Genomics of biotrophy in fungi and oomycetes — emerging patterns

We are on the verge of a flood of new genome data from a plethora of plant pathogens. Although the data are just beginning to be analysed systematically and to be published, there are emerging patterns associated with pathogenicity and biotrophy. The expansion of protein families with functions required for host infection is found in most pathogens; in addition, we see specific adaptations of the biotrophs, as the reduction of proteins involved in plant cell-wall degradation, or a specialization in carbon utilization that avoids plant responses. The expansion of genomes by repeated elements and the resulting genome dynamics are thought to be one of the driving forces for the fast evolution of pathogenicity factors, resulting in an adaptive advantage to the changing hostile environment of the plant host.