scholarly journals Lessons from One Fastidious Bacterium to Another: What Can We Learn about Liberibacter Species from Xylella fastidiosa

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Kruse ◽  
Laura A. Fleites ◽  
Michelle Heck
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Control Plant ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Potential Applicability ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter

Huanglongbing is causing economic devastation to the citrus industry in Florida, and threatens the industry everywhere the bacterial pathogens in the Candidatus Liberibacter genus and their insect vectors are found. Bacteria in the genus cannot be cultured and no durable strategy is available for growers to control plant infection or pathogen transmission. However, scientists and grape growers were once in a comparable situation after the emergence of Pierce’s disease, which is caused by Xylella fastidiosa and spread by its hemipteran insect vector. Proactive quarantine and vector control measures coupled with interdisciplinary data-driven science established control of this devastating disease and pushed the frontiers of knowledge in the plant pathology and vector biology fields. Our review highlights the successful strategies used to understand and control X. fastidiosa and their potential applicability to the liberibacters associated with citrus greening, with a focus on the interactions between bacterial pathogen and insect vector. By placing the study of Candidatus Liberibacter spp. within the current and historical context of another fastidious emergent plant pathogen, future basic and applied research to develop control strategies can be prioritized.

scholarly journals Controlling the Spatial Spread of a Xylella Epidemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Aniţa ◽  
Vincenzo Capasso ◽  
Simone Scacchi
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Olive Tree ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Spatial Spread ◽  
Olive Trees

AbstractIn a recent paper by one of the authors and collaborators, motivated by the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS) outbreak, which has been ongoing in Southern Italy since 2013, a simple epidemiological model describing this epidemic was presented. Beside the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, the main players considered in the model are its insect vectors, Philaenus spumarius, and the host plants (olive trees and weeds) of the insects and of the bacterium. The model was based on a system of ordinary differential equations, the analysis of which provided interesting results about possible equilibria of the epidemic system and guidelines for its numerical simulations. Although the model presented there was mathematically rather simplified, its analysis has highlighted threshold parameters that could be the target of control strategies within an integrated pest management framework, not requiring the removal of the productive resource represented by the olive trees. Indeed, numerical simulations support the outcomes of the mathematical analysis, according to which the removal of a suitable amount of weed biomass (reservoir of Xylella fastidiosa) from olive orchards and surrounding areas resulted in the most efficient strategy to control the spread of the OQDS. In addition, as expected, the adoption of more resistant olive tree cultivars has been shown to be a good strategy, though less cost-effective, in controlling the pathogen. In this paper for a more realistic description and a clearer interpretation of the proposed control measures, a spatial structure of the epidemic system has been included, but, in order to keep mathematical technicalities to a minimum, only two players have been described in a dynamical way, trees and insects, while the weed biomass is taken to be a given quantity. The control measures have been introduced only on a subregion of the whole habitat, in order to contain costs of intervention. We show that such a practice can lead to the eradication of an epidemic outbreak. Numerical simulations confirm both the results of the previous paper and the theoretical results of the model with a spatial structure, though subject to regional control only.

Probing the application of OmpA-derived peptides to disrupt the acquisition of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ by Diaphorina citri

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Vinicius Merfa e Silva ◽  
Eduarda Regina Fischer ◽  
Mariana de Souza e Silva ◽  
Carolina Sardinha Francisco ◽  
Helvécio Coletta-Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Diaphorina Citri ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Host Interaction ◽  
Vector Population ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter ◽  
Liberibacter Asiaticus ◽  
Bacterial Outer Membrane

Huanglongbing (HLB) is currently the most devastating disease of citrus worldwide. Both bacteria ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) and ‘Ca. Liberibacter americanus’ (CLam) are associated with HLB in Brazil, but with a strong prevalence of CLas over CLam. Conventionally, HLB management focuses on controlling the insect vector population (Diaphorina citri; also known as Asian citrus psyllid – ACP) by spraying insecticides, an approach demonstrated to be mostly ineffective. Thus, development of novel more efficient HLB control strategies is required. The multifunctional bacterial outer membrane protein OmpA is involved in several molecular processes between bacteria and their hosts and has been suggested as a target for bacterial control. Curiously, OmpA is absent in CLam in comparison to CLas, suggesting a possible role on host-interaction. Therefore, in the current study, we have treated ACPs with different OmpA-derived peptides aiming to evaluate the acquisition of CLas by the insect vector. Treatment of psyllids with 5 µM of Pep1, Pep3, Pep5 and Pep6 in artificial diet significantly reduced the acquisition of CLas, while increasing the concentration of Pep5 and Pep6 to 50 µM abolished this process. In addition, in planta treatment with 50 µM of Pep6 also significantly decreased the acquisition of CLas and sweet orange plants stably absorbed and maintained this peptide for as long as three months post the final application. Together, our results demonstrate the promising use of OmpA-derived peptides as a novel biotechnological tool to control CLas.

scholarly journals Metabolic Profiling of Hybrids Generated from Pummelo and Citrus latipes in Relation to Their Attraction to Diaphorina citri, the Vector of Huanglongbing

Metabolites ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 477
Author(s):  
Nabil Killiny ◽  
Shelley E. Jones ◽  
Faraj Hijaz ◽  
Abdelaziz Kishk ◽  
Yulica Santos-Ortega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Morphology ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Diaphorina Citri ◽  
Metabolomic Analysis ◽  
Citrus Industry ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter ◽  
Citrus Maxima ◽  
Liberibacter Asiaticus

The citrus industry at present is severely affected by huanglongbing disease (HLB). HLB is caused by the supposed bacterial pathogen “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” and is transmitted by the insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. Developing new citrus hybrids to improve HLB management is much needed. In this study, we investigated the metabolomic profiles of three new hybrids produced from the cross of C2-5-12 Pummelo (Citrus maxima (L.) Osbeck) × pollen from Citrus latipes. The hybrids were selected based on leaf morphology and seedling vigor. The selected hybrids exhibited compact and upright tree architecture as seen in C. latipes. Hybrids were verified by simple sequence repeat markers, and were subjected to metabolomic analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polar metabolites profiling also showed that the new hybrids were different from their parents. Interestingly, the levels of stored VOCs in hybrid II were higher than those observed in its parents and other hybrids. The level of most VOCs released by hybrid II was also higher than that released from its parents. Additionally, the preference assay showed that hybrid II was more attractive to D. citri than its parents and other hybrids. The leaf morphology, compact and upright architecture of hybrid II, and its attraction to D. citri suggest that it could be used as a windbreak and trap tree for D. citri (double duty), once its tolerance to HLB disease is confirmed. Our results showed that metabolomic analysis could be successfully used to understand the biochemical mechanisms controlling the interaction of D. citri with its host plants.

scholarly journals Protein interaction networks at the host–microbe interface in Diaphorina citri , the insect vector of the citrus greening pathogen

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 160545 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Ramsey ◽  
J. D. Chavez ◽  
R. Johnson ◽  
S. Hosseinzadeh ◽  
J. E. Mahoney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interaction ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Protein Interaction Networks ◽  
Interaction Networks ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Citrus Greening ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Diaphorina Citri ◽  
Citrus Greening Disease

The Asian citrus psyllid ( Diaphorina citri) is the insect vector responsible for the worldwide spread of ‘ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), the bacterial pathogen associated with citrus greening disease. Developmental changes in the insect vector impact pathogen transmission, such that D. citri transmission of CLas is more efficient when bacteria are acquired by nymphs when compared with adults. We hypothesize that expression changes in the D. citri immune system and commensal microbiota occur during development and regulate vector competency. In support of this hypothesis, more proteins, with greater fold changes, were differentially expressed in response to CLas in adults when compared with nymphs, including insect proteins involved in bacterial adhesion and immunity. Compared with nymphs, adult insects had a higher titre of CLas and the bacterial endosymbionts Wolbachia, Profftella and Carsonella. All Wolbachia and Profftella proteins differentially expressed between nymphs and adults are upregulated in adults, while most differentially expressed Carsonella proteins are upregulated in nymphs. Discovery of protein interaction networks has broad applicability to the study of host–microbe relationships. Using protein interaction reporter technology, a D. citri haemocyanin protein highly upregulated in response to CLas was found to physically interact with the CLas coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis enzyme phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase/decarboxylase. CLas pantothenate kinase, which catalyses the rate-limiting step of CoA biosynthesis, was found to interact with a D. citri myosin protein. Two Carsonella enzymes involved in histidine and tryptophan biosynthesis were found to physically interact with D. citri proteins. These co-evolved protein interaction networks at the host–microbe interface are highly specific targets for controlling the insect vector responsible for the spread of citrus greening.

scholarly journals Transcriptome Profiling of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ in Citrus and Psyllids

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustina De Francesco ◽  
Amelia H. Lovelace ◽  
Dipan Shaw ◽  
Min Qiu ◽  
Yuanchao Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Transcriptome Profiling ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Cell Wall Modification ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter ◽  
Liberibacter Asiaticus

‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (Las) is an emergent bacterial pathogen that is associated with the devastating citrus huanglongbing (HLB). Vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid, Las colonizes the phloem tissue of citrus, causing severe damage to infected trees. So far, cultivating pure Las culture in axenic media has not been successful, and dual-transcriptome analyses aiming to profile gene expression in both Las and its hosts have a low coverage of the Las genome because of the low abundance of bacterial RNA in total RNA extracts from infected tissues. Therefore, a lack of understanding of the Las transcriptome remains a significant knowledge gap. Here, we used a bacterial cell enrichment procedure and confidently determined the expression profiles of approximately 84% of the Las genes. Genes that exhibited high expression in citrus include transporters, ferritin, outer membrane porins, specific pilins, and genes involved in phage-related functions, cell wall modification, and stress responses. We also found 106 genes to be differentially expressed in citrus versus Asian citrus psyllids. Genes related to transcription or translation and resilience to host defense response were upregulated in citrus, whereas genes involved in energy generation and the flagella system were expressed to higher levels in psyllids. Finally, we determined the relative expression levels of potential Sec-dependent effectors, which are considered as key virulence factors of Las. This work advances our understanding of HLB biology and offers novel insight into the interactions of Las with its plant host and insect vector.

scholarly journals Graft Transmission Efficiencies and Multiplication of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’ and ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’ in Citrus Plants

2009 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Lopes ◽  
E. Bertolini ◽  
G. F. Frare ◽  
E. C. Martins ◽  
N. A. Wulff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Pathogen Prevalence ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter ◽  
Liberibacter Asiaticus ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Symptom Manifestation ◽  
Graft Transmission

In Brazil ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ and ‘Ca. L. americanus’ cause huanglongbing (also known as greening), the most destructive citrus disease. A shift in pathogen prevalence was observed over time, with a disproportional increase in ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ occurrence. Graft transmission experiments were used for a comparative study of both species using budsticks from symptomatic branches of field-affected trees as inoculum. The plants were inoculated with ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ or ‘Ca. L. americanus’ alone, or simultaneously with both species. Symptom manifestation and conventional and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used for plant evaluations. ‘Ca. L. americanus’ was detected mainly in symptomatic plants and ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ was detected in symptomatic plants as well as in infected plants prior to symptom manifestation. Transmission percentages varied from 54.7 to 88.0% for ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ and 10.0 to 45.2% for ‘Ca. L. americanus’ in two experiments. In co-inoculated plants, 12.9% contained ‘Ca. L. americanus’ only, 40.3% contained ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ only, and 19.3% contained both species. Average bacterial titers for ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ and ‘Ca. L. americanus’, in log cells per gram of leaf midrib, were 6.42 and 4.87 for the experimental plants and 6.67 and 5.74 for the field trees used as the source of inoculum. The higher bacterial populations of the ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’-infected plants provided an explanation for the disproportional increase in field prevalence of this species over time, based on the greater likelihood for pathogen transmission by the insect vector.

scholarly journals The Multi-Millennial Olive Agroecosystem of Salento (Apulia, Italy) Threatened by Xylella Fastidiosa Subsp. Pauca: A Working Possibility of Restoration

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6700
Author(s):  
Marco Scortichini
Keyword(s):  
Cell Concentration ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
First Record ◽  
Interdisciplinary Studies ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Infected Area ◽  
Olive Groves ◽  
Olive Trees ◽  
Spray Treatment

In Salento, the olive agro-ecosystem has lasted more than 4000 years, and represents an invaluable local heritage for landscape, trade, and social traditions. The quarantine bacterium Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca was introduced in the area from abroad and has been widely threatening olive groves in the area. The successful eradication of quarantine phytopathogens requires a prompt identification of the causative agent at the new site, a restricted infected area, a highly effective local organization for crop uprooting and biological features of the micro-organism that would guarantee its complete elimination. However, at the time of the first record, these criteria were not met. Interdisciplinary studies showed that a zinc-copper-citric acid biocomplex allowed a consistent reduction of field symptoms and pathogen cell concentration within infected olive trees. In this perspective article, it is briefly described the implementation of control strategies in some olive farms of Salento. The protocol includes spray treatment with the biocomplex during spring and summer, regular pruning of the trees and mowing of soil between February and April to reduce the juvenile of the insect vector(s). Thus far, more than 500 ha have begun to follow this eco-friendly strategy within the “infected” and “containment” areas of Salento.

scholarly journals The DinJ/RelE Toxin-Antitoxin System Suppresses Bacterial Proliferation and Virulence of Xylella fastidiosa in Grapevine

2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 388-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey P. Burbank ◽  
Drake C. Stenger
Keyword(s):  
Xylella Fastidiosa ◽  
Xylem Sap ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Plant Colonization ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Knockout Mutant ◽  
Bacterial Proliferation ◽  
Systemic Spread

Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of Pierce’s disease of grapes, is a slow-growing, xylem-limited, bacterial pathogen. Disease progression is characterized by systemic spread of the bacterium through xylem vessel networks, causing leaf-scorching symptoms, senescence, and vine decline. It appears to be advantageous to this pathogen to avoid excessive blockage of xylem vessels, because living bacterial cells are generally found in plant tissue with low bacterial cell density and minimal scorching symptoms. The DinJ/RelE toxin-antitoxin system is characterized here for a role in controlling bacterial proliferation and population size during plant colonization. The DinJ/RelE locus is transcribed from two separate promoters, allowing for coexpression of antitoxin DinJ with endoribonuclease toxin RelE, in addition to independent expression of RelE. The ratio of antitoxin/toxin expressed is dependent on bacterial growth conditions, with lower amounts of antitoxin present under conditions designed to mimic grapevine xylem sap. A knockout mutant of DinJ/RelE exhibits a hypervirulent phenotype, with higher bacterial populations and increased symptom development and plant decline. It is likely that DinJ/RelE acts to prevent excessive population growth, contributing to the ability of the pathogen to spread systemically without completely blocking the xylem vessels and increasing probability of acquisition by the insect vector.

scholarly journals Mycorrhization Mitigates Disease Caused by “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” in Tomato

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 507
Author(s):  
Eric-Olivier Tiénébo ◽  
Kyle Harrison ◽  
Kouabenan Abo ◽  
Yao Casimir Brou ◽  
Leland S. Pierson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Bactericera Cockerelli ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter Solanacearum ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter ◽  
Emergence Of Resistance

Disease caused by the bacterial pathogen “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” (Lso) represents a serious threat to solanaceous crop production. Insecticide applications to control the psyllid vector, Bactericera cockerelli Šulc (Hemiptera: Triozidae) has led to the emergence of resistance in psyllids populations. Efforts to select natural resistant cultivars have been marginally successful and have been complicated by the presence of distinct Lso haplotypes (LsoA, LsoB) differing in symptoms severity on potato and tomato. A potentially promising management tool is to boost host resistance to the pathogen and/or the insect vector by promoting mycorrhization. Here we tested the hypothesis that mycorrhizal fungi can mitigate the effect of Lso infection on tomato plants. The presence of mycorrhizal fungi substantially delayed and reduced the incidence of Lso-induced symptoms on tomato as compared to non-mycorrhized plants. However, PCR with specific Lso primers revealed that mycorrhization did not prevent Lso transmission or translocation to newly formed leaves. Mycorrhization significantly reduced oviposition by psyllids harboring LsoA and survival of nymphs from these eggs. However, mycorrhization had no effect on oviposition by psyllids harboring LsoB or the survival of nymphs from parents harboring LsoB. These findings indicate the use of mycorrhizal fungi is a promising strategy for the mitigation of disease caused by both LsoA and LsoB and warrants additional field testing.

scholarly journals Insect Transmission of Plant Pathogens: a Systems Biology Perspective

mSystems ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e00168-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Heck
Keyword(s):  
Systems Biology ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Insect Vectors ◽  
Vector Systems

ABSTRACT Insect-vectored pathogens pose one of the greatest threats to plant and animal, including human, health on a global scale. Few effective control strategies have been developed to thwart the transmission of any insect-transmitted pathogen. Most have negative impacts on the environment and human health and are unsustainable. Plant pathogen transmission by insect vectors involves a combination of coevolving biological players: plant hosts, insect vectors, plant pathogens, and bacterial endosymbionts harbored by the insect. Our ability to help growers to control vector-borne disease depends on our ability to generate pathogen- and/or disease-resistant crops by traditional or synthetic approaches and to block pathogen transmission by the insect vector. Systems biology studies have led to the reexamination of existing paradigms on how pathogens interact with insect vectors, including the bacterial symbionts, and have identified vector-pathogen interactions at the molecular and cellular levels for the development of novel transmission interdiction strategies.

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