FATE OF A GENETICALLY MODIFIED BACTERIUM IN THE FOREGUT OF THE GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER

• Author(s): Miller, Thomas; Ramirez, Jose; Lampe, David; Lauzon, Carol; Perring, Thomas;
• Abstract: The use of genetically modified symbionts is a new approach to control the spread of insect-transmitted pathogens by reducing vector competence. A symbiont-control strategy is being developed to reduce the spread of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) by Homalodisca coagulata (H. coagulata), glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS). In this study, the fate of a transformed symbiotic bacterium inside the foregut of the sharpshooter when fed on citrus and grape was assessed. TaqMan-based quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect and quantify bacterial cells remaining in the foregut at the end of four time periods. GWSS pre-exposed to the transformed bacterium (S1Axd) were observed to maintain an infectivity ratio of 40-50% at the end of a 12 day period. We observed a trend for lower S1Axd infection rate in GWSS that fed on citrus although not statistically different from the group that fed on grapevines.
• Publication Date: Dec 2005
• Journal: 2005 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium