Xanthomonas effectors: nutritional hijacking for a long running battle

Xanthomonas spp. are devastating plant pathogens that cause significant agricultural losses worldwide. Their virulence relies on type III secretion system (T3SS) effectors that manipulate host cells, but the functions of many effectors remain unknown. A recent report demonstrated that the AvrBs2 effector from the rice pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola manipulates host metabolism to synthesize a unique metabolite, xanthosan, from host sugars. The bacteria then import and utilize this metabolite via specific transporters. Notably, transgenic rice plants engineered to degrade this metabolite exhibited strong resistance to the pathogen. Another recent study revealed that the PthA4 effector from the citrus pathogen Xanthomonas citri pv. citri activates the host gene CsLOB1, inducing cell wall degradation. The released sugars, particularly xylose, activate bacterial nutrient uptake systems, creating a feed-forward loop that promotes infection. Specifically, AvrBs2 generates monosaccharide building blocks for the cell wall, whereas PthA4 depolymerizes existing cell walls, likely by activating a fruit-ripening program, highlighting that virulence emerges from the interplay between host manipulation and bacterial physiology. These discoveries establish nutrient hijacking as a conserved virulence mechanism in Xanthomonas and provide new targets for sustainable crop protection. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.