Spiroplasma citri induced a specific immune response compared to Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus.
Activation of phagocytosis is observed in Circulifer haematoceps after S. citri infection.
S. citri promotes a continuous phenoloxydase activity decrease in insect hemolymph.
We succeed in using RNA interference to inhibit the transcription of hexamerin gene.
Hexamerin is required for full PO activity and insect surviving to S. citri infection.