Bulletin of Insectology (2007) 60, 217-218

X. Bai, E.-D. Ammar and S.A. Hogenhout (2007)
A secreted effector protein of AY-WB phytoplasma accumulates in nuclei and alters gene expression of host plant cells, and is detected in various tissues of the leafhopper Macrosteles quadrilineatus
Bulletin of Insectology 60 (2), 217-218
First International Phytoplasmologist Working Group Meeting (IPWG), Bologna (Italy) November 12-15, 2007
Abstract: Aster yellows phytoplasma strain witches' broom (AY-WB) is transmitted by the polyphageous aster leafhopper, Macrosteles quadrilineatus. AY-WB is abundantly present in cells of various aster leafhopper tissues, including midgut and salivary glands. In another study, we mined the complete genome sequence of AY-WB for genes encoding secreted proteins based on the presence of N-terminal signal peptides. This resulted in the identification of 56 secreted AY-WB proteins (SAPs), which are candidate effector proteins potentially involved in modulating the physiology of plant and insect hosts. Indeed, one SAP (SAP11) was shown to accumulate in nuclei of plant host cells and to change gene transcription profiles of plants. In this study, we show that SAP11 is present in AY-WB-infected aster leafhopper, and appears to be particularly abundant in some salivary gland cells.
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Database assignments for author(s): Saskia A. Hogenhout

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytoplasma asteris
	Macrosteles quadrilineatus