Zheng, Z.


Publications (10)

Genome Sequence Resource of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ strain 9PA From Brazil

Citation
Silva et al. (2021). Plant Disease 105 (1)
Names (1)
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Subjects
Agronomy and Crop Science Plant Science
Abstract
‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, an unculturable α-proteobacterium, is associated with citrus huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating disease threatening citrus production in Brazil and worldwide. In this study, a draft whole-genome sequence of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strain 9PA from a sweet orange (cultivar Pera) tree collected in São Paulo State, Brazil, is reported. The 9PA genome is 1,231,881 bp, including two prophages, with G+C content of 36.7%. This is the first report of a whole-genome sequence of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ from Brazil or South America. The 9PA genome sequence will enrich ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ genome resources and facilitate HLB research and control in Brazil and the world.

Prophage Diversity of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ Strains in California

Citation
Dai et al. (2019). Phytopathology® 109 (4)
Names (1)
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Subjects
Agronomy and Crop Science Plant Science
Abstract
Huanglongbing (HLB) is a highly destructive citrus disease and is associated with a nonculturable bacterium, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’. ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ in the United States was first found in Florida in 2005 and is now endemic there. In California, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ was first detected in Hacienda Heights in Los Angeles County in 2012 and has now been detected in multiple urban locations in southern California. Knowledge of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strain diversity in California is important for HLB management. In this study, genomic diversity among 10 ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains from six California locations were analyzed using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) (Illumina MiSeq and HiSeq) approach. Draft genome sequences of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains were assembled. Sequences of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and nrdB confirmed ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ identity. Prophages were detected in all ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains. The California ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains formed four prophage typing groups (PTGs): PTG1, with type 1 prophage only (strains from Anaheim, San Gabriel, and Riverside); PTG2, with type 2 prophage only (strains from Hacienda Heights); PTG1-3, with both type 1 and 3 prophages (a strain from Cerritos); and PTG1-2, with both type 1 and type 2 prophages (a strain from La Habra). Analyses of the terL sequence showed that all California ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains were not introduced from Florida but likely from locations in Asia. Miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements were found in all ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains, yet, a jumping-out event was detected in the ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strain from Cerritos. Altogether, this study demonstrated that the NGS approach focusing on prophage variation was sensitive and effective in revealing diversity of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ strains in California.

Two ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ Strains Recently Found in California Harbor Different Prophages

Citation
Zheng et al. (2017). Phytopathology® 107 (6)
Names (1)
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Subjects
Agronomy and Crop Science Plant Science
Abstract
‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), an α-proteobacterium, is associated with citrus Huanglongbing (HLB; yellow shoot disease). In California, two cases of CLas have been detected in Los Angeles County, one in Hacienda Heights in 2012 and the other in San Gabriel in 2015. Although all infected trees were destroyed in compliance with a state mandate, citrus industry stakeholder concerns about HLB in California are high. Little is known about the biology of CLas, particularly the California strains, hindering effective HLB management efforts. In this study, next-generation sequencing technology (Illumina MiSeq) was employed to characterize the California CLas strains. Data sets containing >4 billion (Giga) bp of sequence were generated from each CLas sample. Two prophages (P-HHCA1-2 and P-SGCA5-1) were identified by the MiSeq read mapping technique referenced to two known Florida CLas prophage sequences, SC1 and SC2. P-HHCA1-2 was an SC2-like or Type 2 prophage of 38,989 bp in size. P-SGCA5-1 was an SC1-like or Type 1 prophage of 37,487 bp in size. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that P-HHCA1-2 was part of an Asiatic lineage within the Type 2 prophage group. Similarly, P-SGCA5-1 was part of an Asiatic lineage within Type 1 prophage group. The Asiatic relatedness of both P-HHCA1-2 and P-SGCA5-1 was further presented by single nucleotide polymorphism analysis at terL (encoding prophage terminase) that has been established for CLas strain differentiation. The presence of different prophages suggests that the two California CLas strains could have been introduced from different sources. An alternative explanation is that there was a mixed CLas population containing the two types of prophages, and limited sampling in a geographic region may not accurately depict the true CLas diversity. More accurate pathway analysis may be achieved by including more strains collected from the regions.

Draft Genome Sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” from Diaphorina citri in Guangdong, China

Citation
Wu et al. (2015). Genome Announcements 3 (6)
Names (1)
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Subjects
Genetics Molecular Biology
Abstract
ABSTRACT The draft genome sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” strain YCPsy from an Asian citrus psyllid ( Diaphorina citri ) in Guangdong, China, is reported here. The YCPsy strain has a genome size of 1,233,647 bp, 36.5% G+C content, 1,171 open reading frames (ORFs), and 53 RNAs.

Draft Genome Sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” from a Citrus Tree in San Gabriel, California

Citation
Wu et al. (2015). Genome Announcements 3 (6)
Names (1)
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Subjects
Genetics Molecular Biology
Abstract
ABSTRACT The draft genome sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” strain SGCA5 from an orange citrus tree in San Gabriel, California, is reported here. SGCA5 has a genome size of 1,201,445 bp, a G+C content of 36.4%, 1,152 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), and 42 RNA genes.

Whole-Genome Sequence of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” from a Huanglongbing-Affected Citrus Tree in Central Florida

Citation
Zheng et al. (2015). Genome Announcements 3 (2)
Names (1)
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Subjects
Genetics Molecular Biology
Abstract
ABSTRACT Here, we report the draft genome sequence of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” strain FL17, isolated from a huanglongbing (HLB)-affected citrus tree in central Florida. The FL17 genome comprised 1,227,253 bp, with a G+C content of 36.5%, 1,175 predicted open reading frames, and 53 RNA genes.

Whole-Genome Sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” Strain R1 from California

Citation
Zheng et al. (2014). Genome Announcements 2 (6)
Names (1)
“Liberibacter solanacearum”
Subjects
Genetics Molecular Biology
Abstract
ABSTRACT The draft whole-genome sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” strain R1, isolated from and maintained in tomato plants in California, is reported. The R1 strain has the genome size of 1,204,257 bp, G+C content of 35.3%, 1,101 predicted open reading frames, and 57 RNA genes.

Draft Genome Sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” from California

Citation
Zheng et al. (2014). Genome Announcements 2 (5)
Names (1)
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Subjects
Genetics Molecular Biology
Abstract
ABSTRACT We report here the draft genome sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” strain HHCA, collected from a lemon tree in California. The HHCA strain has a genome size of 1,150,620 bp, 36.5% G+C content, 1,119 predicted open reading frames, and 51 RNA genes.

Whole-Genome Sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” from Guangdong, China

Citation
Zheng et al. (2014). Genome Announcements 2 (2)
Names (1)
Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus
Subjects
Genetics Molecular Biology
Abstract
ABSTRACT The draft genome sequence of “ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” strain A4, isolated from a mandarin citrus in Guangdong, People's Republic of China, is reported. The A4 strain has a genome size of 1,208,625 bp, G+C content of 36.4%, 1,107 predicted open reading frames, and 53 RNA genes.