Table 3 Genetic elements with potential impact to virulence of pathogenic erwinias were summarized and the presence of the key genes is indicated for the analysed genomes (for details please see Additional file 3).

Secretion systems and effectors

hrp/hsv/dsp cluster (T3SS)

Hrp-associated enzymes (HAE)

hrpK, hsvABC

+

-

-

Hrp/hrc secretion/translocation pathway

hrcUTSRQ, hrpPO, hrcN;hrpQIJLXYSAB; hrcJ, hrpDEFG, hrcC, hrpTV

+

+

-

Hrp elicitor/effector region (HEE)

hrpN, orfABC, hrpW, dspEF

+

+

-

Salmonella SPI-1-like T3SS

Invasion proteins

invHFGEABCIJ

(+)

(+)

-

Surface presentation of antigens (SPA)

spaOPQRST

(+)

(+)

-

Cell invasion proteins

sicA, sipBCDA, sptP, prgHIJK, orgA

(+)

(+)

-

Invasion plasmid antigen (IPA)

ipaBCDA

-

-

-

T6SS

T6S proteins and effectors

various

+*

+*

+*

Effector and virulence associated

putative operon involved in virulence

srfABC

+

+

+

proteins

Outer membrane protease

sopA

+

-

-

Maintenance of virulence plasmid

mvpT

+

+

-

Virulence protein; regulator for acidic stress; integral membrane protein, outer membrane protein

msgA, phoPQ, mviN, ompX

+

+

+

Outer membrane invasion protein

pagC

+

-

+

Virulence associated protein

virK

-

+

+

Metabolism

Capsular polysaccharide systems

Capsular polysaccharide- biosynthesis

amsGHIABCDEFKL, galFE/cpsGHIABCDEFKL, galFE

+

+*

+*

Putative cps biosynthesis system

ymcABC

+

+

+

Regulators

rcsA, rcsB, rcsC, rcsF

+

+

+

Levan-metabolism

Levan synthesis

lsc

-

+

-

Regulators

rlsA, rlsB, rlsC

+

+

-

Sorbitol-Operon

Sorbitol uptake, metabolization

srlAEBDMR

+

-

+

Sucrose-Operon

Sucrose uptake, metabolization

scrKYABR

+

+

-

Non-ribosomal peptide synth.

Suggested phytotoxin

eppT

+

-

-

Adhesion & extracellular factors

Cell-influencing factors

Necrosis factors

cnf1, cnf2

+

+

-

Proteases

ptrA, ptrB

+

+

+

Siderophores

foxR, dfoA, alcA

+

+

(+)