Diverse amino acid changes at specific positions in the N-terminal region of the coat protein allow Plum pox virus to adapt to new hosts

First complete sequences and genetic variation of plum pox virus T strain in Prunus dulcis and Prunus cerasus

The complete genome of plum pox virus strain T isolates from five different Prunus spp., including almond (P. dulcis) and sour cherry (P. ceracus) isolates, was fully sequenced using the primer pairs designed in this study. The five isolates were aligned with other 50 PPV-T isolates whose complete genome sequences were available in GenBank and then subjected to phylogenetic and diversity analyses. Recombination analysis showed no significant signal detected in the five newly sequenced isolates while confirming four recombinant isolates reported in a previous study. Nucleotide and amino acid phylogenetic trees clustered the tested isolates into three major groups: Balkan 1, 2, and 3. Strain T isolates shared high nucleotide and amino acid identities among them. Diversity analysis applied different parameters to found that the sequences of P3 and 6K1 genes were more conserved over other genes. In accordance, the highly variable P1 and CP genes were found to experience weaker purifying pressures, ω = 0.127 and 0.219, respectively, than other genes. The three neutrality tests gave negative values to all genes, suggesting that strain T populations have expanding or bottleneck selections. Genetic make-up of the only known sour cherry isolate is highly identical to isolates from other Prunus spp. Therefore, this study has updated our knowledge of T strain diversity in new hosts and provided a clear picture of genetic variation and host relationships.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03746-1.

Comparative Genome Analysis of Old World and New World TYLCV Reveals a Biasness toward Highly Variable Amino Acids in Coat Protein

Begomoviruses, belonging to the family Geminiviridae and the genus Begomovirus, are DNA viruses that are transmitted by whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) in a circulative persistent manner. They can easily adapt to new hosts and environments due to their wide host range and global distribution. However, the factors responsible for their adaptability and coevolutionary forces are yet to be explored. Among BGVs, TYLCV exhibits the broadest range of hosts. In this study, we have identified variable and coevolving amino acid sites in the proteins of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) isolates from Old World (African, Indian, Japanese, and Oceania) and New World (Central and Southern America). We focused on mutations in the coat protein (CP), as it is highly variable and interacts with both vectors and host plants. Our observations indicate that some mutations were accumulating in Old World TYLCV isolates due to positive selection, with the S149N mutation being of particular interest. This mutation is associated with TYLCV isolates that have spread in Europe and Asia and is dominant in 78% of TYLCV isolates. On the other hand, the S149T mutation is restricted to isolates from Saudi Arabia. We further explored the implications of these amino acid changes through structural modeling. The results presented in this study suggest that certain hypervariable regions in the genome of TYLCV are conserved and may be important for adapting to different host environments. These regions could contribute to the mutational robustness of the virus, allowing it to persist in different host populations.

Viral Reservoir Capacity of Wild Prunus Alternative Hosts of Plum Pox Virus Through Multiple Cycles of Transmission and Dormancy

Plum pox virus (PPV) is a significant pathogen of Prunus worldwide and is known for having a broad experimental host range. Many of these hosts represent epidemiological risks as potential wild viral reservoirs. A comparative study of the PPV reservoir capacity of three commonly found native North American species, western choke cherry (Prunus virginiana var. demissa), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and American plum (Prunus americana) was conducted. Pennsylvania isolates of PPV-D were transmitted from the original host peach (Prunus persica cv. GF305) to all three species. Viral accumulation and transmission rates to alternative hosts and peach were monitored over the course of five vegetative growth and cold induced dormancy (CID) cycles. The three alternative host species demonstrated differences in their ability to maintain PPV-D and the likelihood of transmission to additional alternative hosts or back transmission to peach. Western choke cherry had low (5.8%) initial infection levels, PPV-D was not transmissible to additional western choke cherry, and transmission of PPV-D from western choke cherry to peach was only possible before the first CID cycle. Black cherry had intermediate initial infection levels (26.6%) but did not maintain high infection levels after repeated CID cycles. Conversely, American plum had a high level (50%) of initial infection that was not significantly different from initial infection in peach (72.2%) and maintained moderate levels (15 to 25%) of infection and PPV-D transmission to both American plum and peach through all five cycles of CID. Our results indicate that American plum has the greatest potential to act as a reservoir host for Pennsylvania isolates of PPV-D.

Population genetics of cycas necrotic stunt virus and the development of multiplex RT-PCR diagnostics

Cycas necrotic stunt virus (CNSV) has an extensive host range and is detected in an accelerated pace around the globe in several agricultural crops. One of the plant species affected is peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.). The virus is asymptomatic in most peony cultivars, but there have been reports of symptoms in others. It is thus important to study CNSV and its population structure to gain insights into its evolution and epidemiology. The outputs of this study, in addition to the in-depth analysis of the virus population structure, include the development of a multiplex RT-PCR detection protocol that can amplify all published CNSV isolate sequences; allowing for accurate, reliable detection of the virus and safeguarding its susceptible, clonally-propagated hosts.

Biological and Molecular Characterization of Two Closely Related Arepaviruses and Their Antagonistic Interaction in Nicotiana benthamiana

Previously, our group characterized two closely related viruses from Areca catechu, areca palm necrotic ringspot virus (ANRSV) and areca palm necrotic spindle-spot virus (ANSSV). These two viruses share a distinct genomic organization of leader proteases and represent the only two species of the newly established genus Arepavirus of the family Potyviridae. The biological features of the two viruses are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the pathological properties, functional compatibility of viral elements, and interspecies interactions in the model plant, Nicotiana benthamiana. Using a newly obtained infectious clone of ANRSV, we showed that this virus induces more severe symptoms compared with ANSSV and that this is related to a rapid virus multiplication in planta. A series of hybrid viruses were constructed via the substitution of multiple elements in the ANRSV infectious clone with the counterparts of ANSSV. The replacement of either 5′-UTR-HCPro1–HCPro2 or CI effectively supported replication and systemic infection of ANRSV, whereas individual substitution of P3-7K, 9K-NIa, and NIb-CP-3′-UTR abolished viral infectivity. Finally, we demonstrated that ANRSV confers effective exclusion of ANSSV both in coinfection and super-infection assays. These results advance our understanding of fundamental aspects of these two distinct but closely related arepaviruses.

High Mutation Frequency and Significant Population Differentiation in Papaya Ringspot Virus-W Isolates

A total of 101 papaya ringspot virus-W (PRSV-W) isolates were collected from five different cucurbit hosts in six counties of Oklahoma during the 2016–2018 growing seasons. The coat protein (CP) coding region of these isolates was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and 370 clones (3–5 clones/isolate) were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three phylogroups while host, location, and collection time of isolates had minimal impact on grouping pattern. When CP gene sequences of these isolates were compared with sequences of published PRSV isolates (both P and W strains), they clustered into four phylogroups based on geographical location. Oklahoman PRSV-W isolates formed one of the four distinct major phylogroups. The permutation-based tests, including Ks, Ks *, Z *, Snn, and neutrality tests, indicated significant genetic differentiation and polymorphisms among PRSV-W populations in Oklahoma. The selection analysis confirmed that the CP gene is undergoing purifying selection. The mutation frequencies among all PRSV-W isolates were within the range of 1 × 10⁻³. The substitution mutations in 370 clones of PRSV-W isolates showed a high proportion of transition mutations, which gave rise to higher GC content. The N-terminal region of the CP gene mostly contained the variable sites with numerous mutational hotspots, while the core region was highly conserved.

Virus Host Jumping Can Be Boosted by Adaptation to a Bridge Plant Species

Understanding biological mechanisms that regulate emergence of viral diseases, in particular those events engaging cross-species pathogens spillover, is becoming increasingly important in virology. Species barrier jumping has been extensively studied in animal viruses, and the critical role of a suitable intermediate host in animal viruses-generated human pandemics is highly topical. However, studies on host jumping involving plant viruses have been focused on shifting intra-species, leaving aside the putative role of “bridge hosts” in facilitating interspecies crossing. Here, we take advantage of several VPg mutants, derived from a chimeric construct of the potyvirus Plum pox virus (PPV), analyzing its differential behaviour in three herbaceous species. Our results showed that two VPg mutations in a Nicotiana clevelandii-adapted virus, emerged during adaptation to the bridge-host Arabidopsis thaliana, drastically prompted partial adaptation to Chenopodium foetidum. Although both changes are expected to facilitate productive interactions with eIF(iso)4E, polymorphims detected in PPV VPg and the three eIF(iso)4E studied, extrapolated to a recent VPg:eIF4E structural model, suggested that two adaptation ways can be operating. Remarkably, we found that VPg mutations driving host-range expansion in two non-related species, not only are not associated with cost trade-off constraints in the original host, but also improve fitness on it.

Unveiling Crucivirus Diversity by Mining Metagenomic Data

Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. In addition to their impact on animal and plant health, viruses have important roles in ecosystem dynamics as well as in the evolution of the biosphere. Circular Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses are ubiquitous in nature, many are agriculturally important, and they appear to have multiple origins from prokaryotic plasmids. A subset of CRESS-DNA viruses, the cruciviruses, have homologues of capsid proteins encoded by RNA viruses. The genetic structure of cruciviruses attests to the transfer of capsid genes between disparate groups of viruses. However, the evolutionary history of cruciviruses is still unclear. By collecting and analyzing cruciviral sequence data, we provide a deeper insight into the evolutionary intricacies of cruciviruses. Our results reveal an unexpected diversity of this virus group, with frequent recombination as an important determinant of variability.

The discovery of cruciviruses revealed the most explicit example of a common protein homologue between DNA and RNA viruses to date. Cruciviruses are a novel group of circular Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) (CRESS-DNA) viruses that encode capsid proteins that are most closely related to those encoded by RNA viruses in the family Tombusviridae. The apparent chimeric nature of the two core proteins encoded by crucivirus genomes suggests horizontal gene transfer of capsid genes between DNA and RNA viruses. Here, we identified and characterized 451 new crucivirus genomes and 10 capsid-encoding circular genetic elements through de novo assembly and mining of metagenomic data. These genomes are highly diverse, as demonstrated by sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis of subsets of the protein sequences they encode. Most of the variation is reflected in the replication-associated protein (Rep) sequences, and much of the sequence diversity appears to be due to recombination. Our results suggest that recombination tends to occur more frequently among groups of cruciviruses with relatively similar capsid proteins and that the exchange of Rep protein domains between cruciviruses is rarer than intergenic recombination. Additionally, we suggest members of the stramenopiles/alveolates/Rhizaria supergroup as possible crucivirus hosts. Altogether, we provide a comprehensive and descriptive characterization of cruciviruses.

Modulation of disease severity by plant positive-strand RNA viruses: The complex interplay of multifunctional viral proteins, subviral RNAs and virus-associated RNAs with plant signaling pathways and defense responses

Plant viruses induce a range of symptoms of varying intensity, ranging from severe systemic necrosis to mild or asymptomatic infection. Several evolutionary constraints drive virus virulence, including the dependence of viruses on host factors to complete their infection cycle, the requirement to counteract or evade plant antiviral defense responses and the mode of virus transmission. Viruses have developed an array of strategies to modulate disease severity. Accumulating evidence has highlighted not only the multifunctional role that viral proteins play in disrupting or highjacking plant factors, hormone signaling pathways and intracellular organelles, but also the interaction networks between viral proteins, subviral RNAs and/or other viral-associated RNAs that regulate disease severity. This review focusses on positive-strand RNA viruses, which constitute the majority of characterized plant viruses. Using well-characterized viruses with different genome types as examples, recent advances are discussed as well as knowledge gaps and opportunities for further research.

Dynamic changes impact the plum pox virus population structure during leaf and bud development

Plum pox virus (PPV) is a worldwide threat to stone fruit production. Its woody perennial hosts provide a dynamic environment for virus evolution over multiple growing seasons. To investigate the impact seasonal host development plays in PPV population structure, next generation sequencing of ribosome associated viral genomes, termed translatome, was used to assess PPV variants derived from phloem or whole leaf tissues over a range of plum leaf and bud developmental stages. Results show that translatome PPV variants occur at proportionately higher levels in bud and newly developing leaf tissues that have low infection levels while more mature tissues with high infection levels display proportionately lower numbers of viral variants. Additional variant analysis identified distinct groups based on population frequency as well as sets of phloem and whole tissue specific variants. Combined, these results indicate PPV population dynamics are impacted by the tissue type and developmental stage of their host.

Intra-strain biological and epidemiological characterization of plum pox virus

Plum pox virus (PPV) is one of the most important plant viruses causing serious economic losses. Thus far, strain typing based on the definition of 10 monophyletic strains with partially differentiable biological properties has been the sole approach used for epidemiological characterization of PPV. However, elucidating the genetic determinants underlying intra-strain biological variation among populations or isolates remains a relevant but unexamined aspect of the epidemiology of the virus. In this study, based on complete nucleotide sequence information of 210 Japanese and 47 non-Japanese isolates of the PPV-Dideron (D) strain, we identified five positively selected sites in the PPV-D genome. Among them, molecular studies showed that amino acid substitutions at position 2,635 in viral replicase correlate with viral titre and competitiveness at the systemic level, suggesting that amino acid position 2,635 is involved in aphid transmission efficiency and symptom severity. Estimation of ancestral genome sequences indicated that substitutions at amino acid position 2,635 were reversible and peculiar to one of two genetically distinct PPV-D populations in Japan. The reversible amino acid evolution probably contributes to the dissemination of the virus population. This study provides the first genomic insight into the evolutionary epidemiology of PPV based on intra-strain biological variation ascribed to positive selection.

Common and Strain-Specific Post-Translational Modifications of the Potyvirus Plum pox virus Coat Protein in Different Hosts

Phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation are widespread post-translational modifications (PTMs), often sharing protein targets. Numerous studies have reported the phosphorylation of plant viral proteins. In plants, research on O-GlcNAcylation lags behind that of other eukaryotes, and information about O-GlcNAcylated plant viral proteins is extremely scarce. The potyvirus Plum pox virus (PPV) causes sharka disease in Prunus trees and also infects a wide range of experimental hosts. Capsid protein (CP) from virions of PPV-R isolate purified from herbaceous plants can be extensively modified by O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation. In this study, a combination of proteomics and biochemical approaches was employed to broaden knowledge of PPV CP PTMs. CP proved to be modified regardless of whether or not it was assembled into mature particles. PTMs of CP occurred in the natural host Prunus persica, similarly to what happens in herbaceous plants. Additionally, we observed that O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation were general features of different PPV strains, suggesting that these modifications contribute to general strategies deployed during plant-virus interactions. Interestingly, phosphorylation at a casein kinase II motif conserved among potyviral CPs exhibited strain specificity in PPV; however, it did not display the critical role attributed to the same modification in the CP of another potyvirus, Potato virus A.

Potyviral coat protein and genomic RNA: A striking partnership leading virion assembly and more

Potyvirus genus clusters a significant and expanding number of widely distributed plant viruses, responsible for large losses impacting most crops of economic interest. The potyviral genome is a single-stranded, linear, positive-sense RNA of around 10kb that is encapsidated in flexuous rod-shaped filaments, mostly made up of a helically arranged coat protein (CP). Beyond its structural role of protecting the viral genome, the potyviral CP is a multitasking protein intervening in practically all steps of the virus life cycle. In particular, interactions between the CP and the viral RNA must be tightly controlled to allow the correct assignment of the RNA to each of its functions through the infection process. This review attempts to bring together the most relevant available information regarding the architecture and modus operandi of potyviral CP and virus particles, highlighting significant discoveries, but also substantial gaps in the existing knowledge on mechanisms orchestrating virion assembly and disassembly. Biotechnological applications based on potyvirus nanoparticles is another important topic addressed here.

Molecular Plant-Plum Pox Virus Interactions

Plum pox virus, the agent that causes sharka disease, is among the most important plant viral pathogens, affecting Prunus trees across the globe. The fabric of interactions that the virus is able to establish with the plant regulates its life cycle, including RNA uncoating, translation, replication, virion assembly, and movement. In addition, plant-virus interactions are strongly conditioned by host specificities, which determine infection outcomes, including resistance. This review attempts to summarize the latest knowledge regarding Plum pox virus-host interactions, giving a comprehensive overview of their relevance for viral infection and plant survival, including the latest advances in genetic engineering of resistant species.

Precise Exchange of the Helper-Component Proteinase Cistron Between Soybean mosaic virus and Clover yellow vein virus: Impact on Virus Viability and Host Range Specificity

Soybean mosaic virus and Clover yellow vein virus are two definite species of the genus Potyvirus within the family Potyviridae. Soybean mosaic virus-N (SMV-N) is well adapted to cultivated soybean (Glycine max) genotypes and wild soybean (G. soja), whereas it remains undetectable in inoculated broad bean (Vicia faba). In contrast, clover yellow vein virus No. 30 (ClYVV-No. 30) is capable of systemic infection in broad bean and wild soybean; however, it infects cultivated soybean genotypes only locally. In this study, SMV-N was shown to also infect broad bean locally; hence, broad bean is a host for SMV-N. Based on these observations, it was hypothesized that lack of systemic infection by SMV-N in broad bean and by ClYVV-No. 30 in cultivated soybean is attributable to the incompatibility of multifunctional helper-component proteinase (HC-Pro) in these hosts. The logic of selecting the HC-Pro cistron as a target is based on its established function in systemic movement and being a relevant factor in host range specificity of potyviruses. To test this hypothesis, chimeras were constructed with precise exchanges of HC-Pro cistrons between SMV-N and ClYVV-No. 30. Upon inoculation, both chimeras were viable in infection, but host range specificity of the recombinant viruses did not differ from those of the parental viruses. These observations suggest that (i) HC-Pro cistrons from SMV-N and ClYVV-No. 30 are functionally compatible in infection despite 55.6 and 48.9% nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity, respectively, and (ii) HC-Pro cistrons from SMV-N and ClYVV-No. 30 are not the determinants of host specificity on cultivated soybean or broad beans, respectively.

The Biological Impact of the Hypervariable N-Terminal Region of Potyviral Genomes

Potyviridae is the largest family of plant-infecting RNA viruses, encompassing over 30% of known plant viruses. The family is closely related to animal picornaviruses such as enteroviruses and belongs to the picorna-like supergroup. Like all other picorna-like viruses, potyvirids employ polyprotein processing as a gene expression strategy and have single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genomes, most of which are monopartite with a long open reading frame. The potyvirid polyproteins are highly conserved in the central and carboxy-terminal regions. In contrast, the N-terminal region is hypervariable and contains position-specific mutations resulting from transcriptional slippage during viral replication, leading to translational frameshift to produce additional viral proteins essential for viral infection. Some potyvirids even lack one of the N-terminal proteins P1 or helper component-protease and have a genus-specific or species-specific protein instead. This review summarizes current knowledge about the conserved and divergent features of potyvirid genomes and biological relevance and discusses future research directions.

Functional analysis of apple stem pitting virus coat protein variants

BACKGROUND

Although the canonical function of viral coat protein (CP) is to encapsidate the viral genome, they have come to be recognized as multifunctional proteins, involved in almost every stage of the viral infection cycle. However, CP functions of Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV) has not been comprehensively documented. This study aimed to characterize the functions of ASPV CP and any functional diversification caused by sequence diversity of six ASPV CP variants and studied their biological, serological, pathogenic and viral suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR) functions.

METHODS

Six ASPV CP variants that have previously been shown to belong to different subgroups were selected here to study their diversity functions. Agrobacterium mediated infiltration (Agroinfiltration) was used to express YFP-ASPV-CPs in Nicotiana. benthamiana and infect Nicotiana. occidental with PVX-ASPV-CPs in. Confocal microscopy was used to detect YFP-ASPV-CPs florescence. CPs expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) were induced by IPTG.

RESULTS

In this study, we showed that recombinant CPs expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) had different levels of serological reactivity to three anti-ASPV antibodies used to detect ASPV. Furthermore, fusion CPs with YFP (YFP-CPs) expressed in N. benthamiana cells differed in their ability to form aggregates. We also showed that ASPV isolates that harbour these CPs induced different biological symptoms on its herbaceous host N. occidentalis. At the same time, we found that all six CPs when expressed in PVX vector showed similar VSR activity and produced similar symptoms in N. occidentalis, despite their differences in amino acids.

CONCLUSIONS

Different ASPV isolates induced different symptoms in N. occidentalis, however, ASPV CP variants expressed in PVX vector showed the same symptoms in N. occidentalis plants. Also, we showed that ASPV CP variants has the same level of VSR activity, but they have different abilities to aggregate in N. benthamiana.

Genome-Wide Variation in Potyviruses

Potyviruses (family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus) are the result of an initial radiation event that occurred 6,600 years ago. The genus currently consists of 167 species that infect monocots or dicots, including domesticated and wild plants. Potyviruses are transmitted in a non-persistent way by more than 200 species of aphids. As indicated by their wide host range, worldwide distribution, and diversity of their vectors, potyviruses have an outstanding capacity to adapt to new hosts and environments. However, factors that confer adaptability are poorly understood. Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases introduce nucleotide substitutions that generate genetic diversity. We hypothesized that selection imposed by hosts and vectors creates a footprint in areas of the genome involved in host adaptation. Here, we profiled genomic and polyprotein variation in all species in the genus Potyvirus. Results showed that the potyviral genome is under strong negative selection. Accordingly, the genome and polyprotein sequence are remarkably stable. However, nucleotide and amino acid substitutions across the potyviral genome are not randomly distributed and are not determined by codon usage. Instead, substitutions preferentially accumulate in hypervariable areas at homologous locations across potyviruses. At a frequency that is higher than that of the rest of the genome, hypervariable areas accumulate non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions and sites under positive selection. Our results show, for the first time, that there is correlation between host range and the frequency of sites under positive selection. Hypervariable areas map to the N terminal part of protein P1, N and C terminal parts of helper component proteinase (HC-Pro), the C terminal part of protein P3, VPg, the C terminal part of NIb (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase), and the N terminal part of the coat protein (CP). Additionally, a hypervariable area at the NIb-CP junction showed that there is variability in the sequence of the NIa protease cleavage sites. Structural alignment showed that the hypervariable area in the CP maps to the N terminal flexible loop and includes the motif required for aphid transmission. Collectively, results described here show that potyviruses contain fixed hypervariable areas in key parts of the genome which provide mutational robustness and are potentially involved in host adaptation.

Recessive Resistance to Bean common mosaic virus Conferred by the bc-1 and bc-2 Genes in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Affects Long-Distance Movement of the Virus

Recessive resistance to Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is governed by four genes that include one strain-nonspecific helper gene bc-u, and three strain-specific genes bc-1, bc-2, and bc-3. The bc-3 gene was identified as an eIF4E translation initiation factor gene mediating resistance through disruption of the interaction between this protein and the VPg protein of the virus. The mode of action of bc-1 and bc-2 in expression of BCMV resistance is unknown, although bc-1 gene was found to affect systemic spread of a related potyvirus, Bean common mosaic necrosis virus. To investigate the possible role of both bc-1 and bc-2 genes in replication, cell-to-cell, and long-distance movement of BCMV in P. vulgaris, we tested virus spread of eight BCMV isolates representing pathogroups I, IV, VI, VII, and VIII in a set of bean differentials expressing different combinations of six resistance alleles including bc-u, bc-1, bc-1², bc-2, bc-2², and bc-3. All studied BCMV isolates were able to replicate and spread in inoculated leaves of bean cultivars harboring bc-u, bc-1, bc-1², bc-2, and bc-2² alleles and their combinations, while no BCMV replication was found in inoculated leaves of cultivar IVT7214 carrying the bc-u, bc-2, and bc-3 genes, except for isolate 1755a, which was capable of overcoming the resistance conferred by bc-2 and bc-3. In contrast, the systemic spread of all BCMV isolates from pathogroups I, IV, VI, VII, and VIII was impaired in common bean cultivars carrying bc-1, bc-1², bc-2, and bc-2² alleles. The data suggest that bc-1 and bc-2 recessive resistance genes have no effect on the replication and cell-to-cell movement of BCMV, but affect systemic spread of BCMV in common bean. The BCMV resistance conferred by bc-1 and bc-2 and affecting systemic spread was found only partially effective when these two genes were expressed singly. The efficiency of the restriction of the systemic spread of the virus was greatly enhanced when the alleles of bc-1 and bc-2 genes were combined together.

Truncation of a P1 leader proteinase facilitates potyvirus replication in a non-permissive host

The Potyviridae family is a major group of plant viruses that includes c. 200 species, most of which have narrow host ranges. The potyvirid P1 leader proteinase self-cleaves from the remainder of the viral polyprotein and shows large sequence variability linked to host adaptation. P1 proteins can be classified as Type A or Type B on the basis, amongst other things, of their dependence or not on a host factor to develop their protease activity. In this work, we studied Type A proteases from the Potyviridae family, characterizing their host factor requirements. Our in vitro cleavage analyses of potyvirid P1 proteases showed that the N-terminal domain is relevant for host factor interaction and suggested that the C-terminal domain is also involved. In the absence of plant factors, the N-terminal end of Plum pox virus P1 antagonizes protease self-processing. We performed extended deletion mutagenesis analysis to define the N-terminal antagonistic domain of P1. In viral infections, removal of the P1 protease antagonistic domain led to a gain-of-function phenotype, strongly increasing local infection in a non-permissive host. Altogether, our results shed new insights into the adaptation and evolution of potyvirids.

Resistance to Bean common mosaic necrosis virus Conferred by the bc-1 Gene Affects Systemic Spread of the Virus in Common Bean

Bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV) isolates belong to two pathogroups (PG), PG-III and PG-VI, which are distinguished in common bean due to the inability of the PG-III isolates of BCMNV to overcome the two recessive resistance alleles bc-1 and bc-1². The biological and molecular basis of this distinction between PG-III and PG-VI isolates of BCMNV is not known. Here, three isolates of BCMNV were typed biologically on a set of 12 bean differentials and molecularly through whole-genome sequencing. Two isolates (1755b and TN1a) were assigned to PG-VI and one isolate (NL8-CA) was assigned to PG-III. Isolate NL8-CA (PG-III) induced only local necrosis on inoculated leaves in 'Top Crop' and 'Jubila' bean harboring the I gene and the bc-1 allele, whereas isolates TN1, TN1a, and 1755b (all PG-VI) induced rapid whole-plant necrosis (WPN) in Top Crop 7 to 14 days postinoculation, and severe systemic necrosis but not WPN in Jubila 3 to 5 weeks postinoculation. In 'Redland Greenleaf C' expressing bc-1 and 'Redland Greenleaf B' expressing bc-1² alleles, isolate NL8-CA was able to systemically infect only a small proportion of upper uninoculated leaves (less than 13 and 3%, respectively). The whole genomes of isolates 1755b, TN1a, and NL8-CA were sequenced and sequence analysis revealed that, despite the overall high nucleotide sequence identity between PG-III and PG-VI isolates (approximately 96%), two areas of the BCMNV genome in the P1/HC-Pro and HC-Pro/P3 cistrons appeared to be more divergent between these two pathotypes of BCMNV. The data suggest that the phenotypic differences among PG-III and PG-VI isolates of BCMNV in common bean cultivars from host resistance groups 2, 3, and 9 carrying bc-1 alleles were related to the impaired systemic movement of the PG-III isolates to the upper, uninoculated leaves, and also suggest a role of the recessive bc-1 gene in interfering with systemic spread of BCMNV.

New highly divergent Plum pox virus isolates infecting sour cherry in Russia

Unusual Plum pox virus (PPV) isolates (named Tat isolates) were discovered on sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) in Russia. They failed to be recognized by RT-PCR using commonly employed primers specific to the strains C or CR (the only ones that proved able to infect sour cherry) as well as to the strains M and W. Some of them can be detected by RT-PCR using the PPV-D-specific primers P1/PD or by TAS-ELISA with the PPV-C-specific monoclonal antibody AC. Phylogenetic analysis of the 3'-terminal genomic region assigned the Tat isolates into the cluster of cherry-adapted strains. However, they grouped separately from the C and CR strains and from each other as well. The sequence divergence of the Tat isolates is comparable to the differences between the known PPV strains. They may represent new group(s) of cherry-adapted isolates which do not seem to belong to any known strain of the virus.

Structure and Noncanonical Activities of Coat Proteins of Helical Plant Viruses

The main function of virus coat protein is formation of the capsid that protects the virus genome against degradation. However, besides the structural function, coat proteins have many additional important activities in the infection cycle of the virus and in the defense response of host plants to viral infection. This review focuses on noncanonical functions of coat proteins of helical RNA-containing plant viruses with positive genome polarity. Analysis of data on the structural organization of coat proteins of helical viruses has demonstrated that the presence of intrinsically disordered regions within the protein structure plays an important role in implementation of nonstructural functions and largely determines the multifunctionality of coat proteins.

Temperature-Dependent Wsm1 and Wsm2 Gene-Specific Blockage of Viral Long-Distance Transport Provides Resistance to Wheat streak mosaic virus and Triticum mosaic virus in Wheat

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) are economically important viral pathogens of wheat. Wheat cvs. Mace, carrying the Wsm1 gene, is resistant to WSMV and TriMV, and Snowmass, with Wsm2, is resistant to WSMV. Viral resistance in both cultivars is temperature sensitive and is effective at 18°C or below but not at higher temperatures. The underlying mechanisms of viral resistance of Wsm1 and Wsm2, nonallelic single dominant genes, are not known. In this study, we found that fluorescent protein-tagged WSMV and TriMV elicited foci that were approximately similar in number and size at 18 and 24°C, on inoculated leaves of resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars. These data suggest that resistant wheat cultivars at 18°C facilitated efficient cell-to-cell movement. Additionally, WSMV and TriMV efficiently replicated in inoculated leaves of resistant wheat cultivars at 18°C but failed to establish systemic infection, suggesting that Wsm1- and Wsm2-mediated resistance debilitated viral long-distance transport. Furthermore, we found that neither virus was able to enter the leaf sheaths of inoculated leaves or crowns of resistant wheat cultivars at 18°C but both were able to do so at 24°C. Thus, wheat cvs. Mace and Snowmass provide resistance at the long-distance movement stage by specifically blocking virus entry into the vasculature. Taken together, these data suggest that both Wsm1 and Wsm2 genes similarly confer virus resistance by temperature-dependent impairment of viral long-distance movement.

Plum Pox Virus 6K1 Protein Is Required for Viral Replication and Targets the Viral Replication Complex at the Early Stage of Infection

The potyviral RNA genome encodes two polyproteins that are proteolytically processed by three viral protease domains into 11 mature proteins. Extensive molecular studies have identified functions for the majority of the viral proteins. For example, 6K2, one of the two smallest potyviral proteins, is an integral membrane protein and induces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-originated replication vesicles that target the chloroplast for robust viral replication. However, the functional role of 6K1, the other smallest protein, remains uncharacterized. In this study, we developed a series of recombinant full-length viral cDNA clones derived from a Canadian Plum pox virus (PPV) isolate. We found that deletion of any of the short motifs of 6K1 (each of which ranged from 5 to 13 amino acids), most of the 6K1 sequence (but with the conserved sequence of the cleavage sites being retained), or all of the 6K1 sequence in the PPV infectious clone abolished viral replication. The trans expression of 6K1 or the cis expression of a dislocated 6K1 failed to rescue the loss-of-replication phenotype, suggesting the temporal and spatial requirement of 6K1 for viral replication. Disruption of the N- or C-terminal cleavage site of 6K1, which prevented the release of 6K1 from the polyprotein, either partially or completely inhibited viral replication, suggesting the functional importance of the mature 6K1. We further found that green fluorescent protein-tagged 6K1 formed punctate inclusions at the viral early infection stage and colocalized with chloroplast-bound viral replicase elements 6K2 and NIb. Taken together, our results suggest that 6K1 is required for viral replication and is an important viral element of the viral replication complex at the early infection stage.

IMPORTANCE

Potyviruses account for more than 30% of known plant viruses and consist of many agriculturally important viruses. The genomes of potyviruses encode two polyproteins that are proteolytically processed into 11 mature proteins, with the majority of them having been at least partially functionally characterized. However, the functional role of a small protein named 6K1 remains obscure. In this study, we showed that deletion of 6K1 or a short motif/region of 6K1 in the full-length cDNA clones of plum pox virus abolishes viral replication and that mutation of the N- or C-terminal cleavage sites of 6K1 to prevent its release from the polyprotein greatly attenuates or completely inhibits viral replication, suggesting its important role in potyviral infection. We report that 6K1 forms punctate structures and targets the replication vesicles in PPV-infected plant leaf cells at the early infection stage. Our data reveal that 6K1 is an important viral protein of the potyviral replication complex.

Genome Sequence Analysis of New Isolates of the Winona Strain of Plum pox virus and the First Definitive Evidence of Intrastrain Recombination Events

Plum pox virus (PPV) is genetically diverse with nine different strains identified. Mutations, indel events, and interstrain recombination events are known to contribute to the genetic diversity of PPV. This is the first report of intrastrain recombination events that contribute to PPV's genetic diversity. Fourteen isolates of the PPV strain Winona (W) were analyzed including nine new strain W isolates sequenced completely in this study. Isolates of other strains of PPV with more than one isolate with the complete genome sequence available in GenBank were included also in this study for comparison and analysis. Five intrastrain recombination events were detected among the PPV W isolates, one among PPV C strain isolates, and one among PPV M strain isolates. Four (29%) of the PPV W isolates analyzed are recombinants; one of which (P2-1) is a mosaic, with three recombination events identified. A new interstrain recombinant event was identified between a strain M isolate and a strain Rec isolate, a known recombinant. In silico recombination studies and pairwise distance analyses of PPV strain D isolates indicate that a threshold of genetic diversity exists for the detectability of recombination events, in the range of approximately 0.78×10(-2) to 1.33×10(-2) mean pairwise distance. RDP4 analyses indicate that in the case of PPV Rec isolates there may be a recombinant breakpoint distinct from the obvious transition point of strain sequences. Evidence was obtained that indicates that the frequency of PPV recombination is underestimated, which may be true for other RNA viruses where low genetic diversity exists.

Occurrence and characterization of plum pox virus strain D isolates from European Russia and Crimea

Numerous plum pox virus (PPV) strain D isolates have been found in geographically distant regions of European Russia and the Crimean peninsula on different stone fruit hosts. Phylogenetic analysis of their partial and complete genomes suggests multiple introductions of PPV-D into Russia. Distinct natural isolates from Prunus tomentosa were found to bear unique amino acid substitutions in the N-terminus of the coat protein (CP) that may contribute to the adaptation of PPV-D to this host. Serological analysis using the PPV-D-specific monoclonal antibody 4DG5 provided further evidence that mutations at positions 58 and 59 of the CP are crucial for antibody binding.

Assorted Processing of Synthetic Trans-Acting siRNAs and Its Activity in Antiviral Resistance

The use of syn-tasiRNAs has been proposed as an RNA interference technique alternative to those previously described: hairpin based, virus induced gene silencing or artificial miRNAs. In this study we engineered the TAS1c locus to impair Plum pox virus (PPV) infection by replacing the five native siRNAs with two 210-bp fragments from the CP and the 3´NCR regions of the PPV genome. Deep sequencing analysis of the small RNA species produced by both constructs in planta has shown that phased processing of the syn-tasiRNAs is construct-specific. While in syn-tasiR-CP construct the processing was as predicted 21-nt phased in register with miR173-guided cleavage, the processing of syn-tasiR-3NCR is far from what was expected. A 22-nt species from the miR173-guided cleavage was a guide of two series of phased small RNAs, one of them in an exact 21-nt register, and the other one in a mixed of 21-/22-nt frame. In addition, both constructs produced abundant PPV-derived small RNAs in the absence of miR173 as a consequence of a strong sense post-transcriptional gene silencing induction. The antiviral effect of both constructs was also evaluated in the presence or absence of miR173 and showed that the impairment of PPV infection was not significantly higher when miR173 was present. The results show that syn-tasiRNAs processing depends on construct-specific factors that should be further studied before the so-called MIGS (miRNA-induced gene silencing) technology can be used reliably.

A pathogenicity determinant maps to the N-terminal coat protein region of the Pepino mosaic virus genome

Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) poses a worldwide threat to the tomato industry. Considerable differences at the genetic level allow for the distinction of four main genotypic clusters; however, the basis of the phenotypic outcome is difficult to elucidate. This work reports the generation of wild-type PepMV infectious clones of both EU (mild) and CH2 (aggressive) genotypes, from which chimeric infectious clones were created. Phenotypic analysis in three solanaceous hosts, Nicotiana benthamiana, Datura stramonium and Solanum lycopersicum, indicated that a PepMV pathogenicity determinant mapped to the 3'-terminal region of the genome. Increased aggression was only observed in N. benthamiana, showing that this factor is host specific. The determinant was localized to amino acids 11-26 of the N-terminal coat protein (CP) region; this is the first report of this region functioning as a virulence factor in PepMV.

Molecular biology of potyviruses

Potyvirus is the largest genus of plant viruses causing significant losses in a wide range of crops. Potyviruses are aphid transmitted in a nonpersistent manner and some of them are also seed transmitted. As important pathogens, potyviruses are much more studied than other plant viruses belonging to other genera and their study covers many aspects of plant virology, such as functional characterization of viral proteins, molecular interaction with hosts and vectors, structure, taxonomy, evolution, epidemiology, and diagnosis. Biotechnological applications of potyviruses are also being explored. During this last decade, substantial advances have been made in the understanding of the molecular biology of these viruses and the functions of their various proteins. After a general presentation on the family Potyviridae and the potyviral proteins, we present an update of the knowledge on potyvirus multiplication, movement, and transmission and on potyvirus/plant compatible interactions including pathogenicity and symptom determinants. We end the review providing information on biotechnological applications of potyviruses.

The Importance of the KR-Rich Region of the Coat Protein of Ourmia melon virus for Host Specificity, Tissue Tropism, and Interference With Antiviral Defense

The N-terminal region of the Ourmia melon virus (OuMV) coat protein (CP) contains a short lysine/arginine-rich (KR) region. By alanine scanning mutagenesis, we showed that the KR region influences pathogenicity and virulence of OuMV without altering viral particle assembly. A mutant, called OuMV6710, with three basic residue substitutions in the KR region, was impaired in the ability to maintain the initial systemic infection in Nicotiana benthamiana and to infect both cucumber and melon plants systemically. The integrity of this protein region was also crucial for encapsidation of viral genomic RNA; in fact, certain mutations within the KR region partially compromised the RNA encapsidation efficiency of the CP. In Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0, OuMV6710 was impaired in particle accumulation; however, this phenotype was abolished in dcl2/dcl4 and dcl2/dcl3/dcl4 Arabidopsis mutants defective for antiviral silencing. Moreover, in contrast to CPwt, in situ immunolocalization experiments indicated that CP6710 accumulates efficiently in the spongy mesophyll tissue of infected N. benthamiana and A. thaliana leaves but only occasionally infects palisade tissues. These results provided strong evidence of a crucial role for OuMV CP during viral infection and highlighted the relevance of the KR region in determining tissue tropism, host range, pathogenicity, and RNA affinity, which may be all correlated with a possible CP silencing-suppression activity.

Plum pox virus and sharka: a model potyvirus and a major disease

TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS

Plum pox virus (PPV) is a member of the genus Potyvirus in the family Potyviridae. PPV diversity is structured into at least eight monophyletic strains.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

First discovered in Bulgaria, PPV is nowadays present in most of continental Europe (with an endemic status in many central and southern European countries) and has progressively spread to many countries on other continents.

GENOMIC STRUCTURE

Typical of potyviruses, the PPV genome is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), with a protein linked to its 5' end and a 3'-terminal poly A tail. It is encapsidated by a single type of capsid protein (CP) in flexuous rod particles and is translated into a large polyprotein which is proteolytically processed in at least 10 final products: P1, HCPro, P3, 6K1, CI, 6K2, VPg, NIapro, NIb and CP. In addition, P3N-PIPO is predicted to be produced by a translational frameshift.

PATHOGENICITY FEATURES

PPV causes sharka, the most damaging viral disease of stone fruit trees. It also infects wild and ornamental Prunus trees and has a large experimental host range in herbaceous species. PPV spreads over long distances by uncontrolled movement of plant material, and many species of aphid transmit the virus locally in a nonpersistent manner.

SOURCES OF RESISTANCE

A few natural sources of resistance to PPV have been found so far in Prunus species, which are being used in classical breeding programmes. Different genetic engineering approaches are being used to generate resistance to PPV, and a transgenic plum, 'HoneySweet', transformed with the viral CP gene, has demonstrated high resistance to PPV in field tests in several countries and has obtained regulatory approval in the USA.

The C-terminus of Wheat streak mosaic virus coat protein is involved in differential infection of wheat and maize through host-specific long-distance transport

Viral determinants and mechanisms involved in extension of host range of monocot-infecting viruses are poorly understood. Viral coat proteins (CP) serve many functions in almost every aspect of the virus life cycle. The role of the C-terminal region of Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) CP in virus biology was examined by mutating six negatively charged aspartic acid residues at positions 216, 289, 290, 326, 333, and 334. All of these amino acid residues are dispensable for virion assembly, and aspartic acid residues at positions 216, 333, and 334 are expendable for normal infection of wheat and maize. However, mutants D289N, D289A, D290A, DD289/290NA, and D326A exhibited slow cell-to-cell movement in wheat, which resulted in delayed onset of systemic infection, followed by a rapid recovery of genomic RNA accumulation and symptom development. Mutants D289N, D289A, and D326A inefficiently infected maize, eliciting milder symptoms, while D290A and DD289/290NA failed to infect systemically, suggesting that the C-terminus of CP is involved in differential infection of wheat and maize. Mutation of aspartic acid residues at amino acid positions 289, 290, and 326 severely debilitated virus ingress into the vascular system of maize but not wheat, suggesting that these amino acids facilitate expansion of WSMV host range through host-specific long-distance transport.

A short motif in the N-terminal part of the coat protein is a host-specific determinant of systemic infectivity for two potyviruses

Although the biological variability of Watermelon mosaic virus is limited, isolates from the three main molecular groups differ in their ability to infect systemically Chenopodium quinoa. Mutations were introduced in a motif of three or five amino acids located in the N-terminal part of the coat protein, and differing in isolates from group 1 (motif: lysine-glutamic acid-alanine (Lys-Glu-Ala) or KEA, systemic on C. quinoa), group 2 (Lys-Glu-Thr or KET, not systemic on C. quinoa) and group 3 (KEKET, not systemic on C. quinoa). Mutagenesis of KEKET in an isolate from group 3 to KEA or KEKEA was sufficient to make the virus systemic on C. quinoa, whereas mutagenesis to KET had no effect. Introduction of a KEA motif in Zucchini yellow mosaic virus coat protein also resulted in systemic infection on C. quinoa. These mutations had no obvious effect on the disorder profile or potential post-translational modifications of the coat protein as determined in silico.