Importance
D. dadantii has been associated with bacterial soft rot diseases of a majority of foliage plants, numerous flowering plants and many vegetables It is a major pathogen for many economic crops such as potatoes, banana and pineapple in addition to ornamental house plants.
In addition to the pathogen having important negative consequences, D. dadantii is being used for its positive contributions. Most nobel of its contributions is an enzyme, asparaginase, is being used in conjuction with other chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients who have had allergic reactions to E. coli derived asparaginase (Elspar or pegaspargase (Oncaspar). Secondly, with a strong governmental push towards increasing renewable fuel resources, D. dadantii is being studied for its utilization in ethanol fuel production and its ability to ferment and break down cell walls and pectins as a alternative to E. coli. Although not as effective as E. coli, some genes from D. dadantii were added to E. coli through genetic engineering to allow for pectin degradation by E. coli.
Read more about this topic: Erwinia Chrysanthemi
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