Combining 'omics and microscopy to visualize interactions between the Asian citrus psyllid vector and the Huanglongbing pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in the insect gut

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179531
• Publication Date: 2017-06-20T17:30:21Z
• Authors: Angela Kruse; Somayeh Fattah-Ho...; Surya Saha; Richard Johnson; EricaRose Warwick; Kasie Sturgeon; Lukas Mueller; Michael J. MacCoss; Robert G. Shatters; Michelle Cilia Heck
• Keywords: Diaphorina citri; Proteome; Candidatus

Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, is an economically devastating bacterial disease of citrus. It associated with infection by the gram-negative bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). CLas transmitted Diaphorina citri, Asian psyllid (ACP). For insect transmission to occur, must be ingested during feeding on infected phloem sap and cross gut barrier gain entry into vector. To investigate effects exposure at gut-pathogen interface, we performed RNAseq mass spectrometry-based proteomics analyze transcriptome proteome, respectively, ACP tissue. resulted in changes pathways involving TCA cycle, iron metabolism, insecticide resistance insect's immune system. We identified 83 long non-coding RNAs that are responsive CLas, two which appear specific ACP. Proteomics analysis also enabled us determine Wolbachia, a symbiont ACP, undergoes proteome regulation when present. Fluorescent situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed Wolbachia inhabit same cells, but do not co-localize within those cells. cells prevalent throughout epithelial cell cytoplasm, titer more variable guts exposed insects. detected luminal membrane, puncta along actin filaments visceral muscles, rarely, association nuclei. Our study provides snapshot how copes information proteins for targeted disruption CLas-vector interactions interface.