the start of the 29th... (Review)
Review
From the evening of March 12, till dinner on March 13, 2017, the 1st International Ustilago/Smut Convergence took place as a workshop prior to the start of the 29th Fungal Genetics Conference, in Asilomar, California. The overall goals of the meeting were to expand the smut model systems being used and to expand participation by the next generations of scientists with these fungi. These goals were implemented through a combination of emphasis on student and post-doc presentations, mentoring of such individuals, and active recruitment of participation by groups under-represented at such meetings in recent years in the US, especially those from Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries. Work was presented at the first workshop on U. maydis, Sporosorium reilianum, Microbotryum violaceum, U. esculenta, and Thecaphora thlaspeos. Students and post-doctoral researchers were encouraged to present their "just-in-time," as-yet-unpublished data, in a safe environment, with the understanding of those attending the meeting that this early access was a privilege not to be taken advantage of. The result was lively and constructive discussion, including a variety of presentations by these young scientists on putative and characterized smut effector proteins, clearly at the forefront of such research, even considering the advances presented later that week at the Fungal Genetics Conference. This review also briefly compares the first meeting with the events of the recent 2nd International Ustilago/Smut Convergence (March 11-12, 2019), which ended with a tribute to Prof. Dr. Regine Kahmann, in honor of her career, and especially for her contributions to the field of smut genetics.
Topics: California; Congresses as Topic; Genetics, Microbial; Genome, Fungal; Plant Diseases; Ustilago
PubMed: 31394176
DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2019.103260