Abstract
Plant pathogenic bacteria interact with their insect host(s)/vector(s) at the cellular and molecular levels. This interaction may alter the physiology of their insect vector, which may also promote the growth and transmission of the bacterium. Here we studied the effect of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” (“Ca. L. asiaticus”) on physiochemical conditions within its insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), and whether these changes were beneficial for the pathogen. The local microenvironments inside ACPs were quantified using microelectrodes. The average hemolymph pH was significantly higher in infected ACPs (8.13 ± 0.21) than in “Ca. L. asiaticus”-free ACPs (7.29 ± 0.15). The average hemolymph oxygen tension was higher in “Ca. L. asiaticus”-free ACPs than in infected ACPs (67.13% ± 2.11% vs. 35.61% ± 1.26%). Oxygen tension reduction and pH increase were accompanied by “Ca. L. asiaticus” infection. Thus, oxygen tension of the hemolymph is an indicator of infection status, with pH affected by the severity of the infection.
Highlights
Plant pathogenic bacteria interact with their insect host(s)/vector(s) at the cellular and molecular levels
Because Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) are the carrier of the causative agent of HLB, “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus,” psyllids play a critical role in the pathology of this disease
PH and oxygen tension within the abdomen, in the hemolymph, of “Ca. L. asiaticus”-infected and -free ACPs were measured, and the average values of these two parameters were calculated for the hemolymph
Summary
Plant pathogenic bacteria interact with their insect host(s)/vector(s) at the cellular and molecular levels. Such changes in metabolite levels due to “Ca. L. asiaticus” infection can be expected to change the physiochemical conditions (pH and oxygen) inside the ACP body. PH and oxygen tension within the abdomen, in the hemolymph, of “Ca. L. asiaticus”-infected and -free ACPs were measured, and the average values of these two parameters were calculated for the hemolymph.
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