Recognition of bacterial plant pathogens: local, systemic and transgenerational immunity

New Phytol. 2013 Sep;199(4):908-15. doi: 10.1111/nph.12214. Epub 2013 Mar 20.

Abstract

Bacterial pathogens can cause multiple plant diseases and plants rely on their innate immune system to recognize and actively respond to these microbes. The plant innate immune system comprises extracellular pattern recognition receptors that recognize conserved microbial patterns and intracellular nucleotide binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins that recognize specific bacterial effectors delivered into host cells. Plants lack the adaptive immune branch present in animals, but still afford flexibility to pathogen attack through systemic and transgenerational resistance. Here, we focus on current research in plant immune responses against bacterial pathogens. Recent studies shed light onto the activation and inactivation of pattern recognition receptors and systemic acquired resistance. New research has also uncovered additional layers of complexity surrounding NLR immune receptor activation, cooperation and sub-cellular localizations. Taken together, these recent advances bring us closer to understanding the web of molecular interactions responsible for coordinating defense responses and ultimately resistance.

Keywords: effector-triggered immunity (ETI); pattern-triggered immunity (PTI); plant innate immunity; resistance genes; systemic acquired resistance (SAR); transgenerational resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / immunology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology*
  • Inheritance Patterns / immunology
  • Plant Diseases / immunology*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Plant Immunity / immunology*
  • Plants / immunology*
  • Plants / microbiology*