Next Article in Journal
Microbial Profiling of Buffalo Mozzarella Whey and Ricotta Exhausted Whey: Insights into Potential Probiotic Subdominant Strains
Previous Article in Journal
Proteus mirabilis from Captive Giant Pandas and Red Pandas Carries Diverse Antimicrobial Resistance Genes and Virulence Genes Associated with Mobile Genetic Elements
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

The Role of Genomic Islands in the Pathogenicity and Evolution of Plant-Pathogenic Gammaproteobacteria

1
The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
2
Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan
3
Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Microorganisms 2025, 13(8), 1803; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081803 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 30 June 2025 / Revised: 30 July 2025 / Accepted: 30 July 2025 / Published: 1 August 2025

Abstract

Genomic islands (GIs) including integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), prophages, and integrative plasmids are central drivers of horizontal gene transfer in bacterial plant pathogens. These elements often carry cargo genes encoding virulence factors, antibiotic and metal resistance determinants, and metabolic functions that enhance environmental adaptability. In plant-pathogenic species such as Pseudomonas syringae, GIs contribute to host specificity, immune evasion, and the emergence of novel pathogenic variants. ICEclc and its homologs represent integrative and mobilizable elements whose tightly regulated excision and transfer are driven by a specialized transcriptional cascade, while ICEs in P. syringae highlight the ecological impact of cargo genes on pathogen virulence and fitness. Pathogenicity islands further modulate virulence gene expression in response to in planta stimuli. Beyond P. syringae, GIs in genera such as Erwinia, Pectobacterium, and Ralstonia underpin critical traits like toxin biosynthesis, secretion system acquisition, and topoisomerase-mediated stability. Leveraging high-throughput genomics and structural biology will be essential to dissect GI regulation and develop targeted interventions to curb disease spread. This review synthesizes the current understanding of GIs in plant-pathogenic gammaproteobacteria and outlines future research priorities for translating mechanistic insights into sustainable disease control strategies.
Keywords: integrative and conjugative elements; horizontal gene transfer; virulence factors; Pseudomonas syringae; backbone genes; cargo genes; ICEclc regulatory network integrative and conjugative elements; horizontal gene transfer; virulence factors; Pseudomonas syringae; backbone genes; cargo genes; ICEclc regulatory network

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Watanabe, Y.; Ishiga, Y.; Sakata, N. The Role of Genomic Islands in the Pathogenicity and Evolution of Plant-Pathogenic Gammaproteobacteria. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 1803. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081803

AMA Style

Watanabe Y, Ishiga Y, Sakata N. The Role of Genomic Islands in the Pathogenicity and Evolution of Plant-Pathogenic Gammaproteobacteria. Microorganisms. 2025; 13(8):1803. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081803

Chicago/Turabian Style

Watanabe, Yuta, Yasuhiro Ishiga, and Nanami Sakata. 2025. "The Role of Genomic Islands in the Pathogenicity and Evolution of Plant-Pathogenic Gammaproteobacteria" Microorganisms 13, no. 8: 1803. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081803

APA Style

Watanabe, Y., Ishiga, Y., & Sakata, N. (2025). The Role of Genomic Islands in the Pathogenicity and Evolution of Plant-Pathogenic Gammaproteobacteria. Microorganisms, 13(8), 1803. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081803

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop