Bacterial Secretion Systems: Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Plant-Microbe Interactions
Keywords:
bacterial secretion systems, plant pathogenic bacteria, effector proteins, phytopathogenesis, Type III secretion system, virulence mechanismsAbstract
The plant-pathogenic bacteria constitute a major problem for the agriculture sector in the world. They are equipped with highly advanced protein secretion systems that facilitate their ability to introduce virulence factors into plant cells and manipulate them in such a way that they can successfully colonize the plants. This review highlights the molecular architecture and biological role of bacterial secretion systems, especially focusing on their roles in phytopathogenesis. Gram-negative plant pathogens use various types of secretion systems, from the most basic Type I secretion system that is devoid of a periplasm step, through the more advanced Type II system, which is associated with priming of the classical secretory pathway, up to the highly complex Type III secretion system, which functions as a syringe to inject effector proteins directly into the cytoplasm of the target cells. Additionally, recent advances pertaining to other classes of bacterial secretion systems, specifically Types IV, V, and VI, will be comprehensively discussed.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Pragadeeshwaran T, Thiruvasuki J, Mohamed Ashick S, Y H Mehta
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