| A novel strain of the organism Serratia plymuthica has shown inhibitory effects against Phytophthora erythroseptica. P. erythroseptica is a chytrid fungus known to cause wilt and pink rot in tubers. We have identified four virulence factors (outer membrane protein A (OmpA), extracellular serine protease (ESP), hemolysin 1, and hemolysin 2 from the spent media of the isolate which may account for the inhibition. The spent medium was sent to Boise State University for proteomic sequencing. Utilizing bioinformatic methods to identify the proteins detected and their underlying gene sequence of a closely related genome, we designed PCR primers to amplify the top candidate genes. Utilizing various cloning systems (pBAD TOPO TA, pUC18, and aLICator), we were able to identify the correct vector-host combination that enabled us to clone three of the four gene targets. Additionally, we have transformed recombinant plasmid DNA into an expression host and preliminary expression experiments have been conducted. |