biostudies-literatureUnknown8(1)Killiny NCitrus greening disease, caused by 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus', severely impacts citrus production worldwide. The development of sustainable control strategies for this disease is restricted by the unavailability of the bacterium in pure culture. Herein, the metabolic profile of the waxworm larvae, Galleria mellonella, was compared to that of Diaphorina citri, the vector of 'Ca. L. asiaticus'. Our findings showed that G. mellonella larvae possess the nutritional needs to host 'Ca. L. asiaticus', supporting its short-term persistence, and responds to infection with a visible immune reaction by producing melanin upon bacterial invasion. The inoculated larvae exhibit detectable bacterial titers for up to four days when inoculated with infected citrus phloem sap or D. citri haemolymph,Communications biology1398https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12484571biostudies-literatureGalleria mellonella possesses the essential nutritional needs to host the fastidious Huanglongbing bacterial pathogen 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'.PMC12484571Nehela YJones SEHijaz FKilliny NRashidi MfalseGalleria mellonella possesses the essential nutritional needs to host the fastidious Huanglongbing bacterial pathogen 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'.Citrus greening disease, caused by 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus', severely impacts citrus production worldwide. The development of sustainable control strategies for this disease is restricted by the unavailability of the bacterium in pure culture. Herein, the metabolic profile of the waxworm larvae, Galleria mellonella, was compared to that of Diaphorina citri, the vector of 'Ca. L. asiaticus'. Our findings showed that G. mellonella larvae possess the nutritional needs to host 'Ca. L. asiaticus', supporting its short-term persistence, and responds to infection with a visible immune reaction by producing melanin upon bacterial invasion. The inoculated larvae exhibit detectable bacterial titers for up to four days when inoculated with infected citrus phloem sap or D. citri haemolymph,2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-04T01:23:38.758Z2026-05-03T03:13:57.175ZS-EPMC124845714102890610.1038/s42003-025-08802-5