Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions®

‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (Las) is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen associated with citrus huanglongbing (HLB) or greening disease. Las is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) where it colonizes the phloem tissue, resulting in substantial economic losses to citrus industry worldwide. Despite extensive efforts, effective management strategies against HLB remain elusive, necessitating a deeper understanding of the pathogen’s biology. Las undergoes cell-to-cell movement through phloem flow and colonizes different tissues in which Las may have varying interactions with the host. Here, we investigate the transcriptomic landscape of Las in citrus seed coat vasculatures, enabling a complete gene expression profiling of Las genome and revealing unique transcriptomic patterns compared to previous studies using midrib tissues. Comparative transcriptomics between seed coat, midrib and ACP identified specific responses and metabolic states of Las in different host tissue. Two Las virulence factors that exhibit higher expression in seed coat can suppress callose deposition. Therefore, they may contribute to unclogging sieve plate pores during Las colonization in seed coat vasculature. Furthermore, analysis of regulatory elements uncovers a potential role of LuxR-type transcription factors in regulating Liberibacter effector gene expression during plant colonization. Together, this work provides novel insights into the pathogenesis of the devastating citrus HLB.

The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria trigger a nitrosative and oxidative burst in both animals and plants during pathogen invasion. Liberibacter crescens strain BT-1 is a surrogate for functional genomic studies of the uncultured pathogenic ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ spp. that are associated with severe diseases such as citrus greening and potato zebra chip. Structural determination of L. crescens LPS revealed the presence of a very long chain fatty acid modification. L. crescens LPS pretreatment suppressed growth of Xanthomonas perforans on nonhost tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) and X. citri subsp. citri on host orange (Citrus sinensis), confirming bioactivity of L. crescens LPS in activation of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). L. crescens LPS elicited a rapid burst of nitric oxide (NO) in suspension cultured tobacco cells. Pharmacological inhibitor assays confirmed that arginine-utilizing NO synthase (NOS) activity was the primary source of NO generation elicited by L. crescens LPS. LPS treatment also resulted in biological markers of NO-mediated SAR activation, including an increase in the glutathione pool, callose deposition, and activation of the salicylic acid and azelaic acid (AzA) signaling networks. Transient expression of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ bacterioferritin comigratory protein (BCP) peroxiredoxin in tobacco compromised AzA signaling, a prerequisite for LPS-triggered SAR. Western blot analyses revealed that ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ BCP peroxiredoxin prevented peroxynitrite-mediated tyrosine nitration in tobacco. ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ BCP peroxiredoxin (i) attenuates NO-mediated SAR signaling and (ii) scavenges peroxynitrite radicals, which would facilitate repetitive cycles of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ acquisition and transmission by fecund psyllids throughout the limited flush period in citrus. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Although the mitochondria retain all required enzymes for an intact tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, plants might shift the cyclic flux from the TCA cycle to an alternative noncyclic pathway via γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt under specific physiological conditions. We hypothesize that several genes may ease this noncyclic flux and contribute to the citrus response to the phytopathogenic bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, the causal agent of Huanglongbing in citrus. To test this hypothesis, we used multiomics techniques (metabolomics, fluxomics, and transcriptomics) to investigate the potential roles of putative gab homologies from Valencia sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). Our findings showed that ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ significantly increased the endogenous GABA and succinate content but decreased ketoglutarate in infected citrus plants. Citrus genome harbors three putative gab genes, including amino-acid permease (also known as GABA permease; CsgabP), GABA transaminase (CsgabT), and succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (also known as GABA dehydrogenase; CsgabD). The transcript levels of CsgabP, CsgabT, and CsgabD were upregulated in citrus leaves upon the infection with ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ and after the exogenous application of GABA or deuterium-labeled GABA isotope (GABA-D6). Moreover, our finding showed that exogenously applied GABA is quickly converted to succinate and fed into the TCA cycle. Likewise, the fluxomics study showed that GABA-D6 is rapidly metabolized to succinate-D4. Our work proved that GABA shunt and three predicated gab genes from citrus, support the upstream noncyclic flux toward succinate rather than an intact TCA cycle and contribute to citrus defense responses to ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

The interactions between the phloem-limited pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ haplotype C and carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) were studied at 4, 5, and 9 weeks postinoculation (wpi), by combining dual RNA-Seq results with data on bacterial colonization and observations of the plant phenotype. In the infected plants, genes involved in jasmonate biosynthesis, salicylate signaling, pathogen-associated molecular pattern- and effector-triggered immunity, and production of pathogenesis-related proteins were up-regulated. At 4 wpi, terpenoid synthesis-related genes were up-regulated, presumably as a response to the psyllid feeding, whereas at 5 and 9 wpi, genes involved in both the terpenoid and flavonoid production were down-regulated and phenylpropanoid genes were up-regulated. Chloroplast-related gene expression was down-regulated, in concordance with the observed yellowing of the infected plant leaves. Both the RNA-Seq data and electron microscopy suggested callose accumulation in the infected phloem vessels, likely to impair the transport of photosynthates, while phloem regeneration was suggested by the formation of new sieve cells and the upregulation of cell wall–related gene expression. The ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ genes involved in replication, transcription, and translation were expressed at high levels at 4 and 5 wpi, whereas, at 9 wpi, the Flp pilus genes were highly expressed, suggesting adherence and reduced mobility of the bacteria. The ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ genes encoding ATP and C4-dicarboxylate uptake were differentially expressed between the early and late infection stages, suggesting a change in the dependence on different host-derived energy sources. HPE1 effector and salicylate hydroxylase were expressed, presumably to suppress host cell death and salicylic acid-dependent defenses during the infection. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Sec-delivered effector 1 (SDE1) from the huanglongbing (HLB)-associated bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ was previously characterized as an inhibitor of defense-related, papain-like cysteine proteases in vitro and in planta. Here, we investigated the contributions of SDE1 to HLB progression. We found that SDE1 expression in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana caused severe yellowing in mature leaves, reminiscent of both ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ infection symptoms and accelerated leaf senescence. Induction of senescence signatures was also observed in the SDE1-expressing A. thaliana lines. These signatures were apparent in older leaves but not in seedlings, suggesting an age-associated effect. Furthermore, independent lines of transgenic Citrus paradisi (L.) Macfadyen (Duncan grapefruit) that express SDE1 exhibited hypersusceptibility to ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’. Similar to A. thaliana, transgenic citrus expressing SDE1 showed altered expression of senescence-associated genes, but only after infection with ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’. These findings suggest that SDE1 is a virulence factor that contributes to HLB progression, likely by inducing premature or accelerated senescence in citrus. This work provides new insight into HLB pathogenesis. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB), caused by phloem-limited ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ bacteria, is a destructive disease threatening the worldwide citrus industry. The mechanisms of pathogenesis are poorly understood and no efficient strategy is available to control HLB. Here, we used a comparative genomics screen to identify candidate microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) from ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ spp. We identified the core genome from multiple ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ pathogens, and searched for core genes with signatures of positive selection. We hypothesized that genes encoding putative MAMPs would evolve to reduce recognition by the plant immune system, while retaining their essential functions. To efficiently screen candidate MAMP peptides, we established a high-throughput microtiter plate-based screening assay, particularly for citrus, that measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which is a common immune response in plants. We found that two peptides could elicit ROS production in Arabidopsis and Nicotiana benthamiana. One of these peptides elicited ROS production and defense gene expression in HLB-tolerant citrus genotypes, and induced MAMP-triggered immunity against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Our findings identify MAMPs that boost immunity in citrus and could help prevent or reduce HLB infection.

Phytoplasmas are the causative agent of numerous diseases of plant species all over the world, including important food crops. The mode by which phytoplasmas multiply and behave in their host is poorly understood and often based on genomic data. We used yeast two-hybrid screening to find new protein–protein interactions between the causal agent of apple proliferation ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ and its host plant. Here, we report that the ‘Ca. P. mali’ strain PM19 genome encodes a protein PM19_00185 that interacts with at least six different ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (UBC; E2) of Arabidopsis thaliana. An in vitro ubiquitination assay showed that PM19_00185 is enzymatically active as E3 ligase with A. thaliana E2 UBC09 and Malus domestica E2 UBC10. We show that a nonhost bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci) can grow in transgenic A. thaliana plant lines expressing PM19_00185. A connection of phytoplasma effector proteins with the proteasome proteolytic pathway has been reported before. However, this is, to our knowledge, the first time that a phytoplasma effector protein with E3 ligase activity has been reported.

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most destructive diseases affecting citrus plants. ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, an uncultivated α-proteobacteria, is the most widely spread causal agent of HLB and is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri. ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ attachment to the psyllid midgut is believed to be critical to further infect other organs, including the salivary gland. In this study, the type IVc tight adherence (Tad) pilus locus encoded by ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ was characterized. The Tad loci are conserved among members of Rhizobiaceae, including ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ and Agrobacterium spp. Ectopic expression of the ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ cpaF gene, an ATPase essential for the biogenesis and secretion of the Tad pilus, restored the adherence phenotype in cpaF mutant of A. tumefaciens, indicating CpaF of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ was functional and critical for bacterial adherence mediated by Tad pilus. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ Tad pilus-encoding genes and ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ pilin gene flp3 were upregulated in psyllids compared with in planta. A bacterial one-hybrid assay showed that ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ VisN and VisR, members of the LuxR transcriptional factor family, were bound to the flp3 promoter. VisNR regulate flp3. Negative regulation of the flp3 promoter by both VisN and VisR was demonstrated using a shuttle strategy, with analysis of the phenotypes and immunoblotting together with quantification of the expression of the flp3 promoter fused to the β-galactosidase reporter gene. Comparative expression analysis confirmed that ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ visNR was less expressed in the psyllid than in the plant host. Further, motility and biofilm phenotypes of the visNR mutant of A. tumefaciens were fully complemented by expressing ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ visNR together. The physical interaction between VisN and VisR was confirmed by pull-down and stability assays. The interaction of the flp3 promoter with VisR was verified by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Taken together, the results revealed the contribution of the Tad pilus apparatus in the colonization of the insect vector by ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ and shed light on the involvement of VisNR in regulation of the Tad locus.

Huanglongbing (HLB), a destructive citrus disease, is associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, which is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri. Both ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ and its vector manipulate the host metabolism for their benefit, to meet their nutritional needs and neutralize the host defense responses. We used a targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry–based method to explore the connection between the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt, and polyamines (PAs) pathways in citrus. ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ and D. citri accelerated the conversion of α-ketoglutarate to glutamate, then to GABA, causing an accumulation of GABA in the cytosol. In silico analysis showed that the citrus genome possesses a putative GABA permease that connects the GABA shunt with the TCA cycle and supports the accumulation of succinate, fumarate, and citrate. Additionally, the PAs biosynthetic pathway might be connected directly to the TCA cycle, through the production of fumarate, or indirectly, via enhancement of GABA shunt. Taken together, we suggest that GABA shunt and PAs pathways are alternative pathways that contribute to the flux toward succinate rather than an intact TCA cycle in citrus. Both ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ and its vector enhance these pathways. This study provides more insights into citrus responses to the HLB pathosystem and could be a further step toward clues for understanding the nutritional needs of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’, which could help in culturing ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’.

The oxidative (H2O2) burst is a seminal feature of the basal plant defense response to attempted pathogen invasions. In ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ UF506, expression of the SC2 prophage-encoded secreted peroxidase (F489_gp15) increases bacterial fitness and delays symptom progression in citrus. Two chromosomal 1-Cys peroxiredoxin genes, CLIBASIA_RS00940 (Lasprx5) and CLIBASIA_RS00445 (Lasbcp), are conserved among all sequenced ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains, including those lacking prophages. Both LasBCP and LasdPrx5 have only a single conserved peroxidatic Cys (CP/SH) and lack the resolving Cys (CR/SH). Lasprx5 appeared to be a housekeeping gene with similar moderate transcript abundance in both ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’–infected psyllids and citrus. By contrast, Lasbcp was expressed only in planta, similar to the expression of the SC2 peroxidase. Since ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ is uncultured, Lasbcp and Lasprx5 were functionally validated in a cultured surrogate species, Liberibacter crescens, and both genes significantly increased oxidative stress tolerance and cell viability in culture. LasBCP was nonclassically secreted and, in L. crescens, conferred 214-fold more resistance to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH) than wild type. Transient overexpression of Lasbcp in tobacco suppressed H2O2-mediated transcriptional activation of RbohB, the key gatekeeper of the systemic plant defense signaling cascade. Lasbcp expression did not interfere with the perception of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ flagellin (flg22Las) but interrupted the downstream activation of RbohB and stereotypical deposition of callose in tobacco. Critically, LasBCP also protected against tBOOH-induced peroxidative degradation of lipid membranes in planta, preventing subsequent accumulation of antimicrobial oxylipins that can also trigger the localized hypersensitive cell death response.