Garnier M, Foissac X, Gaurivaud P, Laigret F, Renaudin J, Saillard C, Bové J M
UMR génomique-développement-pouvoir pathogène, laboratoire de biologie cellulaire et moléculaire, Institut de biologie végétale moléculaire, Inra BP 81, 33883 Villenave d'Ornon, France.
C R Acad Sci III. 2001 Oct;324(10):923-8. doi: 10.1016/s0764-4469(01)01372-5.
Plant pathogenic mycoplasmas were discovered by electron microscopy, in 1967, long after the discovery and culture in 1898 of the first pathogenic mycoplasma of animal origin, Mycoplasma mycoides. Mycoplasmas are Eubacteria of the class Mollicutes, a group of organisms phylogenetically related to Gram-positive bacteria. Their more characteristic features reside in the small size of their genomes, the low guanine (G) plus cytosine (C) content of their genomic DNA and the lack of a cell wall. Plant pathogenic mycoplasmas are responsible for several hundred diseases and belong to two groups: the phytoplasmas and the spiroplasmas. The phytoplasmas (previously called MLOs, for mycoplasma like organisms) were discovered first; they are pleiomorphic, and have so far resisted in vitro cultivation. Phytoplasmas represent the largest group of plant pathogenic Mollicutes. Only three plant pathogenic spiroplasmas are known today. Spiroplasma citri, the agent of citrus stubborn was discovered and cultured in 1970 and shown to be helical and motile. S. kunkelii is the causal agent of corn stunt. S. phoeniceum, responsible for periwinkle yellows, was discovered in Syria. There are many other spiroplasmas associated with insects and ticks. Plant pathogenic mycoplasmas are restricted to the phloem sieve tubes in which circulates the photosynthetically-enriched sap, the food for many phloem-feeding insects (aphids, leafhoppers, psyllids, etc.). Interestingly, phytopathogenic mycoplasmas are very specifically transmitted by leafhoppers or psyllid species. In this paper, the most recent knowledge on phytopathogenic mycoplasmas in relation with their insect and plant habitats is presented as well as the experiments carried out to control plant mycoplasma diseases, by expression of mycoplasma-directed-antibodies in plants (plantibodies).
植物病原支原体是在1967年通过电子显微镜发现的，这距离1898年发现并培养出第一种动物源致病性支原体——丝状支原体已经过去了很久。支原体是柔膜菌纲的真细菌，这是一类在系统发育上与革兰氏阳性菌相关的生物。它们更具特征性的特点在于基因组规模小、基因组DNA中鸟嘌呤（G）加胞嘧啶（C）的含量低以及缺乏细胞壁。植物病原支原体可引发数百种病害，分为两组：植原体和螺原体。植原体（以前称为类支原体生物，即MLOs）最早被发现；它们形态多样，迄今为止仍无法在体外培养。植原体是植物病原柔膜菌中最大的一组。目前已知的植物病原螺原体只有三种。柑橘僵化病菌——柑橘螺原体于1970年被发现并培养出来，呈螺旋状且具有运动性。库氏螺原体是玉米矮化病的病原体。引发长春花黄化病的腓尼基螺原体是在叙利亚发现的。还有许多其他与昆虫和蜱有关的螺原体。植物病原支原体局限于韧皮部筛管，光合产物丰富的汁液在其中循环，而这些汁液是许多以韧皮部为食的昆虫（蚜虫、叶蝉、木虱等）的食物。有趣的是，植物病原植原体非常特异性地由叶蝉或木虱传播。本文介绍了有关植物病原支原体与其昆虫和植物栖息地相关的最新知识，以及通过在植物中表达针对支原体的抗体（植物抗体）来防治植物支原体病害所进行的实验。
