Résumé
Aphids are among the most frequent and economically important vectors of plant viruses in the world. The majority of aphid-vectorized viruses are transmitted in a non-circulative manner and are retained transiently on specific receptors on the surface of the stylets as the insects move from plant to plant. In order to identify receptors and explore the binding properties of aphid stylets, our team has developed various approaches, including "omics", microscopy techniques and 3D imaging, or gene function validation. We have shown that the proteins are not uniformly distributed in the stylets conferring local functionalization of cuticular micro-territories such as the acrostyle, a discrete structure at the apex of the maxillary stylets hosting virus receptors. Interestingly, some viruses have adapted to use this structure and hijacked the acrostyle from its original function for their own benefit. Our data recently highlighted the role of the acrostyle in the retention of a saliva effector known to modulate plant responses in the early phases of aphid feeding. The acrostyle thus acts as a platform for multiple interactions capable of binding both self and nonself molecules. Furthering our knowledge of the properties of acrostyle and the mechanisms of interaction at the surface on its surface offers avenues for disease control strategies.