The Chondrus crispus Acrochaete operculata host-pathogen association, a novel model in glycobiology and applied phycopathology

A review is presented of ongoing research on the oligosaccharide signals involved in cell-cell recognition in the Chondrus crispus-Acrochaete operculata host-pathogen association. In this pathosystem, the host gametophytes are resistant to the pathogen, whereas the sporophytic generation is susceptible to infection. The virulence of the green algal pathogen is mediated by the recognition of carrageenan oligosaccharides released from its red algal host: kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides inhibit A. operculata virulence while lambda carrageenan oligosaccharides enhance its pathogenicity. It appears that the recognition of A. operculata by C. crispus also involves an oligosaccharidic signal. This signal is present in the non-virulent form of the pathogen whereas it is absent from the virulent form. Altogether this pathosystem offers a unique model to investigate the recognition of oligosaccharide signals in plant-pathogen interactions. The possible applications of this research to develop new strategies for disease control in maricultured algal crops are discussed.