Genome-Wide Transcriptome Analysis of a Virulent sRNA, Trans217, in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the Causative Agent of Rice Bacterial Blight

Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) act as post-transcriptional regulators to participate in many cellular processes. Among these, sRNA trans217 has been identified as a key virulent factor associated with pathogenicity in rice, triggering hypersensitive reactions in non-host tobacco and facilitating the secretion of the PthXo1 effector in <i>Xanthomonas oryzae</i> pv. <i>oryzae</i> (<i>Xoo</i>) strain PXO99^A. Elucidating potential targets and downstream regulatory genes is crucial for understanding cellular networks governing pathogenicity and plant resistance. To explore the targets regulated by sRNA trans217, transcriptome sequencing was carried out to assess differential expression genes (DEGs) between the wild-type strain PXO99^A and a mutant lacking the sRNA fragment under both virulence-inducing or normal growth conditions. DEG analysis revealed that sRNA trans217 was responsible for diverse functions, such as type III secretion system (T3SS), glutamate synthase activity, and oxidative stress response. Three genes were selected for further investigation due to their significant differential expression and biological relevance. Deletion of <i>PXO_RS08490</i> attenuated the pathogenicity of <i>Xoo</i> in rice and reduced the tolerance level of PXO99^A to hydrogen peroxide. These findings suggest a regulatory role of sRNA trans217 in modulating bacterial virulence through multiple gene targets, either directly or indirectly.