A Bxtlp Gene Affects the Pathogenicity of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Pine wilt disease (PWD), a destructive pine forest disease caused by pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, has led to huge economic losses and ecological environment damage. Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) are the products of a complex gene family involved in host defense and a wide range of developmental processes in fungi, plants, and animals. In this study, a tlp gene of B. xylophilus (Bxtlp) (GenBank: OQ863020.1) was amplified via PCR and cloned into the expression vector pET-15b to construct the recombinant vector PET-15b-Bxtlp, which was then transformed into Escherichia coli BL-21(DE3). The recombinant protein was successfully purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The effect of the Bxtlp gene on the vitality and pathogenicity of PWNs was elucidated through RNA interference (RNAi) and overexpression. Bxtlp dsRNA significantly reduced the feeding, motility, spawning, and reproduction abilities of PWN; shortened its lifespan; and increased the female–male ratio. In contrast, the recombinant BxTLP markedly enhanced the reproductive ability of PWN. In addition, Bxtlp dsRNA increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in nematodes, while the recombinant BxTLP was confirmed to have antioxidant capacity in vitro. Furthermore, the bioassays on Pinus thunbergii saplings demonstrated that Bxtlp could significantly influence PWN pathogenicity. Overall, we speculate that Bxtlp affects the pathogenicity of PWNs mainly via regulating ROS levels, the motility, and hatching of PWN.