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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.08.19.671007

Exosome-mediated delivery of microRNAs by root-knot nematodes

Maxwell, W.·Papp, A.·Rohilla, B.·Simpson, C.·Fuller, M.·Roychoudhry, S.·Bell, C. A.
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Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes secrete molecules to manipulate their hosts, but little is known about their mode of delivery and packaging. Here, we describe microRNA-containing exosomes that are secreted by root-knot nematodes and systemically increase host susceptibility. By revealing a novel mode of nematode-plant communication, our findings outline a mechanism for the delivery of nematode patho-molecules, offering a new target for disrupting parasitism at the level of vesicle-mediated delivery.

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Maxwell, W., Papp, A., Rohilla, B., Simpson, C., Fuller, M., Roychoudhry, S., Bell, C. A.. 2025-08-23. Exosome-mediated delivery of microRNAs by root-knot nematodes. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.19.671007

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