Nucleic acid molecules encoding bacterial autoinducer inactivation proteins as targets for engineering disease resistance

Abstract

Disclosed are an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a bacterial autoinducer inactivation protein, the encoded protein, and anti-bacterial uses therefor.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An isolated protein which has bacterial autoinduction inactivation activity, where the protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         7 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of preventing or reducing bacterial damage to a plant or animal, which method comprises administering to a plant or animal in need of such prevention or reduction an effective amount of a bacterial autoinducer inactivation protein. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A composition for preventing or reducing bacterial damage to a plant or animal, which comprises:
 a) an effective amount of a bacterial autoinducer inactivation protein; and   b) a suitable carrier.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for screening of bacterial isolates for autoinducer inactivation activity, which comprises:
 a) isolating a single colony bacterial culture from soil or plant samples;   b) screening the culture for autoinducer inactivation activity;   c) preparing a crude protein extract from the culture; and   d) confirming enzymatic inactivation of autoinducer activity by the crude protein extract.   
     
     
         19 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method which comprises:
 a) introducing into a bacterial cell an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group comprising:
 i) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a bacterial autoinducer inactivation protein; 
 ii) a nucleic acid having the sequence of the coding portion of SEQ ID NO:1; 
 iii) a nucleic acid encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; or 
 iv) an nucleic acid that hybridizes to ii) or iii) above, wherein a positive hybridization signal is observed after washing with 1×SSC and 0.1% SDS at 55° C. for one hour; and 
   b) screening the bacterial cell obtained from step a) for changed biological function.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the changed biological function is a function which is lost as a result of step a). 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the changed biological function is a function which is suppressed as a result of step a). 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the changed biological function is a function which is enhanced as a result of step a).