Wulff, Nelson Arno

The occurrence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ spp. and ‘Ca. Phytoplasma’ spp. associated with blotchy mottle symptoms poses challenges to huanglongbing (HLB) diagnosis using molecular techniques. The ability to detect multiple targets simultaneously and specifically is a key aspect met by qPCR. A set of primers and hydrolysis probes useful either in single or multiplex reactions for the detection and quantification of HLB-associated bacteria were developed. Sequences from conserved genes of the ribosomal proteins for Liberibacter and phytoplasma circumvent the lack of specificity and cross-reactivity problems related to 16S rDNA gene amplification, allowing precise and specific detection of HLB-associated bacteria in citrus and in the Liberibacter vector, Diaphorina citri. The triplex reaction exhibited high quality and precision as a robust tool for quantifying ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ (CLas), ‘Ca. L. americanus’ (CLam) and 16SrIX phytoplasma. Triplex qPCR showed consistent results and comparable sensitivity to the RNR test, though Cq values were higher when compared to 16S rDNA qPCR. Detection tests using field samples indicate that the qPCR triplex can identify HLB-associated bacteria in samples with varying levels of symptoms, ranging from typical to asymptomatic. Assessment of field samples from growers indicated more than 78.6% had Cq lower than 35.0, below the cut-off established for qPCR reactions used in this work. qPCR triplex is a safe, specific, and sufficiently sensitive technique for detecting CLas, CLam and 16Sr IX phytoplasma simultaneously, in both citrus and D. citri samples. Its application is of importance in assisting growers in making decisions for HLB management.

An updated real-time multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was designed and validated for the simultaneous detection of three ‘ Candidatus Liberibacter species’ (CLsp), ‘ Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), ‘africanus’ (CLaf), and ‘americanus’ (CLam), associated with the huanglongbing disease of citrus. The multiplex assay was designed based on the qPCR assay published in 2006 by Li et al., considering all available CLsp 16S rRNA gene sequences in GenBank and the MIQE guidelines and workflow for qPCR optimization, which became available after 2006. When using the updated multiplex CLsp qPCR assay compared with singleplex qPCR, no significant increase in quantitative cycle (Cq) values was detected. The specificity and sensitivity of the updated qPCR assay was optimal, and measuring the intra- and interassay variations confirmed the reproducibility and repeatability of the assay. The assay was also successfully used with a large number of diverse samples at independent laboratories in four countries, thus demonstrating its transferability, applicability, practicability, and robustness as different qPCR reaction conditions or instruments had a minor effect on Cq values. This updated multiplex CLsp qPCR assay can be used in a variety of citrus surveys, germplasm, or nursery stock programs that require different pathogen detection tools for their successful operation. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

In Brazil, citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’ (CLam) and ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas). However, there are few studies about HLB epidemiology when both Liberibacter spp. and its insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Diaphorina citri), are present. The objective of this work was to compare the transmission of HLB by ACP when both CLam and CLas are present as primary inoculum. Two experiments were performed under screenhouse conditions from April 2008 to January 2012 (experiment 1) and from February 2011 to December 2015 (experiment 2). The experiments were carried out with sweet orange plants infected with CLam or CLas as inoculum source surrounded by sweet orange healthy plants. One hundred Liberibacter-free adult psyllids were monthly confined to the source of inoculum plants for 7 days with subsequent free movement inside the screenhouse. Fortnightly, nymphs and adults of psyllids were monitored. Psyllid and leaf samples were collected periodically for Liberibacter detection by PCR or quantitative PCR. CLas was detected more frequently than CLam in both psyllid and leaf samples. No mixed infections were detected in the psyllids. A clear prevalence of CLas over CLam was observed in both experiments. The final HLB incidences were 16.7 and 14.5% of Liberibacter-positive test plants, and CLas was detected in 92.3 and 93.1% of these infected plants. Mixed infection was observed only in 3.8% of infected test plants in experiment 1. These results endorse the shift in the prevalence of CLam to CLas observed in citrus orchards of São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract Background Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is one the causative agents of greening disease in citrus, an unccurable, devastating disease of citrus worldwide. CLas is vectored by Diaphorina citri, and the understanding of the molecular interplay between vector and pathogen will provide additional basis for the development and implementation of successful management strategies. We focused in the molecular interplay occurring in the gut of the vector, a major barrier for CLas invasion and colonization. Results We investigated the differential expression of vector and CLas genes by analyzing a de novo reference metatranscriptome of the gut of adult psyllids fed of CLas-infected and healthy citrus plants for 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 days. CLas regulates the immune response of the vector affecting the production of reactive species of oxygen and nitrogen, and the production of antimicrobial peptides. Moreover, CLas overexpressed peroxiredoxin, probably in a protective manner. The major transcript involved in immune expression was related to melanization, a CLIP-domain serine protease we believe participates in the wounding of epithelial cells damaged during infection, which is supported by the down-regulation of pangolin. We also detected that CLas modulates the gut peristalsis of psyllids through the down-regulation of titin, reducing the elimination of CLas with faeces. The up-regulation of the neuromodulator arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase implies CLas also interferes with the double brain-gut communication circuitry of the vector. CLas colonizes the gut by expressing two Type IVb pilin flp genes and several chaperones that can also function as adhesins. We hypothesized biofilm formation occurs by the expression of the cold shock protein of CLas. Conclusions The thorough detailed analysis of the transcritome of Ca. L. asiaticus and of D. citri at different time points of their interaction in the gut tissues of the host led to the identification of several host genes targeted for regulation by L. asiaticus, but also bacterial genes coding for potential effector proteins. The identified targets and effector proteins are potential targets for the development of new management strategies directed to interfere with the successful utilization of the psyllid vector by this pathogen.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, is the vector of the bacterium “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” (Las), associated with the devastating, worldwide citrus disease huanglongbing. In order to explore the molecular interactions of this bacterium with D. citri during the vector acquisition process, cDNA libraries were sequenced on an Illumina platform, obtained from the gut of adult psyllids confined in healthy (H) and in Las-infected young shoots (Las) for different periods of times (I = 1/2 days, II = 3/4 days, and III = 5/6 days). In each sampling time, three biological replicates were collected, containing 100 guts each, totaling 18 libraries depleted in ribosomal RNA. Reads were quality-filtered and mapped against the Chinese JXGC Las strain and the Floridian strain UF506 for the analysis of the activity of Las genome and SC1, SC2, and type 3 (P-JXGC-3) prophages of the studied Las strain. Gene activity was considered only if reads of at least two replicates for each acquisition access period mapped against the selected genomes, which resulted in coverages of 44.4, 79.9, and 94.5% of the JXGC predicted coding sequences in Las I, Las II, and Las III, respectively. These genes indicate an active metabolism and increased expression according to the feeding time in the following functional categories: energy production, amino acid metabolism, signal translation, cell wall, and replication and repair of genetic material. Pilins were among the most highly expressed genes regardless of the acquisition time, while only a few genes from cluster I of flagella were not expressed. Furthermore, the prophage region had a greater coverage of reads for SC1 and P-JXGC-3 prophages and low coverage in SC2 and no indication of activity for the lysis cycle. This research presents the first descriptive analysis of Las transcriptome in the initial steps of the D. citri gut colonization, where 95% of Las genes were active.

AbstractCandidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is one the causative agents of greening disease in citrus, an unccurable, devastating disease of citrus worldwide. CLas is vectored by Diaphorina citri, and the understanding of the molecular interplay between vector and pathogen will provide additional basis for the development and implementation of successful management strategies. We focused in the molecular interplay occurring in the gut of the vector, a major barrier for CLas invasion and colonization. We investigated the differential expression of vector and CLas genes by analyzing a de novo reference metatranscriptome of the gut of adult psyllids fed of CLas-infected and healthy citrus plants for 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 days. CLas regulates the immune response of the vector affecting the production of reactive species of oxygen and nitrogen, and the production of antimicrobial peptides. Moreover, CLas overexpressed peroxiredoxin in a protective manner. The major transcript involved in immune expression was related to melanization, a CLIP-domain serine protease we believe participates in the wounding of epithelial cells damaged during infection, which is supported by the down-regulation of pangolin. We also detected that CLas modulates the gut peristalsis of psyllids through the down-regulation of titin, reducing the elimination of CLas with faeces. The up-regulation of the neuromodulator arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase implies CLas also interferes with the double brain-gut communication circuitry of the vector. CLas colonizes the gut by expressing two Type IVb pilin flp genes and several chaperones that can also function as adhesins. We hypothesized biofil formation occurs by the expression of the cold shock protein of CLas. We also describe the interplay during cell invasion and modification, and propose mechanisms CLas uses to invade the host hemocel. We identified several specific targets for the development of strategies directed to interfere with the successful utilization of the psyllid vector by this pathogen.Author SummaryHuanglongbing (HLB) or greening is an incurable disease causing severe damage to citrus production, making citrus industrial activity unsustainable in several countries around the world. HLB is caused by three species of Candidatus Liberibacter. Ca. L. asiaticus (CLas), vectored by the psyllid Diaphorina citri, is the prevalent species. Attempts to apply new technologies in the development of strategies for disease and pest management are been made. However, we still miss basic information on this system to efficiently apply the current technologies and envisage the implementation of new approaches for pest control, despite the relevant scientific contribution available. One major gap is regarded to the molecular interplay between CLas and its vector. We focused our attention in the molecular interplay occurring at the first relevant interaction of CLas and D. citri, represented by the gut barrier. We report the transcriptional activity of CLas during the invasion and establishment of the infection in the gut of the vector, as well as the transcriptional activity of the vector in response to the infection. We identified several host genes that are targeted and regulated by CLas as well as several CLas genes that are promising targets for the application of new management strategies.

‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, an unculturable α-proteobacterium, is associated with citrus huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating disease threatening citrus production in Brazil and worldwide. In this study, a draft whole-genome sequence of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strain 9PA from a sweet orange (cultivar Pera) tree collected in São Paulo State, Brazil, is reported. The 9PA genome is 1,231,881 bp, including two prophages, with G+C content of 36.7%. This is the first report of a whole-genome sequence of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ from Brazil or South America. The 9PA genome sequence will enrich ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ genome resources and facilitate HLB research and control in Brazil and the world.

Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is a phloem-limited bacterium that is associated with the Huanglongbing (HLB) disease of citrus and transmitted by the psyllid, Diaphorina citri. There are no curative methods to control HLB and the prevention of new infections is essential for HLB management. Therefore, the objective of our study was to determine the effects of systemic insecticides, such as the neonicotinoids imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and a mixture of thiamethoxam and chlorantraniliprole (diamide) on the probing behavior of CLas-infected D. citri and their effect on CLas transmission. The electrical penetration graph (EPG-DC) technique was used to monitor the stylet penetration activities of CLas-infected D. citri on sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] ‘Valencia’ treated with systemic insecticides. Systemic insecticides disrupted the probing behavior of CLas-infected D. citri, in a way that affected CLas transmission efficiency, particularly by negatively affecting the stylet activities related to the phloem phase. All insecticides reduced (by 57–73%) the proportion of psyllids that exhibited sustainable phloem ingestion (waveform E2 > 10 min), with significant differences observed on plants treated with thiamethoxam and thiamethoxam + chlorantraniliprole. The transmission rate of CLas with high inoculum pressure (five CLas-infected D. citri per plant and a seven-day inoculation access period) to untreated control plants was 93%. In contrast, CLas transmission was reduced to 38.8% when test plants were protected by systemic insecticides. Our results indicated that all insecticides tested presented a potential to reduce CLas inoculation by an average of 59%; therefore, these insecticides can be used to reduce the spread of HLB.

‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ is the most common huanglongbing-associated bacteria, being present in Asia, South, Central, and North America. Genomic approaches enabled sequencing of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ genomes, allowing for a broader assessment of its genetic variability with the application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tools such as microsatellite or short tandem repeat (STR) analysis. Although these tools contributed to a detailed analysis of strains from Japan, China, and the United States, Brazilian strains were analyzed in either too few samples with several STRs or in several strains with only a single microsatellite and a single PCR marker. We used 573 ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains, mainly collected from São Paulo State (SPS), in our genetic analyses, employing three STRs and several prophage PCR markers. STR revealed a homogeneous population regardless of sampling year or geographic regions of SPS. Thirty-eight haplotypes were recognized with a predominance of VNTR_005 higher than 10 repeats, with VNTR_002 and VNTR_077 containing 11 and 8 repeats, respectively. This haplotype is indicated as class HE, which comprised 80.28% of strains. Classes HA and HB, predominant in Florida, were not found. A new genomic organization in the junction of prophages SC2 and SC1 is prevalent in Brazilian strains, indicating gene rearrangement and a widespread occurrence of a type 1 prophage as well as the presence of a type 2-like prophage. Our results indicate that ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ populations are homogeneous and harbor a new genomic organization in prophages type 1 and 2.