Improved detection of citrus psorosis virus using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies

Citrus psorosis is a serious and widespread disease associated with citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), a novel filamentous negative-stranded virus in the genus Ophiovirus . Laborious and costly indexing on test plants has been the only routine diagnostic method available, but recently an antiserum usable in double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA has been prepared. Here, major improvements to the DAS-ELISA protocol, a new purification method, and production of two monoclonal antibodies (mabs) to CPsV, an IgG and an IgM are reported. A highly sensitive triple antibody sandwich (TAS) ELISA making use of the mabs is described. In glasshouse citrus the homologous virus was still detectable at a tissue dilution of 1/6250 in DAS and at 1/31250 in TAS-ELISA. Both the DAS and IgG mab-TAS formats detected all CPsV isolates so far tested (from Argentina, Italy, Lebanon, Spain and the USA). A few isolates were not detected by the IgM mab.     

Biological diversity of citrus ringspot isolates in Spain

Eight isolates of citrus ringspot were selected by symptoms induced in field trees and compared with a citrus psorosis isolate for symptom expression on several citrus species under temperature-controlled glasshouse conditions. Symptom expression in each host-isolate combination was quantified by a pathogenicity index (PI) that considered symptom intensity and the number of plants showing each symptom. A general pathogenicity index (GPI) was defined for each isolate as a weighted mean of the different PI. A wide range of symptoms could be observed depending on host-isolate combination and incubation temperature. On the basis of symptoms induced in the glasshouse, cross protecting reaction against psorosis B challenge inoculation, mechanical transmissibility to Chenopodium quinoa , and presence of a c. 48-kDa protein associated to fractions of a sucrose gradient infective on C. quinoa (Navas-Castillo et al, 1993), six of the ringspot isolates (RS-ALC, RS-SOR, RS-GR, RS-INV, RS-CV and RS-SR) could not be distinguished from the psorosis isolate used as control, whereas the other two isolates (RS-ALM and RS-BUR) were clearly different. Field symptoms induced by these two isolates also differed from those induced by psorosis or by the other ringspot isolates.     

Filamentous flexous particles and serologically related proteins of variable size associated with citrus psorosis and ringspot diseases

Filamentous flexous partic les of unusual morphology, previously associated with several ringspot isolates, were detected also in psorosis A and psorosis B isolates by serologically specific electron microscopy using an antiserum to citrus ringspot. Upon partial purification of six ringspot, six psorosis A, and three psorosis B isolates, a specific protein of 47 kDa was detected in most cases, but two isolates (one psorosis A and one ringspot) had a 46 and a 48 kDa-protein, respectively. These differences in molecular masses were observed when purification was done from different host species or from plants co-inoculated with two isolates differing by their protein size. The three types of protein were serologically related in Western blots. Our results indicate that a common virus with different strains may be involved in psorosis A, psorosis B, and ringspot diseases.     

Partial purification of a virus associated with a Spanish isolate of citrus ringspot

A citrus ringspot isolate from Star Ruby grapefruit (RS-SR) was mechanically transmitted to Chenopodium quinoa. RS-SR was partially purified by differential centrifugation, fractionation in a sucrose gradient, and agarose gel electrophoresis of selected fractions. Infectivity of concentrated extracts on C. quinoa was lost in individual fractions of the gradient, but it was recovered by combining a top and a bottom component. Both components contained a 48-kDa protein not found in similar preparations from healthy plants. After further purification the 48 kDa protein was detected at the top edge of the agarose gel. In the initial experiments a 38-kDa protein was found in the same fractions that later contained the 48-kDa protein. An antiserum obtained to the 38 kDa protein reacted in Western blots with both the 38- and the 48-kDa proteins, whereas another antiserum raised to the Florida isolate CRSV-4 (also containing a 48-kDa protein) did not react with the 38-kDa protein, indicating that the latter was probably a degradation product of the 48-kDa protein. Filamentous flexous particles were observed by serologically specific electron microscopy in crude extracts from RS-SR-infected C. quinoa plants. These results indicate that RS-SR is associated with a two-component virus similar to those associated with several psorosis and ringspot isolates, and serologically related to CRSV-4.     

烟草环斑病毒RT-Realtime PCR检测方法

烟草环斑病毒(Tobacco ringspotvirus,TRSV)是我国公布的二类检疫危险性有害生物,对农业生产危害较大。受该病毒侵染的一些寄主植物出现隐症,并伴随病毒浓度降低,给检测工作造成困难。根据TRSV外壳蛋白基因序列设计合成了一对引物及一条MGB探针,优化了反应条件,建立了TRSV实时荧光RT-PCR检测方法。该方法与常规的DAS-ELISA方法和RT-PCR方法相比,灵敏度分别提高了200倍和4倍,并且对不同寄主上的TRSV均有较好的检测效果。     

蚕豆萎蔫病毒ELISA检测系统建立及其应用

 从制备的蚕豆萎蔫病毒(BBWV)抗血清中提纯IgG,并用过碘酸钠法进行辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)标记,建立了DAS-ELISA检测BBWV的方法。DAS-ELISA检测时包被IgG以26.9 μg/ml效果最好,HRP-IgG结合物以1800~11600效果最佳。DAS-ELISA检测BBWV病叶粗汁液的最大稀释度为1 320,检测提纯病毒的最低浓度为0.744 μg/ml。田间病样测定表明,BBWV在蚕豆、豌豆、豇豆、大豆、茄子和辣椒等作物上发生很普遍,在菜豆上也有零星发生,而在莴苣、芹菜、白菜、萝卜、花椰菜上未测到BBWV。DAS-ELISA检测结果与生物学检测结果基本相符,符合率达97.6%。     

Detection of Citrus psorosis virus in field trees by direct tissue blot immunoassay in comparison with ELISA, symptomatology, biological indexing and cross-protection tests

Serological detection of Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) by direct tissue blot immunoassay (DTBIA) and by double (DAS) and triple (TAS) antibody sandwich ELISA, was compared in samples from various citrus varieties growing in the glasshouse and in the field. In young shoots and leaves, CPsV was readily detected by the three procedures, whereas DTBIA detection in old leaves was less consistent. DTBIA detection and ELISA readings in nine different citrus varieties were similar, suggesting that CPsV accumulates to equivalent levels in all of them. In infected field trees from Spain or Italy, CPsV was consistently detected by TAS ELISA, even in samples of old leaves in winter, whereas DTBIA detection in the same trees was reliable only when using young shoots. Detection of CPsV by DTBIA and by DAS and TAS ELISA in previously untested field trees correlated perfectly with psorosis diagnostics based on biological indexing, specifically with the capacity of those sources to cross-protect against challenge inoculation with psorosis B. Some trees without bark scaling were shown to be psorosis-infected by biological indexing and to contain CPsV by serological tests; other trees showing psorosis-like bark or leaf symptoms in the field were shown to be psorosis-free by biological indexing and also CPsV-free by serology. This is the first time that the presence of CPsV has been correlated with psorosis infection as diagnosed by biological indexing.     

云南西瓜银灰斑驳病毒病害的鉴定

 应用DAS-ELISA和RT-PCR方法从褪绿和银色斑驳的西瓜叶片中检测到病毒分离物（WSMoV-YN）,感病样品能与WSMoV/GBNV复合抗血清（Agdia）呈阳性反应。获得WSMoV N蛋白的多克隆抗体,抗体能与WSMoV血清组成员CaCV和TZSV反应,但不能与INSV、TSWV、HCRV和GYSV反应。为明确引起该病害的病毒种类,采用Tospovirus通用引物对样品的总RNA进行RT-PCR扩增,获得长度为3 554 nt的S RNA全序列,经Blastn比对分析与WSMoV中国台湾分离物同源性最高,为95.8%,其N和NSs蛋白氨基酸序列同源性分别为99%和97.6%。构建系统进化树发现,西瓜银灰斑驳病毒云南分离物（WSMoV-YN）与其他WSMoV聚为一支。确定引起云南西瓜病害的病毒为WSMoV。     

烟草环斑病毒和番茄环斑病毒的半巢式RT-PCR检测

烟草环斑病毒(Tobacco ringspot virus,TRSV)和番茄环斑病毒(Tomato ringspot virus,ToRSV)是我国禁止入境的检疫性有害生物。采用半巢式RT-PCR方法对这两种病毒进行了检测,用Trizol快速提取病毒总RNA,并根据TRSV和ToRSV的外壳蛋白基因设计特异性引物,经过第一轮RT- PCR和第二轮半巢式PCR扩增,TRSV样本分别得到359 bp和206 bp特异性片段,ToRSV样本分别得到340 bp和219 bp特异性片段。半巢式RT-PCR扩增产物的测序表明,TRSV产物序列与GenBank中登录的外壳蛋白基因存在88%～97%的同源性,ToRSV产物序列与GenBank中登录的外壳蛋白基因存在96%～100%的同源性。研究显示,DAS-ELISA与RT-PCR的检测灵敏度相近,而半巢式RT-PCR的检测灵敏度比这两种方法高出10~3倍以上。     

Detection of Citrus Psorosis Virus by ELISA, Molecular Hybridization, RT-PCR and Immunosorbent Electron Microscopy and its Association with Citrus Psorosis Disease

Psorosis is a citrus disease of undemonstrated etiology that can be diagnosed by biological indexing on sweet orange seedlings followed by a cross protection test. Its presumed causal agent is Citrus psorosis virus(CPsV), type species of the genus Ophiovirus. We compared detection of CPsV by ELISA, RT-PCR, molecular hybridization and immunosorbent electron microscopy, and examined its association with psorosis disease in 11 biologically characterized isolates and in 47 uncharacterized field sources by observation of field symptoms and by biological indexing including the cross protection test. Detection of CPsV by any of the four procedures always coincided with diagnosis of psorosis by cross protection, but it did not always correlate with observation of symptoms thought to be specific, in field trees or in graft-inoculated indicator plants. Trials to detect CPsV by ELISA, molecular hybridization and RT-PCR in citrus sources from different geographical origins, presumed to be psorosis-infected on the basis of field symptoms or reaction of indicator plants, were sometimes unsuccessful, indicating that psorosis symptoms may be induced by causes other than CPsV.     

Molecular Variability of the Capsid Protein of the Prune Dwarf Virus

Sequences of the capsid protein gene and the preceding intergenic region of eleven isolates of prune dwarf virus from central Europe were determined. The isolates were obtained from plum, cherry and peach trees. Comparison of all sequenced isolates (including two sequences published previously) revealed high (88%) conservation of the capsid protein gene. The highest degree of identity was observed in the C-terminal half, where only 13 amino acid substitutions could be observed in contrast to the N-terminal half with 22 substitutions. No reasonable correlation between amino acid substitutions and host species and/or geographic origin of the isolates was observed. Alignment with capsid protein genes of other ilarviruses revealed apple mosaic virus, elm mottle virus, lilac ring mottle virus and prunus necrotic ringspot virus as the most related to prune dwarf virus. Unlike the isolates of related prunus necrotic ringspot virus all the isolates of prune dwarf virus shared extensive conservation of the intergenic region. Portions of RNA3 were selected for design of universal primers for PCR detection.     

Association of citrus psorosis B symptoms with a sequence variant of the Citrus psorosis virus RNA 2

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), the type species of genus Ophiovirus, is the presumed causal agent of a bark scaling disease in citrus plants. CPsV virions are kinked filaments composed of three negative‐strand RNA molecules and a ～48‐kDa coat protein. The virus induces two different syndromes: psorosis A (PsA), characterized by limited bark scaling lesions in the trunk and main limbs, and a more aggressive form of the disease called psorosis B (PsB) with rampant bark lesions affecting even thin branches and chlorotic blotches in old leaves. In the greenhouse, the PsA and PsB syndromes can be induced by graft inoculating healthy citrus seedlings with non‐lesion or with lesion bark inoculum from PsA‐affected field trees. PsA‐ and PsB‐inducing CPsV sub‐isolates obtained by this procedure from the same tree showed identical single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) profiles in homologous segments of the RNAs 1 and 3, whereas segments of the RNA 2 enabled discrimination between PsA‐ and PsB‐associated sequence variants. SSCP analysis of the RNA 2 population present in different tissues of psorosis‐infected plants showed that: (i) PsA‐inducing isolates contain PsB‐associated sequence variants at low frequency, (ii) the PsB‐associated sequence variant is predominant in blistered twigs and gummy pustules affecting old leaves, characteristic of PsB isolates, and (iii) the PsB‐associated sequence variant accumulates preferentially in bark lesions of the trunk and limbs. SSCP analysis of the RNA 2 population also enabled monitoring of interference between PsA‐ and PsB‐associated variants in plants co‐inoculated with both psorosis types.     

Detection of quarantine viruses of potato by ELISA

According to EC regulations, imported material of tuber-forming Solarium spp. has to be tested for the absence of defined quarantine viruses. In order to allow an efficient and timesaving application of the quarantine inspection procedure, antisera have been developed and scrutinized for their use by the ELISA technique. The viruses concerned were Andean potato latent virus (APLV), Andean potato mottle virus (APMV), arracacha virus B oca strain (AVB-O), potato virus T (PVT) and tobacco ringspot virus Andean potato calico strain (TRSV-Ca). The results show that all viruses can be reliably detected by double-antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA. The detection limits were in the range ≤ 1–32 ng ml⁻¹. The strain specificity by DAS-ELISA of the antisera for APLV and APMV was overcome by mixing antisera from the different strains and strain groups, respectively. Strains C and Lm of APMV seemed to be serologically identical. A comparison of the suceptibility of several wild species of tuber-forming Solanum with that of several cultivars of Solanum tuberosum showed a higher frequency of infection in the wild species.     

从云南蝴蝶兰上检测到番茄斑萎病毒属病毒

 应用电镜观察、DAS-ELISA以及RT-PCR检测,从症状表现黄化、环斑的云南蝴蝶兰(Phalaenopsis amabilis)病样中分离得到的一个病毒分离物Tospo-Pha。该分离物粒子近球形、具包膜、直径约90nm,与番茄斑萎病毒属(Tospovirus)的西瓜银色斑驳病毒(Watermelon silver mosaic virus,WSMoV)/花生芽坏死病毒(Groundnut bud necrosis virus,GBNV)复合抗血清呈强阳性反应,分子检测发现该分离物SRNA5'末端序列与CaCV大岩桐分离物(CaCV-Gloxinia)同源性最高(91.0%),在系统进化树中与CaCV聚于同一分支。上述结果表明,从云南蝴蝶兰中分离到的Tospo-Pha属于Tospovirus病毒。     

Effective Application of DAS-ELISA for Detection of Grapevine Leafroll Associated Closterovirus-3 Using a Polyclonal Antiserum Developed from Recombinant Coat Protein

A polyclonal antiserum (As163) specific to grapevine leafroll associated closterovirus-3 (GLRaV-3) was developed using a recombinant coat protein expressed in E. coli from a cDNA clone identified after immunoscreening of a cDNA library. Specificity of the antiserum to GLRaV-3 was shown by Western blot and immunosorbent electron microscopy. With this antiserum, an effective double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) was developed for GLRaV-3 detection. To evaluate the sensitivity of the antiserum in DAS-ELISA for virus detection, different combinations of antibodies were compared. Although best results were obtained when As163 was used for coating and a monoclonal antibody (MabNY1.1) was used as an enzyme conjugate, good results were also obtained when As163 was used both for coating and as an enzyme conjugate. Using this As163–Mab system in DAS-ELISA, we confirmed the presence of GLRaV-3 in a diverse collection of leafroll infected vines.