A Single Amino Acid Mutation in the Plum pox virus Helper Component-Proteinase Gene Abolishes Both Synergistic and RNA Silencing Suppression Activities

ABSTRACT The effects on symptom expression of single amino acid mutations in the central region of the Plum pox virus (PPV) helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro) gene were analyzed in Nicotiana benthamiana using Potato virus X (PVX) recombinant viruses. PVX recombinant virus expressing the wild-type variant of PPV HC-Pro induced the expected enhancement of PVX pathogenicity, manifested as necrosis and plant death. Recombinant virus expressing a variant of PPV HC-Pro containing a single point mutation ( HCL(134)H) was unable to induce this synergistic phenotype. The RNA silencing suppressor activity of PPV HC-Pro was demonstrated in a transient silencing suppression assay. In contrast, the HCL(134)H mutant showed no such activity. These results indicate that a unique point mutation in PPV HC-Pro impaired its ability to suppress RNA silencing and abolished its capacity to induce synergism, and clearly shows for the first time the link between these two functions in potyvirus HC-Pro. Additionally, we compared the effects on virus accumulation in N. benthamiana plants infected with either the PVX recombinant constructs or with native viruses in double infection experiments. PVX (+) and (-) strand genomic RNA accumulated at similar levels in plants infected with PVX recombinants, leading to an increase in PVX pathology, compared with plants infected with PVX alone. This finding confirms that the enhancement of pathogenicity associated with synergistic interaction is not a consequence of more efficient PVX replication due to RNA silencing suppression by PPV HC-Pro.     

Phylogenetic relationships within the family potyviridae: wheat streak mosaic virus and brome streak mosaic virus are not members of the genus rymovirus

ABSTRACT The complete nucleotide sequence of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) has been determined based on complementary DNA clones derived from the 9,384-nucleotide (nt) RNA of the virus. The genome of WSMV has a 130-nt 5' leader and 149-nt 3'-untranslated region and is polyadenylated at the 3' end. WSMV RNA encodes a single polyprotein of 3,035 amino acid residues and has a deduced genome organization typical for a member of the family Potyviridae (5'-P1/HC-Pro/P3/6K1/CI/6K2/VPg-NIa/NIb/CP-3'). Because WSMV shares with ryegrass mosaic virus (RGMV) the biological property of transmission by eriophyid mites, WSMV has been assigned to the genus Rymovirus, of which RGMV is the type species. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted with complete polyprotein or NIb protein sequences of 11 members of the family Potyviridae, including viruses of monocots or dicots and viruses transmitted by aphids, whiteflies, and mites. WSMV and the monocot-infecting, mite-transmitted brome streak mosaic virus (BrSMV) are sister taxa and share a most recent common ancestor with the whitefly-transmitted sweet potato mild mottle virus, the type species of the proposed genus "Ipomovirus." In contrast, RGMV shares a most recent common ancestor with aphid-transmitted species of the genus Potyvirus. These results indicate that WSMV and BrSMV should be classified within a new genus of the family Potyviridae and should not be considered species of the genus Rymovirus.     

Attenuated plant viruses: preventing virus diseases and understanding the molecular mechanism

Attenuated viruses have been isolated and studied not only as a practical means of controlling virus diseases but also to gain a molecular understanding of viral virulence and cross protection. They have been isolated from crop fields and generated through high/low temperature treatment or by mutagens such as nitrous acid and ultraviolet irradiation. Some viruses have been beneficially used in fields and evaluated for one or more decades. Molecular genetic studies on attenuated viruses have revealed that amino acid substitutions are located in replicase and the movement protein in tobamovirus, protein 2b for cucumovirus, and P1 and HC-Pro for potyvirus. In most cases, with a few exceptions, symptom attenuation is positively correlated with a reduced level of RNA silencing suppression. Molecular mechanisms underlying virus attenuation and cross protection and the rationale for practical use of attenuated viruses for effective virus disease control are discussed.     

云南省玉溪市玉米致死性坏死病毒原的分子鉴定

玉米致死性坏死病是由玉米褪绿斑驳病毒(Maize chlorotic mottle virus,MCMV)和一种或多种马铃薯Y病毒科病毒复合侵染引起的。2014年1月在对云南省玉溪市玉米病毒病害的调查中发现了一些表现严重花叶、矮化叶片甚至整个植株坏死症状的玉米。对采集样品进行RT-PCR检测,所有样品中都同时检测到了MCMV和甘蔗花叶病毒(Sugarcane mosaic virus,SCMV),在一个样品中同时检测到了MCMV、SCMV和南方水稻黑条矮缩病毒(Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus)。     

麦二叉蚜传播玉米矮花叶病毒的机制

用胶体金标记法和荧光抗体标记法研究了麦二叉蚜(Schizaphis graminum)传播玉米矮花叶病毒(Maize dwaft mosaic virus,MDMV)的机制。麦二叉蚜传播玉米矮花叶病毒需要辅助成份-蛋白酶(Helper component-proteinase,HC-Pro)的参与。在电镜下观察到HC-Pro可以与MDMV粒子结合。用FITC标记的HC-Pro抗体和MDMV抗体证明,HC-Pro可以直接结合到蚜虫口针上;而MDMV粒子不能直接结合到蚜虫口针,必须在HC-Pro的辅助下才能结合到蚜虫口针上。这为HC-Pro在蚜虫传毒过程中起桥梁作用提供了新的证据。MDMV粒子主要吸附在蚜虫口针的尖端和中间部分。     

福建永安市辣椒丛枝病植原体的分子检测及鉴定

永安地区发病辣椒植株表现小叶、黄化、丛枝、簇芽等症状。利用植原体16SrDNA基因的通用引物R16mF2/R16mR2和R16F2n/R16R2,对发病辣椒植株总DNA进行巢式PCR检测,获得约1.2kb的特异性DNA片段。经测序并在GenBank数据库进行比对分析,共获得4条植原体特定的16SrDNA基因序列(CHY-C4-1、CHYY1-1、CHY-Y7-1、CHY-G1-1)。将测得的4条序列与已报道的植原体序列进行同源性比对,并构建系统进化树,结果显示获得的4条植原体序列均聚类到16SrI组,其中CHY-Y1-1、CHY-Y7-1、CHY-G1-1与16SrI-B亚组植原体聚类到同一支,而CHY-C4-1与已报道的16SrI组内的6个亚组均未聚类到一支,因此建议将CHY-C4-1命名为新的亚组。利用iPhyClassifier在线分析软件对获得的4条植原体序列进行虚拟RFLP分析,结果与进化树获得的结果一致。     

Occurrence of maize lethal necrosis in Ecuador: a disease without boundaries?

Maize plants displaying severe mosaic, chlorosis and, in some cases, necrosis were observed in two provinces of Ecuador. Shotgun sequencing of cDNA obtained from double-stranded RNA extracted from symptomatic samples revealed the presence of Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) and Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV), two components of maize lethal necrosis. In 2015, a survey conducted in Los Ríos, Manabí and Guayas, major maize production areas in the country, showed that the two viruses were present in a significant number of plants. Mixed infections were detected and associated with severe symptoms. MCMV was also detected in two hybrid seed lots, a significant finding for the epidemiology of the disease in Ecuador. The report of maize lethal necrosis, today the most significant virus disease of maize, in Ecuador is of great concern for producers in the South American continent because of the potential of an epidemic as that observed in east Africa in recent years.     

Comparison of ambisense m RNA of watermelon silver mottle virus with other tospoviruses

ABSTRACT Double-stranded genomic RNAs (dsRNAs) extracted from Chenopodium quinoa infected with watermelon silver mottle virus (WSMV) were similar to those of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV, serogroup I) and impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV, serogroup III), except that the S dsRNA of WSMV is 0.75 and 0.6 kbp longer than those of TSWV and INSV, respectively. The complete nucleotide sequence of the genomic M RNA of WSMV was determined from cDNA clones generated from separated M dsRNA. The M RNA is 4,880 nucleotides in length with two open reading frames (ORFs) in an ambisense organization. The M RNA-encoded nonstructural (NSm) ORF located on the viral strand encodes a protein of 312 amino acids (35 kDa), and the G1/G2 ORF located on the viral complementary strand encodes a protein of 1,121 amino acids (127.6 kDa). The RNA probe corresponding to the NSm or G1/G2 ORF of WSMV failed to hybridize with the M dsRNAs of TSWV and INSV. Comparison of M and S RNAs of WSMV, TSWV, INSV, and peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV, serogroup IV) revealed a consensus sequence of eight nucleotides of 5'-AGAGCAAU...-3' at their 5' ends and 5'-...AUUGCUCU-3' at their 3' ends. The low overall nucleotide identities (56.4 to 56.9%) of the M RNA and the low amino acid identities of the NSm and G1/G2 proteins (30.5 to 40.9%) with those of TSWV and INSV indicate that WSMV belongs to the Tospovirus genus but is phylogenetically distinct from viruses in serogroups I and III. The M RNA of WSMV shares a nucleotide identity of 79.6% with that of PBNV, and the two viruses share 83.4 and 88.7% amino acid identities for their NSm and G1/G2 proteins, respectively. It is concluded that they are two related but distinct species of serogroup IV. In addition to the viral or viral complementary full-length M RNA, two putative RNA messages for the NSm gene and the G1/G2 gene, 1.0 and 3.4 kb, respectively, were detected from the total RNA extracted from WSMV-infected tissue of Nicotiana benthamiana. The 1.0- and 3.4-kb RNAs were also detected in the viral RNAs extracted from purified nucleocapsids, suggesting that the putative messages of the M RNA of WSMV can also be encapsidated by the nucleocapsid protein.     

Interactions Between Geminiviruses in a Naturally Occurring Mixture: Pepper huasteco virus and Pepper golden mosaic virus

ABSTRACT Pepper huasteco virus (PHV) and Pepper golden mosaic virus (PepGMV) are found in mixtures in many horticultural crops in Mexico. This combination constitutes an interesting, naturally occurring model system to study several aspects of virus-virus interactions. Possible interactions between PHV and PepGMV were studied at four levels: symptom expression, gene expression, replication, and movement. In terms of symptom expression, the interaction was shown to be host-dependent because antagonism was observed in pepper, whereas synergism was detected in tobacco and Nicotiana benthamiana. PHV and PepGMV did not generate viable pseudorecombinant viruses; however, their replication is increased during mixed infections. An asymmetric complementation in movement was observed because PHV was able to support the systemic movement of PepGMV A whereas PepGMV did not support the systemic distribution of PHV A. Heterologous transactivation of both coat protein promoters also was detected. Several conclusions can be drawn from these experiments. First, viruses coinfecting the same plant can interact at several levels (replication, movement) and in different manners (synergism, antagonism); some interactions might be host dependent; and natural mixed infections could be a potential source of geminivirus variability by generating viable tripartite combinations that could facilitate recombination events.     

玉米茉莉酸信号途径参与抵抗玉米褪绿斑驳病毒的侵染

为研究茉莉酸（jasmonic acid, JA）信号途径在玉米响应玉米褪绿斑驳病毒（maize chloroticmottle virus, MCMV）侵染中的作用,利用外源喷施茉莉酸甲酯 （methyl jasmonate, MeJA）方法,采用病毒诱导的基因沉默技术以及玉米原生质体过表达探究JA信号途径是否参与玉米抗MCMV侵染。结果表明,相比于对照, MCMV在外源喷施MeJA的玉米植株上引起的褪绿和花叶症状明显减轻, MCMV基因组RNA积累水平下降了69%,外壳蛋白 （coat protein, CP）积累水平下降了43%,表明MeJA处理提升了玉米植株对MCMV的抗性。在沉默JA信号途径抑制基因 ZmJAZ5的玉米植株上,相比于对照植株, MCMV引起的褪绿及花叶症状也明显减轻, MCMV的基因组RNA积累水平下降了71%, CP积累水平下降了56%。在玉米原生质体中过表达ZmJAZ5后,与对照相比, MCMV基因组RNA积累水平上升了1.58倍, CP积累水平上升了1.34倍。表明JA信号途径在玉米抵抗MCMV侵染过程中发挥着关键作用。     

Positional effect of gene insertion on genetic stability of a clover yellow vein virus-based expression vector

The stability of the inserted genes in the viral expression vector varied depending on the sequence introduced and the position of insertion. Infectious cDNA to Clover yellow vein virus (pClYVV) was modified to insert a foreign gene at two independent sites: one, along with a polylinker, between the NIb and CP genes (pClYVV/CP/W) and the other between P1 and HC-Pro (pClYVV-Pst/CP). The green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was inserted into either pClYVV/CP/W or pClYVV-Pst/CP. GFP gene was stably maintained and expressed in both vectors following serial passages in plants. Progeny viruses from both constructs accumulated in similar amounts and at rates of 70%–80% of that of the wild-type virus. On the other hand, progeny viruses carrying the human interferon- (hIFN) gene cloned in pClYVV-Pst/CP were genetically unstable owing to frequent deletions of the cloned gene during passage through plants. In contrast, the hIFN sequence cloned in pClYVV/CP/W was stably maintained in viruses after several passages in broad bean plants, and the progeny virus accumulated at the rate of about 50%–100% of that of the wild-type virus. The nucleotide sequence analyses indicated that the genetic instability of the inserted sequence results from homologous recombination of viral vector and inserted DNA sequences; it is not due to the inserted sequence alone.     

Turnip crinkle virus with nonviral gene cancels the effect of silencing suppressors of P19 and 2b in Arabidopsis thaliana

In plants, green fluorescent protein (GFP) has become a preferred molecular marker for gene expression and cellular localization, and plant viral vectors are valuable tools for heterologous gene expression. Some plant viruses have been used for expression of GFP, and the activities of these viruses are barely affected by the extra GFP gene. In contrast, the packaging and the length of Turnip crinkle virus (TCV) genome is strictly limited when foreign genes are inserted into the coding sequences of TCV genome. In this report, we removed the silencing suppressor p38 from TCV, and constructed GFP derivatives of TCV. Then the resulting TCV mutants were used to infect Arabidopsis plants containing mutations in key silencing pathway genes, including triple dcl2/dcl3/dcl4, dcl2, dcl4 and ago mutant plants. Our results demonstrate that the activity of TCV is affected by nonviral GFP insert in Arabidopsis plants, and RNA silencing appears not play an important role. AGOs appear to be more efficient at slicing RNAs of viral origin, especially AGO2 and AGO7. Although the viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs) P19 and 2b can enhance the accumulation of viral RNAs, neither P19 nor 2b can significantly increase the expression of TCV mutants with nonviral genes. TCV is an example of an RNA virus that is recalcitrant to add nonviral gene sequences.     

Sequence of the 3′-terminal region of the RNA of a mite transmitted potyvirus fromHordeum murinum L.

The 3026 nucleotides upstream of the 3-polyadenylated tract of a mite transmitted virus fromHordeum murinum L. were cloned and sequenced, and portions of the sequence were expressed inEscherichia coli. Sequence comparisons with wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Agropyron mosaic virus (AgMV) and Hordeum mosaic cirus (HoMV), three mite transmitted potyviruses, and potato virus Y (PVY), the type member of the genusPotyvirus, revealed that the virus is probably a potyvirus, but distinct from WSMV, AgMV, HoMV, and PVY. Serological tests further demonstrated these differences and that the virus is serologically related to another potyvirus, brome streak mosaic virus (BrSMV). We conclude that the virus should be named as the Hordeum isolate of BrSMV.     

Synergistic Interaction Between Tomato chlorosis virus and Tomato spotted wilt virus Results in Breakdown of Resistance in Tomato

ABSTRACT Multiple viral infections frequently are found in single plants of cultivated and wild hosts in nature, with unpredictable pathological consequences. Synergistic reactions were observed in mixed infections in tomato plants doubly infected with the positive-sense and phloem-limited single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) crinivirus Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and the negative-sense ssRNA tospovirus Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Synergism in a tomato cultivar susceptible to both viruses resulted in a rapid death of plants. A pronounced enhancement of ToCV accumulation mediated by TSWV co-infection was observed with no evident egress of ToCV from phloem tissues. No consistent alteration of TSWV accumulation was detected. More remarkable was the synergism observed in tomato cultivars which carry the Sw-5 resistance gene, which are resistant to TSWV. Pre-infection with ToCV resulted in susceptibility to TSWV, whereas co-inoculations did not. This suggested that a threshold level or a time lapse is needed for ToCV to interfere or downregulate the defense response in the TSWV-resistant plants.     

The Helper Component-Proteinase of Sweet potato feathery mottle virus Facilitates Systemic Spread of Potato virus X in Ipomoea nil

ABSTRACT When Ipomoea nil was coinfected with Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), a member of the genus Potyvirus, and Potato virus X (PVX) typical symptoms caused by PVX were observed on those by SPFMV on the first upper true leaves at 14 days postinoculation (dpi). On the other hand, no PVX-induced symptoms were observed on the first upper true leaves at 14 dpi when plants were infected with PVX alone. In the case of coinfection with PVX and SPFMV, PVX RNA was detected not only in the inoculated cotyledonary leaves but also in the first upper true leaves at 14 dpi. In the case of single infection with PVX, PVX RNA was detected in the inoculated cotyledonary leaves but not in the first upper true leaves at 14 dpi. The accumulation of SPFMV remained unchanged, regardless of whether the inoculum consisted of SPFMV alone or a mixture of SPFMV and PVX. Although recombinant PVX engineered to express the helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro) of SPFMV (PVX.HC) enhanced symptoms severity in Nicotiana benthamiana, PVX.HC induced the synergism characterized by an enhanced viral movement in Ipomoea nil. Immunofluorescence microscopic examination revealed that the HC-Pro was present in phloem of SPFMV-infected I. nil. These results suggest that SPFMV HC-Pro acts as an enhancer of long distance movement for PVX in I. nil.     

An isolate of Wheat streak mosaic virus from foxtail overcomes Wsm2 resistance in wheat

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) is an economically important pathogen of wheat (Triticum aestivum) causing major yield losses in regions where severe infection occurs. To detect the presence of any new virus or new WSMV isolates, green foxtail (Setaria viridis) plants exhibiting virus-like symptoms were sampled in a summer-fallowed wheat field at the Agricultural Research Center-Hays, Kansas State University, Hays, Kansas. These plants were tested serologically for four wheat viruses: WSMV, Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV), High Plains wheat mosaic virus (HPWMoV) and Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV). Among 38 plant samples exhibiting virus-like symptoms, 29 contained WSMV as indicated by ELISA. Four isolates from samples with relatively strong reactions were transferred to healthy wheat seedlings by mechanical inoculation in a growth chamber for pathogenicity testing. Three isolates were avirulent to a wheat variety RonL, which contains Wsm2, a gene providing temperature-sensitive resistance to currently prevalent isolates of WSMV. However, one isolate, KSH294, was able to infect RonL and showed more virulence on two other varieties/lines containing Wsm2. Further sequence and phylogenetic analysis of KSH294 confirmed that this isolate displays a sequence homology with WSMV, but has sequence differences making it distinct from previously identified WSMV isolates included in the phylogenetic analysis.     

基于@RISK软件评估玉米褪绿斑驳病毒对我国玉米产业造成的潜在经济损失

为明确玉米褪绿斑驳病毒 （maize chlorotic mottle virus, MCMV）对我国玉米生产的经济损失,通过收集、整理玉米产量、种植面积、市场价格以及MCMV潜在地理分布、危害和防控等相关数据,基于随机模型利用@RISK软件分别预测MCMV在不防控和防控场景下对我国玉米产业造成的潜在经济损失。结果表明,在不防控场景下, MCMV对我国玉米产业造成的潜在经济损失总量的90%置信区间为329.44亿~508.96亿元;而在防控场景下, MCMV对我国玉米产业造成的潜在经济损失总量的90%置信区间为51.62亿~76.23亿元,可挽回潜在经济损失的90%置信区间为278.38亿~437.93亿元。说明MCMV严重威胁我国玉米生产,建议有关部门加强检疫阻截防控工作,保障我国玉米产业安全。