Huanglongbing, a globally devastating citrus disease, is associated with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) and is mainly transmitted by Diaphorina citri. Verification of the distribution and dynamics of CLas in D. citri is critical to understanding CLas transmitted by vectors in nature. Here, the distribution and titers of CLas in different sexes and tissues of D. citri adults were investigated by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results showed that CLas had widespread distribution in the brain, salivary glands, digestive system, and reproductive system of both females and males, indicating a systemic infection of CLas in D. citri. Moreover, CLas fluorescence intensity and titers were significantly increased in both the digestive system and the female reproductive system with development and there was a marked decreased in both the salivary glands and the male brain, but there was no significant change in the female brain or the male reproductive system. Furthermore, the distribution and dynamics of CLas in embryos and nymphs were investigated. CLas was observed in all laid eggs and subsequent first–second-instar nymphs, indicating that a high percentage of embryos and nymphs resulting from infected D. citri mothers were infected with CLas.
‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) is an unculturable phloem-restricted α-proteobacterium associated with huanglongbing (HLB). Here, we provide the genome sequence of CLas strain CoFLP1 from its insect vector Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) collected in the department of La Guajira, Colombia. The CoFLP1 strain is composed of 1,231,639 bp with G+C 36.5% content. This study reports the first CLas genome sequence from Colombia, which will add to CLas genome resources and help to elucidate our understanding of the introduction pathway of HLB in South America.