Citrus represents one of the most widely grown crops on planet, extensively cultivated for both fresh fruit and juice markets. The productivity citrus orchards can be seriously affected by highly aggressive pathogenic bacteria, such as Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, Xylella fastidiosa pauca currently Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. Different microbiological biocontrol agents have been descr...

Huanglongbing is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus (Citrus spp.). One management tactic against huanglongbing is aggressive management of the vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama), with insecticide applications. However, D. citri in abandoned groves are not controlled and therefore pose a risk of reinfestation for nearby commercial citrus. These abandoned gro...

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive citrus disease worldwide. HLB is associated with three species of the phloem-limited, gram-negative, fastidious α-proteobacteria: Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), Ca. L. americanus (Lam), and Ca. L. africanus (Laf) with Las being the most widespread species. Las has not been cultured in artificial media, which has greatly hampered our e...

Bovine digital dermatitis (DD) is the most important infectious disease associated with lameness in cattle worldwide. Since the disease was first described in 1974, a series of Treponema species concurrent with other microbes have been identified in DD lesions, suggesting a polymicrobial etiology. However, the pathogenesis of DD and the source of the causative microbes remain unclear. Here we c...

Real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) has emerged as an accurate and widely used technique for expression profiling of selected genes. However, obtaining reliable measurements depends on the selection of appropriate reference genes for gene expression normalization. The aim of this work was to assess the expression stability of 15 candidate genes to determine which set of reference gene...

BACKGROUND Vector-borne plant disease management can be enhanced by deployment of antifeedants in addition to the use of broad-spectrum neurotoxic insecticides. The effects of pymetrozine on Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, feeding behaviour, survival and transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), the presumed causal pathogen of huanglongbing, were investigat...

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is one of the most important pests of citrus (Citrus spp.) because of its status as a vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), the bacterium associated with citrus greening disease. The use of insecticides for vector control is the primary method of managing the spread of this pathogen. Imidacloprid is an inse...

A novel candidate species of the liberibacter genus, 'Candidatus Liberibacter brunswickensis' (CLbr), was identified in the Australian eggplant psyllid, Acizzia solanicola. This is the first discovery of a species belonging to the liberibacter genus in Australia and the first report of a liberibacter species in the psyllid genus Acizzia. This new candidate liberibacter species has not been asso...