Publications

4874

AbstractBACKGROUNDHuanglongbing (HLB) is a systemic disease of citrus caused by the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) that limits citrus production worldwide. CLas is an obligate bacterial pathogen that multiplies in citrus trees and in the insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. There is no cure for HLB currently and broad‐spectrum antibiotics represent one possible therapeutic against disease symptoms. Single‐stranded nucleic acid analogs, 2′‐deoxy‐2’‐Fluoro‐β‐D‐arabinonucleic antisense oligonucleotides (FANA ASOs), can modulate gene expression by enzymatic degradation or steric blocking of an RNA target. FANA ASOs recognize and bind to specific RNA forms, including mRNA, miRNA and long noncoding RNA, through complementary base‐pairing.RESULTSInjection of oxytetracycline (OTC) into mature citrus trees with HLB ameliorated symptoms of disease, increased fruit yield and quality of juice as compared with that produced by noninjected controls. Injection of trees with FANA ASOs reduced CLas abundance but did not improve fruit yield and quality above control levels at the injection dosage tested. Reduced pathogen relative abundance following OTC injection was coincident with lower CLas acquisition and inoculation by laboratory deployed and wild‐type D. citri collected from the field, respectively. However, injections of FANA ASOs did not consistently reduce CLas transmission as compared with noninjected controls.CONCLUSIONSTrunk injection of OTC may be useful in management of HLB by reducing CLas infection in trees and disrupting transmission. However, more research is needed to verify the potential usefulness of FANA ASOs. Optimizing FANA ASO dosage in trees and exploring the potential of multiplex FANA ASOs that simultaneously target multiple mRNAs could possibly enhance their efficacy against CLas. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys has become an invasive insect pest of many crops. A promising control strategy to manage the proliferation of H. halys is based on the suppression of its obligate and vertically transmitted uncultivated symbiotic bacterium Candidatus Pantoea carbekii through surface‐sterilization of H. halys eggs. Indeed, the application of antimicrobial formulations on the eggs of H. halys could cause mortality of endosymbiont and consequently of newly emerged nymphs.In this study, a microbial live/dead assay was applied directly on H. halys eggs to evaluate Ca. P. carbekii loss of viability after treatments with seven commercial formulations including fungicides (copper hydroxide, sulphur, sweet orange essential oil) and plant biostimulants (flavonoids and chestnut tannin extract) compared with two disinfectants for civil and industrial use (sodium hypochlorite/hydrated sodium/tetraborate decahydrate and peracetic acid/hydrogen peroxide). Impact of mode of application was also evaluated, as surface treatment of egg masses was performed through spraying and dipping in laboratory conditions. Antimicrobial activity data were finally complemented with observations of egg hatching and vitality of the nymphs.RESULTSThe optimization of live/dead staining is useful for evaluating Ca. P. carbekii mortality directly on eggs, providing a rapid and reliable culture‐independent approach. Sodium hypochlorite, copper, sulphur, tannins and sweet orange essential oil showed an antimicrobial effect against Ca. P. carbekii and a H. halys egg hatching reduction and nymph's vitality.CONCLUSIONSThe antimicrobial and insecticidal effects of these commercial products should be further studied to assess their in‐field efficiency as well as the impact of these substances on non‐target organisms. The approach followed in this study could be considered a robust pipeline of analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of antimicrobial eco‐friendly compounds in symbiotic control of H. halys. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

AbstractBACKGROUNDHuanglongbing (HLB) is the primary and most destructive disease affecting citrus, caused by a pathogen transmitted by an insect vector, Diaphorina citri. There are no curative methods for the disease, and rapid and accurate methods are needed for early detection in the field, even before symptoms appear. These will facilitate the faster removal of infected trees, preventing the spread of the bacteria through commercial citrus orchards.RESULTSIt was possible to determine ranges of hyperspectral bands that demonstrated significant differences in relative reflectance between treatments consisting of healthy and infected plants from the first days of evaluation, when plants infected with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) were still in the asymptomatic stage of the disease. From the Week 2 of evaluation [58 days after infection (DAI) of plants] until the last week, spectral differences were detected in the red edge region (660–750 nm). From the Week 6 onwards (86 DAI), spectral differences between healthy and symptomatic plants were observed in bands close to the visible region (520–680 nm).CONCLUSIONSpectral differences were detected in the leaves of C. sinensis infected by CLas before the appearance of symptoms, making it feasible to use the hyperspectral sensor to monitor the disease. Our results indicate the need for future studies to validate the use of hyperspectral sensors for managing and detecting HLB in commercial citrus orchards, contributing to the integrated management of the disease. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

ABSTRACT Various morphotypes of large filamentous bacteria were isolated through micromanipulation from sulphidic sediment mats in the Bay of Concepción, central Chile. This study employed DNA amplification, whole‐genome sequencing and bioinformatics analyses to unveil the taxonomic and genomic features of previously unidentified bacteria. The results revealed several novel genera, families and species, including three specimens belonging to Beggiatoales (Beggiatoaceae family), five to Desulfobacterales (Desulfobacteraceae family), two to the Chloroflexi phylum and one to the phylum Firmicutes. Metabolically, Beggiatoaceae bacteria exhibit a flexible and versatile genomic repertoire, enabling them to adapt to variable conditions at the sediment–water interface. All the bacteria demonstrated a mixotrophic mode, gaining energy from both inorganic and organic carbon sources. Except for the Firmicutes bacterium, all others displayed the ability to grow chemolithoautotrophically using H 2 and CO 2 . Remarkably, the reverse tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) and Calvin–Benson–Bassham (CBB) pathways coexisted in one Beggiatoaceae bacterium. Additionally, various defence systems, such as CRISPR‐Cas, along with evidence of viral interactions, have been identified. These defence mechanisms suggest that large filamentous bacteria inhabiting sulphidic sediments frequently encounter bacteriophages. Thus, robust defence mechanisms coupled with multicellularity may determine the survival or death of these large bacteria.

Opinion 131 addresses a Request for an Opinion asking the Judicial Commission to conserve the genus name Proteus Hauser 1885 (Approved Lists 1980) over its earlier homonym, the protozoan genus name Proteus Müller 1786. The Judicial Commission agrees that the later homonym is illegitimate and that the replacement of the prokaryotic name Proteus would be undesirable. It is also concluded that Proteus Müller 1786 is an objectively invalid name under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Judicial Opinions 9, 12 and 130 serve as precedents for the conservation of Proteus Hauser 1885 (Approved Lists 1980) over Proteus Müller 1786. This action is taken here and makes the prokaryotic name Proteus legitimate.