Electron microscopy of the novel barley yellow streak mosaic virus

Geographic and Ecological Diversity of Green Sulfur Bacteria in Hot Spring Mat Communities

Three strains of thermophilic green sulfur bacteria (GSB) are known; all are from microbial mats in hot springs in Rotorua, New Zealand (NZ) and belong to the species Chlorobaculum tepidum. Here, we describe diverse populations of GSB inhabiting Travel Lodge Spring (TLS) (NZ) and hot springs ranging from 36.1 °C to 51.1 °C in the Republic of the Philippines (PHL) and Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Wyoming, USA. Using targeted amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, GSB 16S rRNA sequences were detected in mats in TLS, one PHL site, and three regions of YNP. GSB enrichments from YNP and PHL mats contained small, green, nonmotile rods possessing chlorosomes, chlorobactene, and bacteriochlorophyll c. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequences from YNP, NZ, and PHL mats and enrichments from YNP and PHL samples formed distinct phylogenetic clades, suggesting geographic isolation, and were associated with samples differing in temperature and pH, suggesting adaptations to these parameters. Sequences from enrichments and corresponding mats formed clades that were sometimes distinct, increasing the diversity detected. Sequence differences, monophyly, distribution patterns, and evolutionary simulation modeling support our discovery of at least four new putative moderately thermophilic Chlorobaculum species that grew rapidly at 40 °C to 44 °C.

Analysis of the systemic colonization of cucumber plants by Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus

Systemic movement of Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) in cucumber plants was shown to be from photoassimilate source to sink, thus indicating phloem transport. Nevertheless, CGMMV was not detected by immunocytochemical procedures in the intermediary cell-sieve element complex in inoculated cotyledons, where photoassimilate loading occurs. In stem internodes, CGMMV was first localized in the companion cells of the external phloem and subsequently in all tissues except the medulla, therefore suggesting leakage of the virus from, and reloading into, the transport phloem during systemic movement. In systemically infected sink leaves, CGMMV was simultaneously detected in the xylem and phloem. Interestingly, CGMMV accumulated to high levels in the differentiating tracheids of young leaves implying that the xylem could be involved in the systemic movement of CGMMV. This possibility was tested using plants in which cell death was induced in a portion of the stem by steam treatment. At 24 degrees C, steam treatment effectively prevented the systemic movement of CGMMV, even though viral RNA was detected in washes of the xylem above the steamed internode suggesting that xylem circulation occurred. At 29 degrees C, CGMMV systemically infected steam-treated cucumber plants, indicating that CGMMV can move systemically via the xylem. Xylem transport of CGMMV was, however, less efficient than phloem transport in terms of the time required for systemic infection and the percentage of plants infected.

Movement of rice yellow mottle virus between xylem cells through pit membranes

The translocation of rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) within tissues of inoculated and systemically infected Oryza sativa L. leaves was characterized by Western immunoblotting, Northern blotting, and electron microscopy of thin sections. In inoculated leaves, RYMV RNA and coat protein first were detected at 3 and 5 days postinoculation, respectively. By 6 days postinoculation, RYMV had spread systemically to leaves, and virus particles were observed in most cell types, including epidermal, mesophyll, bundle sheath, and vascular parenchyma cells. Most of the virions accumulated in large crystalline patches in xylem parenchyma cells and sieve elements. Colocalization of a cell wall marker for cellulosic beta-(1-4)-D-glucans and anti-RYMV antibodies over vessel pit membranes suggests a pathway for virus migration between vessels. We propose that the partial digestion of pit membranes resulting from programmed cell death may permit virus migration through them, concomitant with autolysis. In addition, displacement of the Ca2+ from pit membranes to virus particles may contribute to the disruption of the pit membranes and facilitate systemic virus transport.

Rod-shaped virus-like particles in the endoplasmic reticulum ofAudouinella saviana(Acrochaetiales, Rhodophyta)

Rod-shaped particles, approximately 30 nm in width and 1000 nm or more in length, were found in cells of the red alga Audouinella saviana (Meneghini) Woelkerling. Parallel in orientation and hexagonally packed, these inclusions were located within dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum. The rods consisted of an electron-dense central element surrounded by a thick-walled tube that appeared to be composed of repeating granular subunits. Although uninfected controls of the same species were not available, the morphology and substructure of the inclusions, the absence of such inclusions in other species of Audouinella, and the apparent connection of these particles with cellular abnormalities and necrosis suggest that these inclusions may be viral in nature. Among the unusual and possibly cytopathic features of cells containing particles were ropy, fibrillar structures free in the cytoplasm, corrugated mitochondrial cristae, amorphous mitochondrial inclusions, highly convoluted photosynthetic membranes, and loss of integrity of the nuclear envelope. This is the first report of the presence of possible rod-shaped virus-like particles in red algae. Key words: Acrochaetiales, Audouinella saviana, Rhodophyta, ultrastructure, virus-like particles.