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Quantification of new and archived Diaphorina citri transcriptome data using a chromosomal length D. citri genome assembly reveals the vector’s tissue-specific transcriptional response to citrus greening disease

Background Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most serious disease of citrus. HLB is caused by the obligate, intracellular bacterium “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” (CLas). CLas is transmitted by Diaphorina citri, the Asian citrus psyllid. Development of transmission blocking strategies to manage HLB relies on knowledge of CLas-D. citri interactions at the molecular level. Prior transcriptome analyses of CLas-infected and un-infected D. citri point to changes in psyllid biology due to CLas-infection. These studies relied on incomplete versions of the D. citri genome, lacked proper host plant controls, and/or were analyzed using different statistical approaches. Therefore, we used standardized experimental and computational approaches to identify differentially expressed genes in both CLas (+) and CLas (-) D. citri. The comparative analysis utilized the newest chromosomal length D. citri genome assembly Diaci_v3. In this work, we present a quantitative transcriptome analysis of excised heads, salivary glands, midguts and bacteriomes from CLas (+) and CLas (-) insects. Results Each organ had unique transcriptome profiles and responses to CLas infection. Though most psyllids were infected with CLas, CLas-derived transcripts were not detected in all organs. By analyzing the midgut dataset using both the Diaci_v1.1 and v3.0 D. citri genomes, we showed that improved genome assembly led to significant and quantifiable differences in RNAseq data interpretation. Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that future transcriptome studies on circulative, vector-borne pathogens should be conducted at the tissue specific level using complete, chromosomal-length genome assemblies for the most accurate understanding of pathogen-induced changes in vector gene expression.