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Li Y, Ma R, Gao C, Li Z, Zheng Y, Fang F, Wang C, Li G, Du X, Xu C, Xu M, Liu R, Deng X, Zheng Z. Integrated bacterial transcriptome and host metabolome analysis reveals insights into " Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" population dynamics in the fruit pith of three citrus cultivars with different tolerance. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0405223. [PMID: 38440971 PMCID: PMC10986616 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04052-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
"Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" (CLas), the causal agent of citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), is able to multiply to a high abundance in citrus fruit pith. However, little is known about the biological processes and phytochemical substances that are vital for CLas colonization and growth in fruit pith. In this study, CLas-infected fruit pith of three citrus cultivars ("Shatangju" mandarin, "Guanxi" pomelo, and "Shatian" pomelo) exhibiting different tolerance to CLas were collected and used for dual RNA-Seq and untargeted metabolome analysis. Comparative transcriptome analysis found that the activation of the CLas noncyclic TCA pathway and pathogenic-related effectors could contribute to the colonization and growth of CLas in fruit pith. The pre-established Type 2 prophage in the CLas genome and the induction of its CRISPR/cas system could enhance the phage resistance of CLas and, in turn, facilitate CLas population growth in fruit pith. CLas infection caused the accumulation of amino acids that were correlated with tolerance to CLas. The accumulation of most sugars and organic acids in CLas-infected fruit pith, which could be due to the phloem blockage caused by CLas infection, was thought to be beneficial for CLas growth in localized phloem tissue. The higher levels of flavonoids and terpenoids in the fruit pith of CLas-tolerant cultivars, particularly those known for their antimicrobial properties, could hinder the growth of CLas. This study advances our understanding of CLas multiplication in fruit pith and offers novel insight into metabolites that could be responsible for tolerance to CLas or essential to CLas population growth.IMPORTANCECitrus Huanglongbing (HLB, also called citrus greening disease) is a highly destructive disease currently threatening citrus production worldwide. HLB is caused by an unculturable bacterial pathogen, "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" (CLas). However, the mechanism of CLas colonization and growth in citrus hosts is poorly understood. In this study, we utilized the fruit pith tissue, which was able to maintain the CLas at a high abundance, as the materials for dual RNA-Seq and untargeted metabolome analysis, aiming to reveal the biological processes and phytochemical substances that are vital for CLas colonization and growth. We provided a genome-wide CLas transcriptome landscape in the fruit pith of three citrus cultivars with different tolerance and identified the important genes/pathways that contribute to CLas colonization and growth in the fruit pith. Metabolome profiling identified the key metabolites, which were mainly affected by CLas infection and influenced the population dynamic of CLas in fruit pith.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruifeng Ma
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Meizhou Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chenying Gao
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziyi Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongqin Zheng
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fang Fang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guohua Li
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Meizhou Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaozhen Du
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Meizhou Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Changbao Xu
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Meirong Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Meizhou Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Meizhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoling Deng
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng Zheng
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Tabler CT, Lodd E, Bennewitz K, Middel CS, Erben V, Ott H, Poth T, Fleming T, Morgenstern J, Hausser I, Sticht C, Poschet G, Szendroedi J, Nawroth PP, Kroll J. Loss of glyoxalase 2 alters the glucose metabolism in zebrafish. Redox Biol 2022; 59:102576. [PMID: 36535130 PMCID: PMC9792892 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glyoxalase 2 is the second enzyme of the glyoxalase system, catalyzing the detoxification of methylglyoxal to d-lactate via SD-Lactoylglutathione. Recent in vitro studies have suggested Glo2 as a regulator of glycolysis, but if Glo2 regulates glucose homeostasis and related organ specific functions in vivo has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, a CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of glo2 in zebrafish was created and analyzed. Consistent with its function in methylglyoxal detoxification, SD-Lactoylglutathione, but not methylglyoxal accumulated in glo2-/- larvae, without altering the glutathione metabolism or affecting longevity. Adult glo2-/- livers displayed a reduced hexose concentration and a reduced postprandial P70-S6 kinase activation, but upstream postprandial AKT phosphorylation remained unchanged. In contrast, glo2-/- skeletal muscle remained metabolically intact, possibly compensating for the dysfunctional liver through increased glucose uptake and glycolytic activity. glo2-/- zebrafish maintained euglycemia and showed no damage of the retinal vasculature, kidney, liver and skeletal muscle. In conclusion, the data identified Glo2 as a regulator of cellular energy metabolism in liver and skeletal muscle, but the redox state and reactive metabolite accumulation were not affected by the loss of Glo2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Tobias Tabler
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Lodd
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Katrin Bennewitz
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Chiara Simone Middel
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Vanessa Erben
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Hannes Ott
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Tanja Poth
- CMCP - Center for Model System and Comparative Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Fleming
- Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jakob Morgenstern
- Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ingrid Hausser
- Institute of Pathology IPH, EM Lab, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carsten Sticht
- NGS Core Facility, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gernot Poschet
- Metabolomics Core Technology Platform, Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Szendroedi
- Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Paul Nawroth
- Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jens Kroll
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
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Le HTQ, Lee EY. Insights into C1 and C3 assimilation pathways in type I methanotrophic bacterium from co-production of 1,2-propanediol and lactate. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 365:128172. [PMID: 36279980 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Methanotrophic bacteria are attractive hosts for mining metabolic pathways of C1 assimilation to produce value-added products. Herein, the type I methanotroph Methylotuvimicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z was employed to explore the carbon flux from methane and methanol via the EMP pathway to produce 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO). The production of 1,2-PDO on methane was found to be mainly restricted by the lower carbon flux toward the EMP pathway. The co-utilization of C1 substrates and glycerol (C3) could contribute to enhance 1,2-PDO. Lactate was co-produced in much higher amounts than 1,2-PDO. This unexpected product was probably derived from lactaldehyde by inherent aldehyde dehydrogenases. The 1,2-PDO production without increased accumulation of lactate was observed via establishing the acetol-based pathway by propane utilization with the overexpression of pmoD. This is the first study to provide experimental insights into the operation of metabolic routes for 1,2-PDO and lactate co-production from C1 and C3 compounds in methanotrophs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoa Thi Quynh Le
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Yeol Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea.
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Cai L, Jain M, Munoz-Bodnar A, Huguet-Tapia JC, Gabriel DW. A synthetic 'essentialome' for axenic culturing of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'. BMC Res Notes 2022; 15:125. [PMID: 35365194 PMCID: PMC8973516 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-022-05986-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CLas) is associated with the devastating citrus 'greening' disease. All attempts to achieve axenic growth and complete Koch's postulates with CLas have failed to date, at best yielding complex cocultures with very low CLas titers detectable only by PCR. Reductive genome evolution has rendered all pathogenic 'Ca. Liberibacter' spp. deficient in multiple key biosynthetic, metabolic and structural pathways that are highly unlikely to be rescued in vitro by media supplementation alone. By contrast, Liberibacter crescens (Lcr) is axenically cultured and its genome is both syntenic and highly similar to CLas. Our objective is to achieve replicative axenic growth of CLas via addition of missing culturability-related Lcr genes. RESULTS Bioinformatic analyses identified 405 unique ORFs in Lcr but missing (or truncated) in all 24 sequenced CLas strains. Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed and extended published EZ-Tn5 mutagenesis data, allowing elimination of 310 of these 405 genes as nonessential, leaving 95 experimentally validated Lcr genes as essential for CLas growth in axenic culture. Experimental conditions for conjugation of large GFP-expressing plasmids from Escherichia coli to Lcr were successfully established for the first time, providing a practical method for transfer of large groups of 'essential' Lcr genes to CLas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Cai
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Mukesh Jain
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | | | - Jose C Huguet-Tapia
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Dean W Gabriel
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
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Merfa MV, Naranjo E, Shantharaj D, De La Fuente L. Growth of ' Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' in Commercial Grapefruit Juice-Based Media Formulations Reveals Common Cell Density-Dependent Transient Behaviors. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2022; 112:131-144. [PMID: 34340531 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-06-21-0228-fi] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The phloem-restricted, insect-transmitted bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CLas) is associated with huanglongbing (HLB), the most devastating disease of citrus worldwide. The inability to culture CLas impairs the understanding of its virulence mechanisms and the development of effective management strategies to control this incurable disease. Previously, our research group used commercial grapefruit juice (GJ) to prolong the viability of CLas in vitro. In the present study, GJ was amended with a wide range of compounds and incubated under different conditions to optimize CLas growth. Remarkably, results showed that CLas growth ratios were inversely proportional to the initial inoculum concentration. This correlation is probably regulated by a cell density-dependent mechanism, because diluting samples between subcultures allowed CLas to resume growth. Moreover, strategies to reduce the cell density of CLas, such as subculturing at short intervals and incubating samples under flow conditions, allowed this bacterium to multiply and reach maximum growth as early as 3 days after inoculation, although no sustained exponential growth was observed under any tested condition. Unfortunately, cultures were only transient, because CLas lost viability over time; nevertheless, we obtained populations of about 105 genome equivalents/ml repeatedly. Finally, we established an ex vivo system to grow CLas within periwinkle calli that could be used to propagate bacterial inoculum in the lab. In this study we determined the influence of a comprehensive set of conditions and compounds on CLas growth in culture. We hope our results will help guide future efforts toward the long-sought goal of culturing CLas axenically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus V Merfa
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
| | - Eber Naranjo
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
| | - Deepak Shantharaj
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
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6
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Hu B, Rao MJ, Deng X, Pandey SS, Hendrich C, Ding F, Wang N, Xu Q. Molecular signatures between citrus and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010071. [PMID: 34882744 PMCID: PMC8659345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, is one of the most devastating citrus diseases worldwide. Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is the most prevalent strain associated with HLB, which is yet to be cultured in vitro. None of the commercial citrus cultivars are resistant to HLB. The pathosystem of Ca. Liberibacter is complex and remains a mystery. In this review, we focus on the recent progress in genomic research on the pathogen, the interaction of host and CLas, and the influence of CLas infection on the transcripts, proteins, and metabolism of the host. We have also focused on the identification of candidate genes for CLas pathogenicity or the improvements of HLB tolerance in citrus. In the end, we propose potentially promising areas for mechanistic studies of CLas pathogenicity, defense regulators, and genetic improvement for HLB tolerance/resistance in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Ministry of Agriculture), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Muhammad Junaid Rao
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Ministry of Agriculture), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiuxin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Ministry of Agriculture), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Sheo Shankar Pandey
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Connor Hendrich
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Fang Ding
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Nian Wang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Qiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Ministry of Agriculture), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Tao YM, Bu CY, Zou LH, Hu YL, Zheng ZJ, Ouyang J. A comprehensive review on microbial production of 1,2-propanediol: micro-organisms, metabolic pathways, and metabolic engineering. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:216. [PMID: 34794503 PMCID: PMC8600716 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-02067-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
1,2-Propanediol is an important building block as a component used in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resin, antifreeze, biofuel, nonionic detergent, etc. Commercial production of 1,2-propanediol through microbial biosynthesis is limited by low efficiency, and chemical production of 1,2-propanediol requires petrochemically derived routes involving wasteful power consumption and high pollution emissions. With the development of various strategies based on metabolic engineering, a series of obstacles are expected to be overcome. This review provides an extensive overview of the progress in the microbial production of 1,2-propanediol, particularly the different micro-organisms used for 1,2-propanediol biosynthesis and microbial production pathways. In addition, outstanding challenges associated with microbial biosynthesis and feasible metabolic engineering strategies, as well as perspectives on the future microbial production of 1,2-propanediol, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Ming Tao
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Chong-Yang Bu
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Hua Zou
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue-Li Hu
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhao-Juan Zheng
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Ouyang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China.
- College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Cai L, Jain M, Sena-Vélez M, Jones KM, Fleites LA, Heck M, Gabriel DW. Tad pilus-mediated twitching motility is essential for DNA uptake and survival of Liberibacters. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258583. [PMID: 34644346 PMCID: PMC8513845 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Axenically cultured Liberibacter crescens (Lcr) is a closely related surrogate for uncultured plant pathogenic species of the genus Liberibacter, including ‘Candidatus L. asiaticus’ (CLas) and ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ (CLso). All Liberibacters encode a completely conserved gene repertoire for both flagella and Tad (Tight Adherence) pili and all are missing genes critical for nucleotide biosynthesis. Both flagellar swimming and Tad pilus-mediated twitching motility in Lcr were demonstrated for the first time. A role for Tad pili in the uptake of extracellular dsDNA for food in Liberibacters was suspected because both twitching and DNA uptake are impossible without repetitive pilus extension and retraction, and no genes encoding other pilus assemblages or mechanisms for DNA uptake were predicted to be even partially present in any of the 35 fully sequenced Liberibacter genomes. Insertional mutations of the Lcr Tad pilus genes cpaA, cpaB, cpaE, cpaF and tadC all displayed such severely reduced growth and viability that none could be complemented. A mutation affecting cpaF (motor ATPase) was further characterized and the strain displayed concomitant loss of twitching, viability and reduced periplasmic uptake of extracellular dsDNA. Mutations of comEC, encoding the inner membrane competence channel, had no effect on either motility or growth but completely abolished natural transformation in Lcr. The comEC mutation was restored by complementation using comEC from Lcr but not from CLas strain psy62 or CLso strain RS100, indicating that unlike Lcr, these pathogens were not naturally competent for transformation. This report provides the first evidence that the Liberibacter Tad pili are dynamic and essential for both motility and DNA uptake, thus extending their role beyond surface adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Cai
- Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Mukesh Jain
- Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Marta Sena-Vélez
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kathryn M. Jones
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Laura A. Fleites
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Michelle Heck
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Dean W. Gabriel
- Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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9
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Darolt JC, Bento FDMM, Merlin BL, Peña L, Cônsoli FL, Wulff NA. The Genome of " Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" Is Highly Transcribed When Infecting the Gut of Diaphorina citri. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:687725. [PMID: 34322103 PMCID: PMC8312247 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.687725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiane Cecília Darolt
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
- Departamento de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento, Fundo de Defesa da Citricultura – Fundecitrus, Araraquara, Brazil
| | - Flavia de Moura Manoel Bento
- Laboratório de Interações em Insetos, Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Bruna Laís Merlin
- Laboratório de Interações em Insetos, Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Leandro Peña
- Departamento de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento, Fundo de Defesa da Citricultura – Fundecitrus, Araraquara, Brazil
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular de Plantas – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidade Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Fernando Luis Cônsoli
- Laboratório de Interações em Insetos, Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Nelson Arno Wulff
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil
- Departamento de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento, Fundo de Defesa da Citricultura – Fundecitrus, Araraquara, Brazil
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10
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Wei X, Mira A, Yu Q, Gmitter FG. The Mechanism of Citrus Host Defense Response Repression at Early Stages of Infection by Feeding of Diaphorina citri Transmitting Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:635153. [PMID: 34168662 PMCID: PMC8218908 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.635153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most devastating disease of citrus, presumably caused by "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" (CaLas). Although transcriptomic profiling of HLB-affected citrus plants has been studied extensively, the initial steps in pathogenesis have not been fully understood. In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to compare very early transcriptional changes in the response of Valencia sweet orange (VAL) to CaLas after being fed by the vector, Diaphorina citri (Asian citrus psyllid, or ACP). The results suggest the existence of a delayed defense reaction against the infective vector in VAL, while the attack by the healthy vector prompted immediate and substantial transcriptomic changes that led to the rapid erection of active defenses. Moreover, in the presence of CaLas-infected psyllids, several downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified on the pathways, such as signaling, transcription factor, hormone, defense, and photosynthesis-related pathways at 1 day post-infestation (dpi). Surprisingly, a burst of DEGs (6,055) was detected at 5 dpi, including both upregulated and downregulated DEGs on the defense-related and secondary metabolic pathways, and severely downregulated DEGs on the photosynthesis-related pathways. Very interestingly, a significant number of those downregulated DEGs required ATP binding for the activation of phosphate as substrate; meanwhile, abundant highly upregulated DEGs were detected on the ATP biosynthetic and glycolytic pathways. These findings highlight the energy requirement of CaLas virulence processes. The emerging picture is that CaLas not only employs virulence strategies to subvert the host cell immunity, but the fast-replicating CaLas also actively rewires host cellular metabolic pathways to obtain the necessary energy and molecular building blocks to support virulence and the replication process. Taken together, the very early response of citrus to the CaLas, vectored by infective ACP, was evaluated for the first time, thus allowing the changes in gene expression relating to the primary mechanisms of susceptibility and host-pathogen interactions to be studied, and without the secondary effects caused by the development of complex whole plant symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wei
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, United States
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Amany Mira
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, United States
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Qibin Yu
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, United States
| | - Fred G. Gmitter
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, United States
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11
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González-García M, Pérez-López E. Looking for a Cultured Surrogate for Effectome Studies of the Clubroot Pathogen. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:650307. [PMID: 34122364 PMCID: PMC8193517 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.650307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Melaine González-García
- Department of Plant Sciences, Faculté des Sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation (FSAA), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Edel Pérez-López
- Department of Plant Sciences, Faculté des Sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation (FSAA), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche et d'innovation sur les végétaux (CRIV), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche en sciences du végétal (Centre SÈVE), Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies (FRQNT), Québec, QC, Canada
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12
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Li B, Zhang Y, Qiu D, Francis F, Wang S. Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Sweet Orange Petiole Provides Insights Into the Development of Huanglongbing Symptoms. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:656997. [PMID: 33953735 PMCID: PMC8092123 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.656997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive citrus disease worldwide. This is associated with the phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter, and the typical symptom is leaf blotchy mottle. To better understand the biological processes involved in the establishment of HLB disease symptoms, the comparative proteomic analysis was performed to reveal the global protein accumulation profiles in leaf petiole, where there are massive HLB pathogens of Ca. L. asiaticus-infected Newhall sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) plants at the asymptomatic and symptomatic stages compared to their healthy counterpart. Photosynthesis, especially the pathway involved in the photosystem I and II light reactions, was shown to be suppressed throughout the whole Ca. L. asiaticus infection cycle. Also, starch biosynthesis was induced after the symptom-free prodromal period. Many defense-associated proteins were more extensively regulated in the petiole with the symptoms than the ones from healthy plants. The change of salicylic and jasmonic acid levels in different disease stages had a positive correlation with the abundance of phytohormone biosynthesis-related proteins. Moreover, the protein-protein interaction network analysis indicated that an F-type ATPase and an alpha-1,4 glucan phosphorylase were the core nodes in the interactions of differentially accumulated proteins. Our study indicated that the infected citrus plants probably activated the non-unified and lagging enhancement of defense responses against Ca. L. asiaticus at the expense of photosynthesis and contribute to find out the key Ca. L. asiaticus-responsive genes for tolerance and resistance breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Yi Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dewen Qiu
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Frédéric Francis
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Shuangchao Wang
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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13
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Coates LC, Mahoney J, Ramsey JS, Warwick E, Johnson R, MacCoss MJ, Krasnoff SB, Howe KJ, Moulton K, Saha S, Mueller LA, Hall DG, Shatters RG, Heck ML, Slupsky CM. Development on Citrus medica infected with 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' has sex-specific and -nonspecific impacts on adult Diaphorina citri and its endosymbionts. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239771. [PMID: 33022020 PMCID: PMC7537882 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Huanglongbing (HLB) is a deadly, incurable citrus disease putatively caused by the unculturable bacterium, 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CLas), and transmitted by Diaphorina citri. Prior studies suggest D. citri transmits CLas in a circulative and propagative manner; however, the precise interactions necessary for CLas transmission remain unknown, and the impact of insect sex on D. citri-CLas interactions is poorly understood despite reports of sex-dependent susceptibilities to CLas. We analyzed the transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and microbiome of male and female adult D. citri reared on healthy or CLas-infected Citrus medica to determine shared and sex-specific responses of D. citri and its endosymbionts to CLas exposure. More sex-specific than shared D. citri responses to CLas were observed, despite there being no difference between males and females in CLas density or relative abundance. CLas exposure altered the abundance of proteins involved in immunity and cellular and oxidative stress in a sex-dependent manner. CLas exposure impacted cuticular proteins and enzymes involved in chitin degradation, as well as energy metabolism and abundance of the endosymbiont 'Candidatus Profftella armatura' in both sexes similarly. Notably, diaphorin, a toxic Profftella-derived metabolite, was more abundant in both sexes with CLas exposure. The responses reported here resulted from a combination of CLas colonization of D. citri as well as the effect of CLas infection on C. medica. Elucidating these impacts on D. citri and their endosymbionts contributes to our understanding of the HLB pathosystem and identifies the responses potentially critical to limiting or promoting CLas acquisition and propagation in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurynne C Coates
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Jaclyn Mahoney
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - John S Ramsey
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - EricaRose Warwick
- Plant Pathology, University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Richard Johnson
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Michael J MacCoss
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Stuart B Krasnoff
- Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Kevin J Howe
- Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Kathy Moulton
- U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Unit of Subtropical Insects and Horticulture, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fort Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Surya Saha
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Lukas A Mueller
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - David G Hall
- U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Unit of Subtropical Insects and Horticulture, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fort Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Robert G Shatters
- U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Unit of Subtropical Insects and Horticulture, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fort Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Michelle L Heck
- Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Carolyn M Slupsky
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
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14
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de Souza Pacheco I, Manzano Galdeano D, Spotti Lopes JR, Machado MA. Development on Infected Citrus over Generations Increases Vector Infection by ' Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus in Diaphorina citri'. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11080469. [PMID: 32722346 PMCID: PMC7469140 DOI: 10.3390/insects11080469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CLas) is a major causal agent of citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), which is transmitted by Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, causing severe losses in various regions of the world. Vector efficiency is higher when acquisition occurs by ACP immature stages and over longer feeding periods. In this context, our goal was to evaluate the progression of CLas population and infection rate over four ACP generations that continuously developed on infected citrus plants. We showed that the frequency of CLas-positive adult samples increased from 42% in the parental generation to 100% in the fourth generation developing on CLas-infected citrus. The bacterial population in the vector also increased over generations. This information reinforces the importance of HLB management strategies, such as vector control and eradication of diseased citrus trees, to avoid the development of CLas-infected ACP generations with higher bacterial loads and, likely, a higher probability of spreading the pathogen in citrus orchards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inaiara de Souza Pacheco
- Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Cordeirópolis, São Paulo 13490-970, Brazil; (D.M.G.); (M.A.M.)
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-862, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| | - Diogo Manzano Galdeano
- Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Cordeirópolis, São Paulo 13490-970, Brazil; (D.M.G.); (M.A.M.)
| | - João Roberto Spotti Lopes
- Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”—Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo 13418-900, Brazil;
| | - Marcos Antonio Machado
- Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, Cordeirópolis, São Paulo 13490-970, Brazil; (D.M.G.); (M.A.M.)
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15
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Pérez‐López E, Hossain MM, Tu J, Waldner M, Todd CD, Kusalik AJ, Wei Y, Bonham‐Smith PC. Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Plasmodiophora brassicae Secondary Infection Effector Candidates. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2020; 67:337-351. [PMID: 31925980 PMCID: PMC7317818 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodiophora brassicae (Wor.) is an obligate intracellular plant pathogen affecting Brassicas worldwide. Identification of effector proteins is key to understanding the interaction between P. brassicae and its susceptible host plants. To date, there is very little information available on putative effector proteins secreted by P. brassicae during a secondary infection of susceptible host plants, resulting in root gall production. A bioinformatics pipeline approach to RNA-Seq data from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. root tissues at 17, 20, and 24 d postinoculation (dpi) identified 32 small secreted P. brassicae proteins (SSPbPs) that were highly expressed over this secondary infection time frame. Functional signal peptides were confirmed for 31 of the SSPbPs, supporting the accuracy of the pipeline designed to identify secreted proteins. Expression profiles at 0, 2, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 dpi verified the involvement of some of the SSPbPs in secondary infection. For seven of the SSPbPs, a functional domain was identified using Blast2GO and 3D structure analysis and domain functionality was confirmed for SSPbP22, a kinase localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edel Pérez‐López
- Department of BiologyUniversity of SaskatchewanSaskatoonSKS7N 5E2Canada
| | | | - Jiangying Tu
- Agriculture and Agri‐food CanadaSaskatoon Research CentreSaskatoonSKS7N 0X2Canada
| | - Matthew Waldner
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of SaskatchewanSaskatoonSKS7N 5C9Canada
| | | | - Anthony J. Kusalik
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of SaskatchewanSaskatoonSKS7N 5C9Canada
| | - Yangdou Wei
- Department of BiologyUniversity of SaskatchewanSaskatoonSKS7N 5E2Canada
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16
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Attaran E, Berim A, Killiny N, Beyenal H, Gang DR, Omsland A. Controlled replication of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' DNA in citrus leaf discs. Microb Biotechnol 2020; 13:747-759. [PMID: 31958876 PMCID: PMC7111093 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' is a fastidious bacterium and a putative agent of citrus greening disease (a.k.a., huanglongbing, HLB), a significant agricultural disease that affects citrus fruit quality and tree health. In citrus, 'Ca. L. asiaticus' is phloem limited. Lack of culture tools to study 'Ca. L. asiaticus' complicates analysis of this important organism. To improve understanding of 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-host interactions including parameters that affect 'Ca. L. asiaticus' replication, methods suitable for screening pathogen responses to physicochemical and nutritional variables are needed. We describe a leaf disc-based culture assay that allows highly selective measurement of changes in 'Ca. L. asiaticus' DNA within plant tissue incubated under specific physicochemical and nutritional conditions. qPCR analysis targeting the hypothetical gene CD16-00155 (strain A4) allowed selective quantification of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' DNA content within infected tissue. 'Ca. L. asiaticus' DNA replication was observed in response to glucose exclusively under microaerobic conditions, and the antibiotic amikacin further enhanced 'Ca. L. asiaticus' DNA replication. Metabolite profiling revealed a moderate impact of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' on the ability of leaf tissue to metabolize and respond to glucose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Attaran
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal HealthWashington State UniversityPullmanWAUSA
| | - Anna Berim
- Institute of Biological ChemistryWashington State UniversityPullmanWAUSA
| | - Nabil Killiny
- Plant Pathology DepartmentCitrus Research and Education CenterUniversity of FloridaLake AlfredFLUSA
| | - Haluk Beyenal
- Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and BioengineeringWashington State UniversityPullmanWAUSA
| | - David R. Gang
- Institute of Biological ChemistryWashington State UniversityPullmanWAUSA
| | - Anders Omsland
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal HealthWashington State UniversityPullmanWAUSA
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17
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Waterworth SC, Flórez LV, Rees ER, Hertweck C, Kaltenpoth M, Kwan JC. Horizontal Gene Transfer to a Defensive Symbiont with a Reduced Genome in a Multipartite Beetle Microbiome. mBio 2020; 11:e02430-19. [PMID: 32098813 PMCID: PMC7042692 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02430-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic mutualisms of bacteria and animals are ubiquitous in nature, running a continuum from facultative to obligate from the perspectives of both partners. The loss of functions required for living independently but not within a host gives rise to reduced genomes in many symbionts. Although the phenomenon of genome reduction can be explained by existing evolutionary models, the initiation of the process is not well understood. Here, we describe the microbiome associated with the eggs of the beetle Lagria villosa, consisting of multiple bacterial symbionts related to Burkholderia gladioli, including a reduced-genome symbiont thought to be the exclusive producer of the defensive compound lagriamide. We show that the putative lagriamide-producing symbiont is the only member of the microbiome undergoing genome reduction and that it has already lost the majority of its primary metabolism and DNA repair pathways. The key step preceding genome reduction in the symbiont was likely the horizontal acquisition of the putative lagriamide lga biosynthetic gene cluster. Unexpectedly, we uncovered evidence of additional horizontal transfers to the symbiont's genome while genome reduction was occurring and despite a current lack of genes needed for homologous recombination. These gene gains may have given the genome-reduced symbiont a selective advantage in the microbiome, especially given the maintenance of the large lga gene cluster despite ongoing genome reduction.IMPORTANCE Associations between microorganisms and an animal, plant, or fungal host can result in increased dependence over time. This process is due partly to the bacterium not needing to produce nutrients that the host provides, leading to loss of genes that it would need to live independently and to a consequent reduction in genome size. It is often thought that genome reduction is aided by genetic isolation-bacteria that live in monocultures in special host organs, or inside host cells, have less access to other bacterial species from which they can obtain genes. Here, we describe exposure of a genome-reduced beetle symbiont to a community of related bacteria with nonreduced genomes. We show that the symbiont has acquired genes from other bacteria despite going through genome reduction, suggesting that isolation has not yet played a major role in this case of genome reduction, with horizontal gene gains still offering a potential route for adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha C Waterworth
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Laura V Flórez
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenburg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Evan R Rees
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Kaltenpoth
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenburg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jason C Kwan
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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18
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Wang HL, Lei T, Wang XW, Maruthi MN, Zhu DT, Cameron SL, Rao Q, Shan HW, Colvin J, Liu YQ, Liu SS. A newly recorded Rickettsia of the Torix group is a recent intruder and an endosymbiont in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:1207-1221. [PMID: 31997547 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The bacterium Rickettsia is found widely in phytophagous insects and often exerts profound effects on the phenotype and fitness of its hosts. Here, we decrypt a new, independent, phylogenetically ancient Torix Rickettsia endosymbiont found constantly in a laboratory line of an economically important insect Asia II 7, a putative species of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly complex (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and occasionally in field whitefly populations. This new Rickettsia distributes throughout the body of its whitefly host. Genetically, compared to Rickettsia_bellii_MEAM1 found earlier in whiteflies, the new Rickettsia species has more gene families and pathways, which may be important factors in shaping specific symbiotic relationships. We propose the name 'Candidatus Rickettsia_Torix_Bemisia_tabaci (RiTBt)' for this new endosymbiont associated with whiteflies. Comparative genomic analyses indicate that RiTBi may be a relatively recent intruder in whiteflies given its low abundance in the field and relatively larger genome compared to Rickettsia_bellii_MEAM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Ling Wang
- The Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Teng Lei
- The Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Wang
- The Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - M N Maruthi
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Dan-Tong Zhu
- The Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Stephen L Cameron
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 479074, USA
| | - Qiong Rao
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hong-Wei Shan
- The Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - John Colvin
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Yin-Quan Liu
- The Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Shu-Sheng Liu
- The Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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19
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Growth Dynamics and Survival of Liberibacter crescens BT-1, an Important Model Organism for the Citrus Huanglongbing Pathogen " Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus". Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.01656-19. [PMID: 31420343 PMCID: PMC6803310 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01656-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Liberibacter crescens is a bacterium that is closely related to plant pathogens that have caused billions of dollars in crop losses in recent years. Particularly devastating are citrus losses due to citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing, which is caused by “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” and carried by the Asian citrus psyllid. L. crescens is the only close relative of “Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus” that can currently be grown in culture, and it therefore serves as an important model organism for the growth, genetic manipulation, and biological control of the pathogenic species. Here, we show that one of the greatest limitations to L. crescens growth is the sharp increase in alkaline conditions it produces as a consequence of consumption of its preferred nutrient source. In addition to new information about L. crescens growth and metabolism, we provide new guidelines for culture conditions that improve the survival and yield of L. crescens. Liberibacter crescens is the only cultured member of its genus, which includes the devastating plant pathogen “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus,” associated with citrus greening/Huanglongbing (HLB). L. crescens has a larger genome and greater metabolic flexibility than “Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus” and the other uncultured plant-pathogenic Liberibacter species, and it is currently the best model organism available for these pathogens. L. crescens grows slowly and dies rapidly under current culture protocols and this extreme fastidiousness makes it challenging to study. We have determined that a major cause of rapid death of L. crescens in batch culture is its alkalinization of the medium (to pH 8.5 by the end of logarithmic phase). The majority of this alkalinization is due to consumption of alpha-ketoglutaric acid as its primary carbon source, with a smaller proportion of the pH rise due to NH3 production. Controlling the pH rise with higher buffering capacity and lower starting pH improved recoverability of cells from 10-day cultures by >1,000-fold. We have also performed a detailed analysis of L. crescens growth with total cell numbers calibrated to the optical density and the percentage of live and recoverable bacteria determined over 10-day time courses. We modified L. crescens culture conditions to greatly enhance survival and increase maximum culture density. The similarities between L. crescens and the pathogenic liberibacters make this work relevant to efforts to culture the latter organisms. Our results also suggest that growth-dependent pH alteration that overcomes medium buffering should always be considered when growing fastidious bacteria. IMPORTANCELiberibacter crescens is a bacterium that is closely related to plant pathogens that have caused billions of dollars in crop losses in recent years. Particularly devastating are citrus losses due to citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing, which is caused by “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” and carried by the Asian citrus psyllid. L. crescens is the only close relative of “Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus” that can currently be grown in culture, and it therefore serves as an important model organism for the growth, genetic manipulation, and biological control of the pathogenic species. Here, we show that one of the greatest limitations to L. crescens growth is the sharp increase in alkaline conditions it produces as a consequence of consumption of its preferred nutrient source. In addition to new information about L. crescens growth and metabolism, we provide new guidelines for culture conditions that improve the survival and yield of L. crescens.
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Jain M, Cai L, Fleites LA, Munoz-Bodnar A, Davis MJ, Gabriel DW. Liberibacter crescens Is a Cultured Surrogate for Functional Genomics of Uncultured Pathogenic ' Candidatus Liberibacter' spp. and Is Naturally Competent for Transformation. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2019; 109:1811-1819. [PMID: 31090497 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-04-19-0129-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
'Candidatus Liberibacter' spp. are uncultured insect endosymbionts and phloem-limited bacterial plant pathogens associated with diseases ranging from severe to nearly asymptomatic. 'Ca. L. asiaticus', causal agent of Huanglongbing or citrus "greening," and 'Ca. L. solanacearum', causal agent of potato zebra chip disease, respectively threaten citrus and potato production worldwide. Research on both pathogens has been stymied by the inability to culture these agents and to reinoculate into any host. Only a single isolate of a single species of Liberibacter, Liberibacter crescens, has been axenically cultured. L. crescens strain BT-1 is genetically tractable to standard molecular manipulation techniques and has been developed as a surrogate model for functional studies of genes, regulatory elements, promoters, and secreted effectors derived from the uncultured pathogenic Liberibacters. Detailed, step-by-step, and highly reproducible protocols for axenic culture, transformation, and targeted gene knockouts of L. crescens are described. In the course of developing these protocols, we found that L. crescens is also naturally competent for direct uptake and homology-guided chromosomal integration of both linear and circular plasmid DNA. The efficiency of natural transformation was about an order of magnitude higher using circular plasmid DNA compared with linearized fragments. Natural transformation using a replicative plasmid was obtained at a rate of approximately 900 transformants per microgram of plasmid, whereas electroporation using the same plasmid resulted in 6 × 104 transformants. Homology-guided marker interruptions using either natural uptake or electroporation of nonreplicative plasmids yielded 10 to 12 transformation events per microgram of DNA, whereas similar interruptions using linear fragments via natural uptake yielded up to 34 transformation events per microgram of DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Jain
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - L Cai
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - L A Fleites
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - A Munoz-Bodnar
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - M J Davis
- Department of Plant Pathology, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL 33850
| | - D W Gabriel
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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A high-throughput system to identify inhibitors of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus transcription regulators. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:18009-18014. [PMID: 31427509 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1905149116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Citrus greening disease, also known as huanglongbing (HLB), is the most devastating disease of Citrus worldwide. This incurable disease is caused primarily by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and spread by feeding of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri Ca L. asiaticus cannot be cultured; its growth is restricted to citrus phloem and the psyllid insect. Management of infected trees includes use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which have disadvantages. Recent work has sought to identify small molecules that inhibit Ca L. asiaticus transcription regulators, based on a premise that at least some regulators control expression of genes necessary for virulence. We describe a synthetic, high-throughput screening system to identify compounds that inhibit activity of Ca L. asiaticus transcription activators LdtR, RpoH, and VisNR. Our system uses the closely related model bacterium, Sinorhizobium meliloti, as a heterologous host for expression of a Ca L. asiaticus transcription activator, the activity of which is detected through expression of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene fused to a target promoter. We used this system to screen more than 120,000 compounds for compounds that inhibited regulator activity, but not growth. Our screen identified several dozen compounds that inhibit regulator activity in our assay. This work shows that, in addition to providing a means of characterizing Ca L. asiaticus regulators, an S. meliloti host can be used for preliminary identification of candidate inhibitory molecules.
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Krystel J, Shi Q, Shaw J, Gupta G, Hall D, Stover E. An in vitro protocol for rapidly assessing the effects of antimicrobial compounds on the unculturable bacterial plant pathogen, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. PLANT METHODS 2019; 15:85. [PMID: 31384290 PMCID: PMC6668101 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-019-0465-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most bacteria are not culturable, but can be identified through molecular methods such as metagenomics studies. Due to specific metabolic requirements and symbiotic relationships, these bacteria cannot survive on typical laboratory media. Many economically and medically important bacteria are unculturable; including phloem-limited plant pathogens like Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). CLas is the most impactful pathogen on citrus production, is vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Diaphorina citri), and lacks an effective treatment or resistant cultivars. Research into CLas pathogenicity and therapy has been hindered by the lack of persistent pure cultures. Work to date has been mostly limited to in planta studies that are time and resource intensive. RESULTS We developed and optimized an in vitro protocol to quickly test the effectiveness of potential therapeutic agents against CLas. The assay uses intact bacterial cells contained in homogenized tissue from CLas-infected ACP and a propidium monoazide (PMA) assay to measure antimicrobial activity. The applicability of PMA was evaluated; with the ability to differentiate between intact and disrupted CLas cells confirmed using multiple bactericidal treatments. We identified light activation conditions to prevent PCR interference and identified a suitable positive control for nearly complete CLas disruption (0.1% Triton-X 100). Isolation buffer components were optimized with 72 mM salt mixture, 1 mM phosphate buffer and 1% glycerol serving to minimize unwanted interactions with treatment and PMA chemistries and to maximize recovery of intact CLas cells. The mature protocol was used to compare a panel of peptides already under study for potential CLas targeting bactericidal activity and identify which were most effective. CONCLUSION This psyllid homogenate assay allows for a quick assessment of potential CLas-disrupting peptides. Comparison within a uniform isolate largely eliminates experimental error arising from variation in CLas titer between and within individual host organisms. Use of an intact vs. disrupted assay permits direct assessment of potential therapeutic compounds without generating pure cultures or conducting extensive in planta or field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Krystel
- Subtropical Insect and Horticulture Research Unit, US Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 S. Rock Rd, Ft. Pierce, FL 34945 USA
| | - Qingchun Shi
- Subtropical Insect and Horticulture Research Unit, US Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 S. Rock Rd, Ft. Pierce, FL 34945 USA
| | - Jefferson Shaw
- Subtropical Insect and Horticulture Research Unit, US Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 S. Rock Rd, Ft. Pierce, FL 34945 USA
| | - Goutam Gupta
- New Mexico Consortium, 100 Entrada Dr, Los Alamos, NM USA
| | - David Hall
- Subtropical Insect and Horticulture Research Unit, US Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 S. Rock Rd, Ft. Pierce, FL 34945 USA
| | - Ed Stover
- Subtropical Insect and Horticulture Research Unit, US Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 S. Rock Rd, Ft. Pierce, FL 34945 USA
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Cruz-Munoz M, Petrone JR, Cohn AR, Munoz-Beristain A, Killiny N, Drew JC, Triplett EW. Development of Chemically Defined Media Reveals Citrate as Preferred Carbon Source for Liberibacter Growth. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:668. [PMID: 29675013 PMCID: PMC5895721 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Liberibacter crescens is the closest cultured relative of four important uncultured crop pathogens. Candidatus L. asiaticus, L. americanus, and L. africanus are causal agents of citrus greening disease, otherwise known as huanglongling (HLB). Candidatus L. solanacearum is responsible for potato Zebra chip disease. Cultures of L. crescens grow slowly on BM-7 complex medium, while attempts to culture the Ca. Liberibacter pathogens in BM-7 have failed. Developing a defined medium for the growth of L. crescens will be useful in the study of Liberibacter metabolism and will improve the prospects for culturing the Ca. Liberibacter pathogens. Here, M15 medium is presented and described as the first chemically defined medium for the growth of L. crescens cultures that approaches the growth rates obtained with BM-7. The development of M15 was a four step process including: (1) the identification of Hi-Graces Insect medium (Hi-GI) as an essential, yet undefined component in BM-7, for the growth of L. crescens, (2) metabolomic reconstruction of Hi-GI to create a defined medium for the growth of L. crescens cultures, and (3) the discovery of citrate as the preferred carbon and energy source for L. crescens growth. The composition of M15 medium includes inorganic salts as in the Hi-GI formula, amino acids derived from the metabolomic analyses of Hi-GI, and a 10-fold increase in vitamins compared to the Hi-GI formula, with exception choline chloride, which was increased 5000-fold in M15. Since genome comparisons of L. crescens and the Ca. Liberibacter pathogens show that they are very similar metabolically. Thus, these results imply citrate and other TCA cycle intermediates are main energy sources for these pathogens in their insect and plant hosts. Thus, strategies to reduce citrate levels in the habitats of these pathogens may be effective in reducing Ca. Liberibacter pathogen populations thereby reducing symptoms in the plant host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maritsa Cruz-Munoz
- Microbiology and Cell Science Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Joseph R Petrone
- Microbiology and Cell Science Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexa R Cohn
- Microbiology and Cell Science Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alam Munoz-Beristain
- Microbiology and Cell Science Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Nabil Killiny
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jennifer C Drew
- Microbiology and Cell Science Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Eric W Triplett
- Microbiology and Cell Science Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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