My name is Rodrigo Machado and I graduated with a degree in Biotechnology from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL). I am currently a Ph.D. student at the Faculty of Science, University of Buenos Aires (UBA). My research is based at the INTA Concordia Experimental Station, specifically at the Plant Protection and Biotechnology Division. My research focuses on the early detection and identification of biomarkers, such as genes and metabolites, associated with the initial stages of Candidatus Liberibacter spp. infection in different citrus genotypes. This research involves the integration of omics data to address Huanglongbing disease (HLB) from a systems biology perspective, with the aim of developing tools for early detection of the disease. HLB, which is transmitted by an insect vector (Diaphorina citri), currently has no reliable treatment and affects all cultivars and commercial citrus species, rendering them unproductive and requiring eradication from the field. The bacteria that cause HLB cannot be cultured in vitro, and asymptomatic plants with low bacterial titers are undetectable. Based on the expertise of our group, we believe that transcriptomics and metabolomics can help identify early citrus-specific biomarkers. Achieving this goal would facilitate early detection of HLB and implementation of appropriate management practices.