Publications

4475

AbstractThe evolution of insect vector‐pathogen relationships has long been of interest in the field of molecular ecology. One system of special relevance, due to its economic impacts, is that between Diaphorina citri and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), the cause of the severe Asian form of huanglongbing. CLas‐positive D. citri are more fecund than their CLas‐negative counterparts, boosting opportunities for pathogens to acquire new vector hosts. The molecular mechanism behind this life‐history shift remains unclear. Here, we found that CLas promoted ovarian development and increased the expression of the vitellogenin receptor (DcVgR) in ovaries. DcVgR RNAi significantly decreased fecundity and CLas titer in ovaries, extended the preoviposition period, shortened the oviposition period and blocked ovarian development. Given their importance in gene regulation, we explored the role of miRNAs in shaping these phenotypes and their molecular triggers. Our results showed that one miRNA, miR‐275, suppressed DcVgR expression by binding to its 3' UTR. Overexpression of miR‐275 knocked down DcVgR expression and CLas titer in ovaries, causing reproductive defects that mimicked DcVgR knockdown phenotypes. We focused, further, on roles of the Juvenile Hormone (JH) pathway in shaping the observed fecundity phenotype, given its known impacts on ovarian development. After CLas infection, this pathway was upregulated, thereby increasing DcVgR expression. From these combined results, we conclude that CLas hijacks the JH signalling pathway and miR‐275, thereby targeting DcVgR to increase D. citri fecundity. These changes simultaneously increase CLas replication, suggesting a pathogen‐vector host mutualism, or a seemingly helpful, but cryptically costly life‐history manipulation.

AbstractIncreasing incidences of phytoplasma infestations in Almond trees warrants the better management approach to prevent yield losses. Disease management rely on identification of the pathogen based on molecular profiling. The present study aimed, to identify the phytoplasma agent in almond trees and to measure the biochemical responses it causes in the host. Direct and Nested PCRs performed using phytoplasma specific primer pairs 16S rRNA, detected the presence of phytoplasma agent in symptomatic trees but not in symptomless trees. Phylogeny based on the sequence analysis revealed that the infecting agent was closely related to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’ (16SrIX‐B subgroup). Then the study was carried out to determine the responses of physiological and biochemical mechanisms in almond trees infected with phytoplasma. Total chlorophyll and protein contents of infected almond trees were lower compared to healthy control, on the other hand, the levels of catalase and peroxidase activity increased in infected trees. Higher levels of stress‐related metabolites such as proline (20.53–39.23 μmol/g), phenol (3.00–4.44 mg GAE/g), salicylic (94.96–138.22 ng SA/mg protein) and jasmonic acid (965.86–1465.10 ng JA/mg protein) were observed in infected trees compared to asymptomatic trees, respectively in healthy and infected trees. The results showed that the Ca. P. phoenicium, which was detected for the first time in Türkiye, was able to change the physiological and biochemical mechanisms. The pathogenic agent could possess a potential danger in almond production areas. It is crucially important that this agent should be considered in certification programs.

The potato/tomato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc), is among the most important pests of solanaceous crops as a vector of the pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso). Lso-infected psyllids often arrive in crop fields from various wild species of Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae, especially those that provide early-season hosts for the vector. Physalis species are perennial plants within the family Solanaceae with often broad geographical distributions that overlap those of B. cockerelli, yet the status of many Physalis species as hosts for B. cockerelli or Lso remains unknown. Our objective was to determine whether wild Physalis species that occur in the potato-growing region of Galeana, Nuevo León, Mexico, host B. cockerelli populations and whether they also are susceptible to Lso. Sampling was carried out in the potato-growing zone of Galeana, Nuevo León, Mexico, where unidentified Physalis spp. are common. In March to October 2021, a wild plant identified as Physalis virginiana was observed; eggs, nymphs, and adults of B. cockerelli were observed on these plants throughout the growing season, and nymphs completed development on these plants under laboratory conditions. Lso also was detected in 22 of the 93 (23.7%) wild P. virginiana plants using conventional PCR, while 13.3% of B. cockerelli adults that emerged from P. virginiana cuttings harbored the pathogen. This is the first report that P. virginiana is a host for B. cockerelli and for Lso. These results suggest that P. virginiana is a likely source of Lso-infected psyllids colonizing solanaceous crops in northeastern Mexico. The importance of P. virginiana and other wild hosts on the population dynamics of the vector and pathogen should be investigated to assist in pest management decision-making.

This survey presents the first precise records of Leucomigus candidatus candidatus (Pallas, 1781) in Romania, confirming thus the presence of this species almost a century after its first and single record. Furthermore, ecology, habitat preference and distribution are discussed. We illustrate this taxon with high quality macro photographs, including the male genitalia with the everted and inflated endophallus. Comparative plates with similar-looking species are provided. New localities from Romania and Republic of Moldova are recorded for Cleonis pigra (Scopoli, 1763) and Cyphocleonus dealbatus (Gmelin, 1790).

ABSTRACT Filamentous Chloroflexota are abundant in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) worldwide and are occasionally associated with poor solid-liquid separation or foaming, but most of the abundant lineages remain undescribed. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of Chloroflexota abundant in WWTPs worldwide, using high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and 16S rRNA amplicon data from 740 Danish and global WWTPs. Many novel taxa were described, encompassing 4 families, 13 genera, and 29 novel species. These were widely distributed across most continents, influenced by factors such as climate zone and WWTP process design. Visualization by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed their high abundances in many WWTPs based on the amplicon data and showed a filamentous morphology for nearly all species. Most formed thin and short trichomes integrated into the floc structure, unlikely to form the typical inter-floc bridging that hinders activated sludge floc settling. Metabolic reconstruction of 53 high-quality MAGs, representing most of the novel genera, offered further insights into their versatile metabolisms and suggested a primary role in carbon removal and involvement in nitrogen cycling. The presence of glycogen reserves, detected by FISH-Raman microspectroscopy, seemed widespread across the phylum, demonstrating that these bacteria likely utilize glycogen as energy storage to survive periods with limited resources. This study gives a broad overview of the Chloroflexota community in global activated sludge WWTPs and improves our understanding of their roles in these engineered ecosystems. IMPORTANCE Chloroflexota are often abundant members of the biomass in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) worldwide, typically with a filamentous morphology, forming the backbones of the activated sludge floc. However, their overgrowth can often cause operational issues connected to poor settling or foaming, impairing effluent quality and increasing operational costs. Despite their importance, few Chloroflexota genera have been characterized so far. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of Chloroflexota abundant in WWTPs worldwide and an in-depth characterization of their morphology, phylogeny, and ecophysiology, obtaining a broad understanding of their ecological role in activated sludge.