The Fusion Gene <i>BPI-LY</i>, Encoding Human Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Core Fragments and Lysozyme, Enhanced the Resistance of Transgenic Tomato Plants to Bacterial Wilt

Tomato bacterial wilt, caused by <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i> (G<sup>−</sup>), is one of the most devastating plant diseases. Developing effective resistance against this pathogen remains a major challenge in plant disease management. In this study, we constructed a fusion g...

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Main Authors: Lei Ni, Yue Zhang, Yafei Qin, Mei Wang, Daodao Tang, Liantian Chen, Xing Ding, Yilin Zheng, Yu Pan, Jinhua Li, Xingguo Zhang
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/1897
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author Lei Ni
Yue Zhang
Yafei Qin
Mei Wang
Daodao Tang
Liantian Chen
Xing Ding
Yilin Zheng
Yu Pan
Jinhua Li
Xingguo Zhang
author_facet Lei Ni
Yue Zhang
Yafei Qin
Mei Wang
Daodao Tang
Liantian Chen
Xing Ding
Yilin Zheng
Yu Pan
Jinhua Li
Xingguo Zhang
author_sort Lei Ni
collection DOAJ
description Tomato bacterial wilt, caused by <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i> (G<sup>−</sup>), is one of the most devastating plant diseases. Developing effective resistance against this pathogen remains a major challenge in plant disease management. In this study, we constructed a fusion gene <i>BPI-LY</i> by combining the gene encoding the lipophilic functional domains of human bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) with the gene of human lysozyme (LY). The recombinant gene <i>BPI-LY</i> was heterologously expressed in yeast and tomato. Preliminary in vitro assays in yeast demonstrated that BPI enhances LY’s antibacterial activity against G<sup>−</sup> bacteria. Furthermore, overexpression of <i>BPI-LY</i> in tomato delayed onset of the disease in the transgenic lines and lowered the degree of tissue damage and the number of bacteria present in the stems relative to those in the wild-type plant. Additionally, the expression levels of the <i>SlSOD</i>, <i>SlPOD</i>, <i>SlPAL</i>, <i>SlPR5</i>, <i>SlPR10</i>, and <i>SlPR-NP24</i> genes were indirectly upregulated in the transgenic plants following <i>R. solanacearum</i> inoculation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that <i>BPI-LY</i> enhances the resistance of transgenic tomato against bacterial wilt caused by <i>R. solanacearum</i>.
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spelling doaj-art-3aba2ecbc289441b81bb3177ca1d630d2025-08-20T03:50:20ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011413189710.3390/plants14131897The Fusion Gene <i>BPI-LY</i>, Encoding Human Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Core Fragments and Lysozyme, Enhanced the Resistance of Transgenic Tomato Plants to Bacterial WiltLei Ni0Yue Zhang1Yafei Qin2Mei Wang3Daodao Tang4Liantian Chen5Xing Ding6Yilin Zheng7Yu Pan8Jinhua Li9Xingguo Zhang10College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaTomato bacterial wilt, caused by <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i> (G<sup>−</sup>), is one of the most devastating plant diseases. Developing effective resistance against this pathogen remains a major challenge in plant disease management. In this study, we constructed a fusion gene <i>BPI-LY</i> by combining the gene encoding the lipophilic functional domains of human bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) with the gene of human lysozyme (LY). The recombinant gene <i>BPI-LY</i> was heterologously expressed in yeast and tomato. Preliminary in vitro assays in yeast demonstrated that BPI enhances LY’s antibacterial activity against G<sup>−</sup> bacteria. Furthermore, overexpression of <i>BPI-LY</i> in tomato delayed onset of the disease in the transgenic lines and lowered the degree of tissue damage and the number of bacteria present in the stems relative to those in the wild-type plant. Additionally, the expression levels of the <i>SlSOD</i>, <i>SlPOD</i>, <i>SlPAL</i>, <i>SlPR5</i>, <i>SlPR10</i>, and <i>SlPR-NP24</i> genes were indirectly upregulated in the transgenic plants following <i>R. solanacearum</i> inoculation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that <i>BPI-LY</i> enhances the resistance of transgenic tomato against bacterial wilt caused by <i>R. solanacearum</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/1897tomatobacterial wilt<i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i>bactericidal/permeability increasing protein and lysozyme fusion gene (<i>BPI-LY</i>)disease resistance
spellingShingle Lei Ni
Yue Zhang
Yafei Qin
Mei Wang
Daodao Tang
Liantian Chen
Xing Ding
Yilin Zheng
Yu Pan
Jinhua Li
Xingguo Zhang
The Fusion Gene <i>BPI-LY</i>, Encoding Human Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Core Fragments and Lysozyme, Enhanced the Resistance of Transgenic Tomato Plants to Bacterial Wilt
Plants
tomato
bacterial wilt
<i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i>
bactericidal/permeability increasing protein and lysozyme fusion gene (<i>BPI-LY</i>)
disease resistance
title The Fusion Gene <i>BPI-LY</i>, Encoding Human Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Core Fragments and Lysozyme, Enhanced the Resistance of Transgenic Tomato Plants to Bacterial Wilt
title_full The Fusion Gene <i>BPI-LY</i>, Encoding Human Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Core Fragments and Lysozyme, Enhanced the Resistance of Transgenic Tomato Plants to Bacterial Wilt
title_fullStr The Fusion Gene <i>BPI-LY</i>, Encoding Human Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Core Fragments and Lysozyme, Enhanced the Resistance of Transgenic Tomato Plants to Bacterial Wilt
title_full_unstemmed The Fusion Gene <i>BPI-LY</i>, Encoding Human Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Core Fragments and Lysozyme, Enhanced the Resistance of Transgenic Tomato Plants to Bacterial Wilt
title_short The Fusion Gene <i>BPI-LY</i>, Encoding Human Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Core Fragments and Lysozyme, Enhanced the Resistance of Transgenic Tomato Plants to Bacterial Wilt
title_sort fusion gene i bpi ly i encoding human bactericidal permeability increasing protein core fragments and lysozyme enhanced the resistance of transgenic tomato plants to bacterial wilt
topic tomato
bacterial wilt
<i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i>
bactericidal/permeability increasing protein and lysozyme fusion gene (<i>BPI-LY</i>)
disease resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/1897
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