Parasitic bacteria that infect eukaryotes, such as animals and plants, often have reduced genomes, having lost important metabolic genes as a result of their host-dependent life cycles. Genomic sequencing of these bacteria has revealed their survival strategies and adaptations to parasitism. Phytoplasmas (class Mollicutes, genus 'Candidatus Phytoplasma') are intracellular bacterial pathogens of...

Acerola bushes were observed showing symptoms of shoot proliferation, generalized stunting, yellowing and decline. Since these are typically induced by phytoplasmas, this survey was carried out with the aim detecting, identifying classifying supposed phytoplasma present in symptomatic bushes. Total DNA extracted from asymptomatic samples used nested PCR conducted primer pairs R16mF2/mR1 followe...

Beginning in 2018, a new papaya disease occurred Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Affected trees exhibited symptoms including excessive shoot proliferation at the top of crown, leaf mosaic and crinkling, dieback. The was designated as Nigerian bunchy (NGPBT) disease. Since most characteristic symptom it indicative phytoplasma infection, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular diagnostic meth...

Emergence of the phytoplasma clade from an Acholeplasma-like ancestor gave rise to an intriguing group of cell wall-less prokaryotes through a remarkable and continuing evolutionary process. In a ceaseless progression, phytoplasmas have evolved reduced genomes, lost biochemical pathways for synthesis of nutrients supplied by hosts, and gained capabilities for transkingdom parasitism and pathoge...