mSphere

ABSTRACT “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” (CLas) is associated with citrus huanglongbing, a severe disease with global importance that affects citrus production in Brazil. This study reports the first complete genome of a Brazilian strain of CLas. The genomic structure comparison of strain 9PA with those of 13 complete CLas genomes revealed 9,091 mismatches and 992 gaps/insertions, highlighting eight locally colinear blocks, among which six are in the prophage region. Phylogenetic analysis categorized 13 CLas genomes into two clusters with 9PA clustered with strains from China and the United States. Whole-genomic comparison identified diverse hypervariable genomic regions (HGRs). Three HGRs in the chromosomal region and three in the prophage region were selected and investigated by polymerase chain reaction. HGRs assessed from 68 samples, from medium- to high-huanglongbing incidence areas in Sao Paulo state, were grouped into haplotypes A to P. Haplotype A, which includes strain 9PA, is the second most prevalent, representing 19.1% of the samples. Haplotype B, the most common, accounts for 42.6%. Together with haplotype C, these make up 72% of the evaluated samples. The 9PA strain has prophage P-9PA-1, both integrated and circularized, and P-9PA-3, only found in a circularized form. Prophages show high identity with SC1 (83%) and P-JXGC-3 (98%). Co-occurrence of both type 1 and 3 prophages was observed in field samples. The approach employed provides insights into the Brazilian CLas population, providing markers for population studies and highlighting the prevalence of type 1 and 3 prophages in the population. IMPORTANCE CLas is a destructive pathogen responsible for causing the severe citrus disease known as huanglongbing. Our study presents the first fully sequenced Brazilian strain of CLas, designated as 9PA, and includes an analysis of two prophages occurring in this strain. The main objective of our research was to compare the genome features of this Brazilian strain with other fully sequenced genomes and to identify its hypervariable genetic regions. These regions were subsequently used to assess genomic variability within both the chromosomal and prophage regions in Brazilian isolates of CLas. Our findings offer valuable insights into the diversified adaptation of CLas.

Soil bacteria have been investigated for more than a century, but one of the most dominant terrestrial groups on Earth, “ Candidatus Udaeobacter,” remains elusive and largely unexplored. Its natural habitat is considered a major reservoir of antibiotics, which directly or indirectly impact phylogenetically diverse microorganisms. Here, we found that “ Ca. Udaeobacter” representatives exhibit multidrug resistance and not only evade harmful effects of antimicrobials but even benefit from antibiotic pressure in soil. Therefore, “ Ca. Udaeobacter” evidently affects the composition of soil resistomes worldwide and might represent a winner of rising environmental pollution with antimicrobials. In addition, our study indicates that “ Ca. Udaeobacter” representatives utilize H 2 and thereby contribute to global hydrogen cycling. The here-reported findings provide insights into elementary lifestyle features of “ Ca. Udaeobacter,” potentially contributing to its successful global dissemination.

Huanglongbing (HLB) disease is threatening citrus production worldwide. The causative agent is “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus.” Prior work using mapping-based approaches identified prophage-like sequences in some “ Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus” genomes but not all. Here, we utilized a de novo approach that expands the number of prophage-like elements found in “ Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus” from 16 to 33 and identified at least one prophage-like sequence in all “ Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus” strains. Furthermore, we identified a prophage-like sequence type that is a remnant of an integrated prophage—expanding the number of prophage types in “ Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus” from 3 to 4. Overall, the findings will help researchers investigate the role of prophage in the ecology, evolution, and pathogenicity of “ Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus.”

Host acquisition of a new microbial species can readily perturb the dynamics of preexisting microbial associations. Molecular cross talk between microbial associates may be necessary for efficient resource allocation and enhanced survival. Classic examples involve quorum sensing (QS), which detects population densities and is both used and coopted to control expression of bacterial genes, including host adaptation factors. We report that a 56-amino-acid repressor protein made by the resident psyllid endosymbiont Wolbachia can enter cells of Liberibacter crescens , a cultured proxy for the uncultured psyllid endosymbiont “ Ca . Liberibacter asiaticus” and repress “ Ca . Liberibacter asiaticus” phage lytic cycle genes. Such repression in “ Ca . Liberibacter asiaticus” may be critical to survival of both endosymbionts, since phage-mediated lysis would likely breach the immunogenic threshold of the psyllid, invoking a systemic and nonspecific innate immune reaction.