Scientists at Oregon State University have shed light on the evolutionary history of a soil-borne bacteria that is so dangerous to grazing animals it is kept behind lock-and-key to prevent its spread.
Somewhere along the way, Rathayibacter toxicus lost about one-third of its genes. Yet it persists in spite of its genome reduction and low genetic diversity. In a new study, researchers propose a process that emphasizes the importance of the bacteria's reaction to viral infection. At the center of that process is a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) locus.
The U.S. government has declared R. toxicus to be a biological select agent for toxins and specimens are handled at highly secure federal facilties. There is no evidence of the bacterial species in Oregon but concerns are high because the worm that transports it to plants is found in the state. In addition, the worm and bacteria both infect grass seedheads. In 2017, hay and grass seed were the third- and fifth-largest agricultural commodities in Oregon, with a combined value of more than $1 billion.