Population genomics-guided engineering of phenazine biosynthesis in Pseudomonas chlororaphis

This study aims to engineer the bacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis to improve biosynthesis of phenazine compounds (that act as antifungal agents to help prevent plant disease) by identifying suitable gene targets across the entire pangenome. 34 Pseudomonas isolates (33 P. chlororaphis strains & 1 P. synxantha strain) were sequenced using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore technologies, and the resulting sequencing reads were used to assemble whole genomes for each strain, as well as create a pangenome. The 34 strains were also phenotyped for production of phenazine compounds, biofilm formation, and growth temperature. The assembled genome and phenotype data were then used to perform a bacterial GWAS and identify genetic hits influencing phenazine production, some of which were further validated experimentally.