Venom allergen-like protein 2 (Vap2) was characterized from the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which is a destructive pathogen in several countries including Japan, China and Korea. Among three vaps of B. xylophilus (Bx-vap)reported in GenBank, Bx-vap2 showed the highest transcript level in both pine-grown propagative stage (PGPS) and media-grown propagative stage (MGPS). Bx-vap2 also was revealed that its transcript level over 10-fold increased in PGPS. In addition, western blot using BxVap2-polyclonal antibody showed that expression level of BxVap2 was significantly increased in PGPS. In immunohistochemistry, moreover, strong signals were detected around putative subventral gland in PGPS, whereas weak signals were observed in MGPS. These experimental results suppose pathogenic function of BxVap2 and migration assay using Bx-vap2 knock-down worms by RNA interference supports this postulation.

• Jae Soon Kang(Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University)
• Jae Young Choi(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Yeon Ho Je(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Si Hyeock Lee(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)