MICRO-CCS student projects
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
o The Heath Lab studies the evolution of plant-microbe symbioses using the legume-rhizobia system as a model
o Rhizobia form an association with legumes, converting atmospheric nitrogen into a useable form for the plants
o Trifolium pratense and Rhizobium leguminosarum form the system used here
o External factors drive R. leguminosarum evolution beyond plant association
o I study the impact phage defense systems have on Rhizobium leguminosarum partner quality
o Three wild type strains were experimentally evolved to produce three mutant strains each that were newly resistant to phage (Figure 1).
o These resistant strains had mutations affecting exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, in either the rgtA or rgtB genes (Figure 2).
o EPS are necessary for phage adsorption, but also allow R. leguminosarum to infect host roots and nodulate
Rights
Copyright is owned by the creators of this work.
Recommended Citation
Maxwell, Cole; Schwarz, Chase; Gorbitz, David Vereau; Cobbley, Hunter; Buechler, Andrew; Vanderpool, Carin; and Heath, Katy, "Does Phage Resistance Trade Off with Plant Symbiosis Rhizobia?" (2025). MICRO-CCS student projects. 12.
https://spark.parkland.edu/micro_ccs_student/12
