About

Xiaohong Wang is a Research Molecular Biologist in the Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research program at the USDA-ARS Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health. Her program focuses on the study of the molecular mechanisms of plant-nematode interactions and the management of potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis using host resistance. She works with Walter De Jong, a potato breeder at Cornell, to develop potato varieties resistant to different pathotypes of G. rostochiensis. Her research includes investigating the molecular mechanisms of nematode parasitism, with an emphasis on nematode effector functions, and developing resistant potato varieties. Additionally, her program conducts nematode resistance screening for potato clones and varieties developed from various potato breeding programs across the country. She provides scientific and technical support to potato cyst nematode quarantine programs in New York and Idaho.

Research topics

• Biology
• Genetics
• Biochemistry
• Computer Security
• Ecology
• Cell biology
• Computational biology
• Computer Science
• Chemistry
• Microbiology
• Molecular biology
• Chromatography
• Botany
• Virology
• Bioinformatics
• Physics

Selected publications

• Characterization of a novel phage PFX2 and its preliminary application in the biocontrol of Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms on fresh beef

  Meat Science · 2025-07-15 · 4 citations

  articleCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Characterization of a novel lytic bacteriophage SPuP2 against Shewanella putrefaciens and its efficacy in biofilm disruption: A promising antimicrobial strategy

  Food Research International · 2025-11-29 · 2 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A chromosome-level genome assembly of Solanum brevicaule (PI 473011) Y1-5, a wild potato relative with robust resistance to potato cyst nematodes

  2025-10-10

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Potato cyst nematodes (PCN), Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida, are globally recognized quarantine pests that can cause severe yield losses in potatoes if left uncontrolled. Deploying host resistance remains the most effective, economical, and environmentally sustainable strategy for PCN control. The U.S. Potato Genebank (USPG) maintains a rich collection of wild potato species, providing a valuable resource for discovering novel resistance to PCN. In this study, we identified a Solanum brevicaule clone (PI 473011; designated Y1-5) from the USPG that exhibits robust resistance to both PCN species. We sequenced the whole genome of Y1-5 using PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi) sequencing technology and generated a haplotype-resolved assembly, with genome sizes of 763.49 Mb and 764.93 Mb for haplotypes 1 and 2, respectively. Repeat elements accounted for approximately 65% of the genome, while gene prediction identified 80,021 protein-coding genes, over 96% of which were functionally annotated. A comprehensive set of genes encoding nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins‒intracellular receptors that mediate disease resistance‒was identified in the annotated genome. NLR genes were particularly enriched on chromosomes 4, 6, and 11. Importantly, Y1-5 was found to encode more coiled-coil-type NLRs (CNLs) than several previously sequenced wild Solanum clones. These findings suggest that Y1-5 may serve as a promising new source of resistance to potato diseases. Development of this genomic resource is valuable for understanding the mechanisms of PCN resistance and for supporting potato breeding efforts to develop varieties with durable nematode resistance.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Europe as a secondary distribution hub in the worldwide invasion of the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis

  Scientific Reports · 2024-06-17 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  The potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis originates from the Andean Mountain region in South America and has unintentionally been introduced to all inhabited continents. Several studies have examined the population genetic structure of this pest in various countries by using microsatellite markers. However, merging microsatellite data produced from different laboratories is challenging and can introduce uncertainty when interpreting the results. To overcome this challenge and to explore invasion routes of this pest, we have genotyped 22 G. rostochiensis populations from all continents. Within populations, the highest genetic diversity was observed in the South American populations, the European populations showed an intermediate level of genetic diversity and the remaining populations were the less diverse. This confirmed pre-existing knowledge such as a first introduction event from South America to Europe, but the less diverse populations could originate either from South America or from Europe. At the continental scale, STRUCTURE genetic clustering output indicated that North America and Asia have experienced at least two introduction events. Comparing different evolutionary scenarios, the Approximate Bayesian Computation analysis showed that Europe served as a secondary distribution centre for the invasion of G. rostochiensis into all other continents (North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania).

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Biocontrol characteristics and application of phage SEP4 against multidrug-resistant Salmonella biofilm on food matrix

  Food Bioscience · 2024-05-03 · 11 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Characterization of a novel phage SPX1 and biological control for biofilm of Shewanella in shrimp and food contact surfaces

  International Journal of Food Microbiology · 2024-09-10 · 14 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Positive correlations of heavy Fe-Zn-Mo isotopes with incompatible element abundances and Sr-Nd-Hf radiogenic isotope enrichments in MORB melts

  2024-01-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Muscovite <sup>40</sup>Ar/<sup>39</sup>Ar isotopic dating of pegmatite veins in the Bieyesamas rare metal deposit in the Altay Mountain, Xinjiang, northwestern China

  China Geology · 2023-01-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• The <i>Globodera rostochiensis</i> Gr29D09 Effector with a Role in Defense Suppression Targets the Potato Hexokinase 1 Protein

  Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions · 2023-09-17 · 5 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The potato cyst nematode ( Globodera rostochiensis) is an obligate root pathogen of potatoes. G. rostochiensis encodes several highly expanded effector gene families, including the Gr4D06 family; however, little is known about the function of this effector family. We cloned four 29D09 genes from G. rostochiensis (named Gr29D09v1/v2/v3/v4) that share high sequence similarity and are homologous to the Hg29D09 and Hg4D06 effector genes from the soybean cyst nematode ( Heterodera glycines). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Gr29D09 genes belong to a subgroup of the Gr4D06 family. We showed that Gr29D09 genes are expressed exclusively within the nematode's dorsal gland cell and are dramatically upregulated in parasitic stages, indicating involvement of Gr29D09 effectors in nematode parasitism. Transgenic potato lines overexpressing Gr29D09 variants showed increased susceptibility to G. rostochiensis. Transient expression assays in Nicotiana benthamiana demonstrated that Gr29D09v3 could suppress reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and defense gene expression induced by flg22 and cell death mediated by immune receptors. These results suggest a critical role of Gr29D09 effectors in defense suppression. The use of affinity purification coupled with nanoliquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry identified potato hexokinase 1 (StHXK1) as a candidate target of Gr29D09. The Gr29D09–StHXK1 interaction was further confirmed using in planta protein–protein interaction assays. Plant HXKs have been implicated in defense regulation against pathogen infection. Interestingly, we found that StHXK1 could enhance flg22-induced ROS production, consistent with a positive role of plant HXKs in defense. Altogether, our results suggest that targeting StHXK1 by Gr29D09 effectors may impair the positive function of StHXK1 in plant immunity, thereby aiding nematode parasitism. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .

  PublisherDOI

• A key virulence effector from cyst nematodes targets host autophagy to promote nematode parasitism

  New Phytologist · 2022-11-09 · 26 citations

  articleSenior author

  Autophagy, an intracellular degradation system conserved in eukaryotes, has been increasingly recognized as a key battlefield in plant-pathogen interactions. However, the role of plant autophagy in nematode parasitism is mostly unknown. We report here the identification of a novel and conserved effector, Nematode Manipulator of Autophagy System 1 (NMAS1), from plant-parasitic cyst nematodes (Heterodera and Globodera spp.). We used molecular and genetic analyses to demonstrate that NMAS1 is required for nematode parasitism. The NMAS1 effectors are potent suppressors of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by flg22 and cell death mediated by immune receptors in Nicotiana benthamiana, suggesting a key role of NMAS1 effectors in nematode virulence. Arabidopsis atg mutants defective in autophagy showed reduced susceptibility to nematode infection. The NMAS1 effectors contain predicted AuTophaGy-related protein 8 (ATG8)-interacting motif (AIM) sequences. In planta protein-protein interaction assays further demonstrated that NMAS1 effectors specifically interact with host plant ATG8 proteins. Interestingly, mutation in AIM2 of GrNMAS1 from the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis abolishes its interaction with potato StATG8 proteins and its activity in ROS suppression. Collectively, our results reveal for the first time that cyst nematodes employ a conserved AIM-containing virulence effector capable of targeting a key component of host autophagy to promote disease.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Shiyan Chen

  Cornell University

  58 shared

• Demosthenis Chronis

  University of Missouri

  37 shared

• Inga A. Zasada

  Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory

  28 shared

• Lili Cui

  Shanghai Changzheng Hospital

  27 shared

• Louise‐Marie Dandurand

  University of Idaho

  27 shared

• Steve Kenton

  University of Oklahoma

  26 shared

• Melissa G. Mitchum

  26 shared

• Nevin D. Young

  University of Minnesota System

  26 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Institute of Microbiology

  Chinese Academy of Sciences

  1995