Nature reviews. Microbiology
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Nat. Rev. Microbiol. · Apr 2009
Symbiotic use of pathogenic strategies: rhizobial protein secretion systems.
Rhizobia - a diverse group of soil bacteria - induce the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of legumes. Nodulation begins when the roots initiate a molecular dialogue with compatible rhizobia in the soil. ⋯ Rhizobia also use additional molecular signals, such as secreted proteins or surface polysaccharides. One group of proteins secreted by rhizobia have homologues in bacterial pathogens and may have been co-opted by rhizobia for symbiotic purposes.