Peptide conjugated morpholinos for management of the huanglongbing pathosystem

Authors: SANDOVAL-MOJICA, ANDRES - University Of Florida; Hunter, Wayne; ALTMAN, SIDNEY - Yale University; PELZ-STELINSKI, KIRSTEN - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2020
Publication Date: 5/1/2020
Citation: Sandoval-Mojica, A.F., Hunter, W.B., Altman, S., Pelz-Stelinski, K. 2020. Peptide conjugated morpholinos for management of the huanglongbing pathosystem. Pest Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5877.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5877

Interpretive Summary: A new product was developed that can reduce Liberibacter asiaticus bacteria in the Asian citrus psyllid that spreads the bacteria during feeding on citrus trees. The disease called huanglongbing, HLB, (also Citrus Greening Disease), is difficult to treat and is the most serious bacterial disease of citrus worldwide. Results demonstrate the potential of Peptide conjugated morpholinos, PPMO, as a strategy for management of bacterial pathogens of fruit trees, such as huanglongbing, HLB. Research funded in part, National Institute Food & Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, award #2015-10479 Targeting microbes to control huanglongbing disease of citrus (2016-70016-24782). Research data are freely available at https://citrusgreening.org/, to advance all research on solutions to HLB in citrus.

Technical Abstract: Peptide conjugated morpholinos, PPMO, targeting essential genes in the bacteria, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, CLas and the psyllid vector’s endosymbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia, were effective treatments to significantly reduce CLas, and increase psyllid mortality. CLas, the causal agent of the devastating citrus disease huanglongbing, HLB, is transmitted during feeding by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). A potential approach for treating CLas infection is the use of synthetic nucleic acid-like oligomers to silence bacterial gene expression. Research funded in part, National Institute Food & Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, award #2015-10479 Targeting microbes to control huanglongbing disease of citrus (2016-70016-24782). Genetic resources used were produced under the Citrus Greening Solutions Project (USDA-NIFA Award 2014-70016-23028) and provided essential information to develop treatment solutions. The data sets are freely available at https://citrusgreening.org/, to advance all research on solutions to HLB in citrus.