Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is the pathogen of Huanglongbing, considered the most destructive citrus diseases in the world. However, the pathogen-associated host's lipid metabolism has not been studied well. In this study, targeted metabolomics covering a variety of long-chain fatty acids and their oxidation products was conducted to elucidate altered host metabolic responses of the disease for the first time. Target fatty acids and lipid oxidation products were analyzed using GC-MS/MS, and LC-MS/MS, respectively, and absolute quantification was performed using authentic standards. Fatty acid and some of lipid oxidation product signals were found to decrease in response to disease regardless of cultivar. Using a series of statistical analyses, internal relationships between fatty acids and lipid oxidation products and their metabolic network were elucidated. Based on metabolic pathway mapping, significant markers contributing to the pathological symptoms were identified. The results revealed that CLas infection might lead to alteration of long-chain fatty acid metabolism in the host, probably affecting the host's innate defense derived from fatty acids.

Omics approach reveals altered host lipid metabolism against Huanglongbing disease

2019 Spring National Meeting

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