Preliminary investigation of the causal agent(s) of a disease causing leaf curl of tobacco in South Africa

A high incidence (86%) of potyvirus infection was noted in tobacco plants exhibiting a form of leaf curl in South Africa. Despite leaf curl being reported in the literature to be of geminiviral aetiology, no geminiviruses were detected. Furthermore, no other virus particles were detected by virus purification, TEM and serology. Twelve species of dsRNA were consistently isolated from these tobacco plants, but were absent from other forms of leaf curl-affected and healthy tobacco. Aphid and mechanical inoculation demonstrated that the purified potyvirus(es) did not cause leaf curl symptoms, but rather mild mottle and mosaic symptoms in tobacco. Partial characterization of the potyvirus preparation showed a possible relationship to a South African strain of potato virus Y. Because potyvirus-inoculated plants did not manifest leaf curl symptoms, and because leaf curl symptoms were noted in some plants not infected with a potyvirus, it was concluded that the potyvirus is not involved in the leaf curl aetiology, but causes a latent infection, the symptoms of which are masked. The pattern of the dsRNA banding, induction of enations and lack of mechanical and seed transmission are common to plant reoviruses. The possibility of a phytoreovirus involvement in this form of leaf curl is currently being investigated. The results from this study suggest that tobacco leaf curl disease worldwide, with regard to geminiviruses, be re-evaluated.     

双生病毒复制增强蛋白C3/AC3的研究进展

双生病毒作为全球范围内引起作物严重病害的单链DNA病毒，编码多种多功能蛋白，其帮助自身完成复制、转录、组装、移动和致病等生命过程，其中双生病毒的复制增强蛋白C3/AC3在病毒侵染初期可促进病毒复制，提高病毒积累水平以帮助其快速建立侵染。为深入解析C3/AC3蛋白的功能和双生病毒致病机制，该文概述双生病毒C3/AC3蛋白的基本生物学特性及其在病毒侵染过程中的功能，重点阐述C3/AC3蛋白与其他蛋白及寄主因子互作以促进病毒复制的分子机制，同时针对双生病毒复制机制和C3/AC3蛋白的功能解析进行展望。     

Variability in Geminivirus Isolates Associated with Phaseolus spp. in Brazil

ABSTRACT Bean golden mosaic geminivirus (BGMV) is the single most devastating virus of common beans in the tropical and subtropical Americas and the Caribbean Basin. The BGMV from Brazil, named BGMV-BZ, is considered distinct from BGMV-PR isolates from Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic because of DNA sequence data, the ability to form pseudorecombinants, and mechanical transmissibility properties. In bean-growing areas of Brazil, samples were collected from beans, lima beans, and the weed Leonurus sibiricus displaying typical symptoms of infection by geminiviruses. Viral DNA fragments comprising part of the rep gene, the common region, and part of the cp gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, cloned, and sequenced. The bean samples had geminivirus with sequences nearly identical to that of BGMV-BZ collected in Goiania, state of Goiás, in 1986. The sample from lima bean contained a new species of geminivirus that induces symptoms similar to those induced by BGMV-BZ and was named lima bean golden mosaic virus (LBGMV-BR). While all sequences from bean samples clustered with BGMV-BZ, the sequence from the lima bean isolate stood alone. A mixed infection with abutilon mosaic geminivirus was also found in a single sample from the state of S?o Paulo. DNA sequence comparisons indicate that the virus isolate from L. sibiricus represents a new geminivirus species, designated here as leonurus mosaic virus.     

Signal Transduction in Resistance to Plant Viruses

Salicylic acid is part of a signal transduction pathway that induces resistance to viruses, bacteria and fungi. In tobacco and Arabidopsis the defensive signal transduction pathway branches downstream of salicylic acid. One branch induces PR-1 proteins and resistance to bacteria and fungi, while the other triggers induction of resistance to RNA and DNA viruses. This virus-specific branch can be activated using antimycin A and cyanide, or inhibited with salicylhydroxamic acid, suggesting a role for alternative oxidase in resistance to viruses. The virus-specific defensive pathway activates multiple resistance mechanisms. In tobacco, salicylic acid induces resistance to systemic movement of cucumber mosaic virus but has no effect on its replication or cell-to-cell movement. However, in the case of tobacco mosaic virus in tobacco, salicylic acid appears to induce interference with the synthesis of viral RNA.     

Tomato dwarf leaf curl virus, a new bipartite geminivirus associated with tomatoes and peppers in Jamaica and mixed infection with tomato yellow leaf curl virus

Genomic characterization using nonradioactive probes, polymerase chain reaction with degenerate primers for whitefly transmitted geminiviruses and nucleotide sequencing were used to describe a new bipartite geminivirus, associated with dwarfing and leaf curling of tomatoes and peppers in Jamaica. Partial DNA-A and DNA-B clones were obtained. DNA sequence analysis showed that tomato and pepper samples have a similar geminivirus associated with them. Nucleotide sequence identity > 92% between the common regions of DNA-A and DNA-B confirmed the bipartite nature of the Jamaican geminivirus isolates. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of DNA-A and DNA-B with those of geminiviruses representing the major phylogenetic groups of Western Hemisphere geminiviruses showed the greatest similarity to potato yellow mosaic virus and members of the Abutilon mosaic virus cluster of geminiviruses. This new virus is given the name tomato dwarf leaf curl virus (TDLCV) because of the dwarfing and leaf curling symptoms associated with infected tomato plants. Polymerase chain reaction and Southern hybridization showed mixed infections of TDLCV with tomato yellow leaf curl virus from Israel in 16% of the field samples of tomatoes and peppers.     

嵌合蛋白MoSlp1-AtCERK1作为抗病激发子的研究

本研究通过DNA体外重组技术,将稻瘟病菌MoSlp1基因和拟南芥几丁质寡糖受体基因AtCERK1的跨膜结构域和胞内结构域基因融合,构成嵌合基因MoSlp1-AtCERK1。在烟草瞬时表达试验中,MoSlp1-AtCERK1嵌合蛋白诱导烟草产生以过敏性坏死为表现形式的过敏反应。以带有MoSlp1-AtCERK1蛋白的农杆菌注射烟草,可增强烟草对烟草花叶病毒的抗病性。同时提高烟草的PR-1基因转录表达水平,表明MoSlp1-AtCERK1嵌合蛋白基因通过水杨酸信号传导的途径激活烟草系统获得性抗病。     

Studies on poly(acrylic acid) induced resistance to viral and non-viral plant pathogens

Studies on polymer size, concentration and mode of application, either as foliar spray or soil drench, in relation to the induction of resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in Nicotiana tabacum cv xanthi-nc by poly(acrylic acid) (PA) are reported. PA also induced resistance to TMV in N. glutinosa, to pelargonium leaf curl virus in Datura stramonium, to cucumber mosaic virus in Vigna sinensis and to tobacco ring-spot virus in N. tabacum cv White Burley. No TMV was detected in PA-treated tomato cv Virocross 11 days after inoculation; but the susceptible cultivar Craigella became infected. PA treatment had no effect on TMV replication in White Burley tobacco but resistance was induced to Peronospora tabacina, a fungal pathogen of N. tabacum cv xanthi-nc. The potential of PA-induced resistance as a control measure for viruses and fungi is discussed.     

A single amino Acid change in viral genome-associated protein of potato virus y correlates with resistance breaking in 'virgin a mutant' tobacco

ABSTRACT Tobacco cultivar Virgin A Mutant (VAM) is reported to have the recessive potyvirus resistance gene va. Varied levels of resistance were observed in VAM plants inoculated with Japanese potato virus Y (PVY) isolates. VAM was highly resistant to most of the PVY isolates tested and tolerant to three necrotic strain isolates of PVY-T. Based on data obtained from tissue printing and press blotting, the resistance appeared to be mainly at the level of cell-to-cell movement. PVY replicated in VAM proto-plasts, but the replication was 30% lower than in susceptible tobacco, suggesting that impairment of replication also contributes to resistance. To identify the viral gene product or products involved in VAM resistance, we isolated spontaneous resistance-breaking mutants by passing vein-banding (O strain) isolates several times through VAM plants. By comparing the amino acid sequences of the mutants with their original isolates, we identified a single amino acid substitution in the viral genome-associated protein (VPg) domain that is correlated with VAM resistance breaking. Together, these results suggest that, in addition to its role in replication, VPg plays an important role in the cell-to-cell movement of PVY.     

香蕉束顶病毒海口分离物Rep基因的克隆、原核表达、抗血清制备及检测

［目的］ 对香蕉束顶病毒(Banana bunchy top virus,BBTV)海口分离物起始蛋白(replication initiation proteins, Rep)基因进行克隆、原核表达、抗血清制备,为BBTV有效的检测及分子流行病学等研究奠定基础。［方法］ 以海口地区染病香蕉幼嫩假茎和叶片的总DNA为模板,通过PCR技术克隆BBTV海口分离物的起始蛋白基因,连接到表达载体并进行大肠杆菌原核表达,制备高效价特异性抗血清。［结果］ 应用PCR方法从染毒香蕉幼嫩假茎和叶片总DNA中扩增复制rep基因,回收目的片段后经酶切,获得了含BBTV Rep基因的重组质粒pET32b Rep。将重组质粒转化E.coli BL21(DE3),经不同的时间、温度及IPTG浓度优化,12% SDS PAGE电泳分析,在20 ℃、0.1 mmol/L IPTG条件诱导4h,最终获得大量的可溶性融合蛋白。将可溶性蛋白上清液经Ni2+ NTA亲和层析柱纯化,得到高纯度的融合蛋白。用纯化后的融合蛋白免疫家兔,获得了BBTV Rep蛋白抗血清。以融合蛋白做抗原,间接ELISA法测定抗血清效价大于125 000。以田间样品做抗原时,结果表明抗血清最佳工作浓度为1∶1 000。Western blot鉴定结果表明抗血清能与融合蛋白特异性结合。［结论］ 利用Rep基因制备的特异性抗血清在BBTV病毒粒体的组装机制研究及病毒病诊断上具有重要的应用价值。     

Genetic aspects of polyacrylic-acid-induced resistance to tobacco mosaic virus and tobacco necrosis virus in Nicotiana plants

Among the Nicotiana tabacum cultivars and hybrids tested, polyacrylic acid (PAA) only induced resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and tobacco necrosis virus (TNV) in the cultivars Xanthi-nc (NN) and Xanthi (nn) respectively. This varietal response to the PAA treatment could be sexually transmitted. The complete genetic analysis of the inheritance of the PAA response is reported for the first time, demonstrating that the response is a dominant character with a Mendelian segregation which occurs independently of either the N gene responsible for resistance to TMV or the PRb-protein genes. Possible relationships between the N gene, the gene for the PAA response and the PRb genes are discussed.     

Identification of a defective molecule derived from DNA-A of the bipartite begomovirus of East African cassava mosaic virus

Geminivirus defective interfering DNAs arise spontaneously in mechanically inoculated test plants, and have previously been found with DNA-B of the bipartite cassava mosaic geminiviruses, but not DNA-A. Reported here for the first time is the cloning and characterization of a naturally occurring truncated form of cassava mosaic geminivirus DNA-A, which at 1525 nt is around half the expected full size. Sequence analysis has shown it to be a defective (df) form of East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV) DNA-A that has retained its cis elements essential for replication by the helper virus, and it has been termed df DNA-A 15. Phylogenetic comparisons placed the df DNA-A 15 molecule close to mild and severe isolates of EACMV-UG2. Biolistic inoculation of Nicotiana benthamiana with infectious df DNA-A 15 clone and East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus (EACMCV) resulted in symptom amelioration as compared with EACMCV singly inoculated plants, and there was an accumulation of df DNA-A 15 in systemically infected leaves. In addition, the level of EACMV DNA-B accumulation was reduced in the coinoculated plants compared with those inoculated with EACMCV alone. PCR and sequence analysis confirmed the helper virus as EACMV.     

A geminivirus causing vein yellowing of Ageratum conyzoides in Singapore

A vein-yellowing disease of Ageratum conyzoides in Singapore was shown to be caused by a geminivirus, here named ageratum yellow vein virus (AYVV), which was transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci but not by inoculation with sap or through seed. AYVV particles (30 × 20 nm) are serologically related to those of other whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses, and reacted with some monoclonal antibodies elicited by particles of African cassava mosaic or Indian cassava mosaic geminiviruses. However, the epitope profile of AYVV differed from the profiles of these viruses, and from those of geminiviruses from vein yellowing-affected A. conyzoides from India and from yellow leaf curl-affected tomato from either Singapore or India. The results provide further evidence of antigenic differences among geminiviruses that cause similar diseases in the same plant species in different geographical regions.     

Effect of pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) on the infection of plant viruses

At a concentration of 0.4 μg purified pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP)/ml, the formation of local lesions on tobacco leaves caused by tobacco mosaic virus infection was completely inhibited and at 25 ng PAP/ ml. 68% inhibition was still obtained. PAP protected plants from infection by viruses from seven virus groups-five RNA viruses: tobacco mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, alfalfa mosaic virus, potato virus X and potato virus Y; and two DNA viruses: African cassava mosaic virus (ssDNA) and cauliflower mosaic virus (dsDNA). Virus infection was probably blocked by PAP at a very early stage. PAP infiltrated into the intercellular spaces through the lower surfaces of leaves inhibited infection by virus inoculated on the upper leaf surface, and partially prevented PVY transmission by aphids. However. PAP did not show any activity against two bacterial and six fungal pathogens.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7NSK2-induced Systemic Resistance in Tobacco Depends on in planta Salicylic Acid Accumulation but is not Associated with PR1a Expression

Root colonization by rhizobacteria can induce a systemic resistance in plants that is phenotypically similar to systemic acquired resistance induced by a localized pathogen infection. We used the tobacco–tobacco mosaic virus model to investigate whether the systemic resistance induced by the rhizobacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7NSK2 is mediated by the systemic acquired resistance signal transduction pathway. Experiments with nahG-transformed tobacco revealed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7NSK2-induced resistance depended on in planta salicylic acid accumulation for its expression but not for its induction and is, in this respect, similar to systemic acquired resistance. However, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7NSK2-induced resistance was, unlike systemic acquired resistance, not associated with PR1a expression at the time of challenge with tobacco mosaic virus. This suggests that Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7NSK2 treatment would only potentiate defense gene expression in systemic tissue, which would also explain why its level of resistance is lower than in case of systemic acquired resistance. Because we demonstrated that induced resistance by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7NSK2 exclusively depends on the production of salicylic acid by this strain our conclusions might also account for other salicylic acid-producing and resistance-inducing rhizobacteria.     

Complementation of coat protein mutants of pepper huasteco geminivirus in transgenic tobacco plants

ABSTRACT The role of the pepper huasteco virus (PHV) coat protein (CP) gene during the infection was investigated in three different hosts by using mutations that produced truncated proteins and by complementation assays in transgenic plants. The infectivity analysis revealed that mutants that express truncated CP (CP7 and CP191) behave like the wild-type virus when inoculated onto pepper and Nicotiana benthamiana plants in terms of symptom expression and viral DNA movement. On the contrary, the CP7 mutant was unable to systemically infect tobacco plants, whereas only 10% of the plants inoculated with the CP191 mutant became infected. The CP7 mutant was complemented by coinoculating it with another geminivirus (taino tomato mottle virus). No complementation was observed in plants from nine transgenic tobacco lines expressing CP under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. However, 3 out of 10 lines expressing CP under the control of its own promoter (693 nucleotides) were able to complement the CP7 mutant. Interestingly, upon infection, the levels of CP mRNA in 693CP plants increased dramatically, probably due to transactivation of the CP promoter by the viral protein AC2.     

Association of the inhibitor of virus replication with resistance mechanisms in pepper cultivars

The kinetics of accumulation of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and the S strain of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMV) in resistant and susceptible pepper cultivars was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Crude protein extracts from noninoculated leaves of the resistant cultivar significantly inhibited TMV replication in tobacco protoplasts. Inoculation with either TMV or PMMV-S caused a slight increase in its inhibitory potency. In contrast, protein extracts from either inoculated or noninoculated leaves of the susceptible cultivar did not inhibit TMV replication in tobacco protoplasts. The protein extracts from the resistant cultivar gave a positive reaction with antibodies against the tobacco inhibitor of virus replication (IVR) in western blotting. The putative role of this IVR-like protein from the resistant cultivar in resistance against TMV is discussed.     

β-Aminobutyric acid-mediated enhancement of resistance in tobacco to tobacco mosaic virus depends on the accumulation of salicylic acid

A number of chemical and biological agents are known as inducers of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in tobacco plants. In the present study, a local spray application of the non-protein amino acid DL-β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) was effective in enhancing resistance to TMV in tobacco plants containing the N gene. In contrast, the isomer α-aminobutyric acid (AABA) showed a much lower activity whereas γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was completely inactive, indicating a strong isomer specificity of aminobutyric acid in triggering enhanced virus resistance.Rapid cell death was detected in tobacco leaf tissues after foliar application of BABA, subsequently resulting in the development of macroscopically visible, necrotic lesions. BABA-induced cell death was associated with the rapid generation of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. As further consequences, the occurrence of lipid peroxidation in treated tissues, a local and systemic increase of salicylic acid (SA) levels and the expression of PR-1a, a molecular marker of SAR in tobacco, could be observed. None of these responses was detectable after treatment with GABA.Enhancement of virus resistance by BABA was found to be strictly dependent on SA-mediated signal transduction since it could not be detected in salicylate hydroxylase (nahG) expressing transgenic tobacco plants. These findings suggest that in tobacco, primary processes triggered by foliar application of BABA, resemble those initiated by microbes during a hypersensitive response (HR) that result in SAR activation.