Monoclonal Antibodies against the Recombinant Nucleocapsid Protein of Tomato spotted wilt virus and its Application in Virus Detection

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is the type member of the tospovirus genus and causes significant losses in a wide range of economically important ornamental and vegetable crops worldwide. The nucleocapsid gene, located on the ambisense S RNA segment of TSWV was expressed in Escherichia coli using pET-32a as vector and correct expression of recombinant protein was confirmed by Western blot using an anti-TSWV monoclonal antibody (MAb). The recombinant protein was purified using Ni-NTA agarose and the purified protein was used for the production of MAbs. Three murine MAbs against the recombinant nucleocapsid protein were produced. Triple antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunocapture RT-PCR methods were then established for reliable and efficient detection of TSWV using the produced MAbs.     

The nucleotide sequence of the S RNA of Impatiens necrotic spot virus, a novel tospovirus.

Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) shares a number of properties with tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), the type species of the genus tospovirus within the family Bunyaviridae. INSV, however, differs from TSWV in plant host range and serology. In order to define the genomic structure and the taxonomic status of this TSWV-like virus, the nucleotide sequence of its genomic S RNA segment has been determined. The molecular data obtained demonstrate that, like TSWV, INSV has an ambisense S RNA molecule, encoding a non-structural protein in viral sense and the nucleocapsid protein in viral complementary sense. The level of nucleotide sequence homology between their S RNAs, as well as the divergence in amino acid sequence homology of their gene products, confirm previous conclusions from serological studies that INSV and TSWV represent distinct virus species within the newly created genus, tospovirus.     

Overcoming host- and pathogen-mediated resistance in tomato and tobacco maps to the M RNA of Tomato spotted wilt virus

A viral genetic system was used to map the determinants of the ability of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) to overcome the R gene (Sw-5) in tomato and the resistance conferred by the nucleocapsid gene of TSWV (N gene) in tobacco. A complete set of reassortant genotypes was generated from TSWV isolates A and D. TSWV-A was able to overcome the Sw-5 gene in tomato and the TSWV N gene in tobacco, whereas TSWV-D was repressed by both forms of resistance. The ability to overcome both forms of resistance was associated with the M RNA segment of TSWV-A (M(A)). Overcoming the Sw-5 gene was linked solely to the presence of M(A), and the ability of M(A) to overcome the TSWV N gene was modified by the L RNA and the S RNA of TSWV-A, which is consistent with previous reports that suggest that the nucleocapsid gene is not the primary determinant for overcoming the nucleocapsid-mediated resistance. Sequence analysis of the M RNA segment of TSWV-A, -D, and the type isolate BR-01 revealed multiple differences in the coding and noncoding regions, which prevented identification of the resistance-breaking nucleotide sequences.     

A multi-generation analysis of the stability of transgenic virus resistance in doubled-haploid tobacco lines

Plants can be genetically engineered for virus resistance by transformation with a viral gene. We transformed tobacco with the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) nucleocapsid gene from the Hawaiian L isolate in order to obtain TSWV resistant breeding lines. Doubled-haploid lines were produced from primary transgenic plants that were selected for resistance to the virus. Several of these lines showed very high levels of resistance and were symptomless after inoculation with the Hawaiian L isolate of TSWV. The accumulation of only low levels of full-length transgene RNA and protein observed in these lines is consistent with an RNA-mediated mechanism of resistance. The lines that were highly resistant to the Hawaiian L isolate of TSWV were also found to be highly resistant to several other isolates of TSWV, while lines that were only moderately resistant to the Hawaiian L isolate were often susceptible to the other isolates. The highly resistant lines were advanced over several generations by self-pollination. Although these lines were fully homozygous, several lines lost resistance in later generations, indicating that the resistance was unstable. Selection for resistance in these unstable lines did not prevent the occurrence of susceptible progeny in subsequent generations. Therefore, testing over several generations is required to determine the stability of resistance when breeding crops with transgenic virus resistance.     

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infection of Physcomitrella patens gametophores

Following mechanical inoculation of the moss Physcomitrella patens (Hedw.) B.S.G. with Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), the virus encoded N nucleocapsid protein was detected in gametophores harvested 11 and 29 dpi and the non-structural NSm movement protein was observed 29 dpi. The detection of both viral proteins presumes that P. patens could serve as a new lab–host for TSWV, allowing reverse genetics by gene targeting to elucidate the role of specified molecular virus–host interactions.     

Comparison of Polyclonal Antisera in the Detection of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Using the Double Antibody Sandwich and Cocktail ELISA

Different polyclonal antisera and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures have been tested for their potential to detect tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). The virus could efficiently be detected in high dilutions of sap from infected plants, and at low concentrations of purified virus and nucleocapsid protein preparations in the cocktail ELISA and the double antibody sandwich ELISA (DAS-ELISA). Amounts of 1 to 3 ng of virus protein still gave positive readings using purified preparations, while sap could be diluted approximately 100,000 times. Differences in the detection level were observed using nucleocapsid protein antiserum (anti-N-serum) and the antiserum against intact virus particles (anti-TSWV-serum), but both antisera showed to be powerful sera for the detection of TSWV. Using anti-N-serum, TSWV could be detected in highly diluted extracts of different hosts, and also in leaf extracts or intact tissues stored for 30 days under different conditions. These results indicate that the TSWV nucleocapsid protein remains antigenic for long periods.     

Peanut yellow spot virus: A distinct tospovirus species based on serology and nucleic acid hybridisation

Nucleocapsids of peanut yellow spot virus (PYSV), purified from peanut (= groundnut) plant tissue, contained a protein with a molecular mass of 29 kDa. In ELISA and immuno-blot analysis the virus did not react with tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) and peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV) antisera. PYSV contained three RNA species, a large (L) RNA (c.8900 nucleotides), a medium (M) RNA (c.4800 nucleotides) and a small (S) RNA (c.3000 nucleotides), similar to other tospoviruses. In addition, a fourth RNA species of approximately 1800 nucleotides was also present in purified preparations. Hybridisation analysis under high stringency conditions revealed no hybridisation between PYSV RNAs and cDNA probes representing the nucleocapsid (N) gene, the glycoprotein (GP) gene and the 3' half of the RNA polymerase gene of PBNV. PYSV genomic RNAs also failed to hybridise with cDNA probes from the GP genes of TSWV and INSV. In reciprocal tests, the cDNA clones of PYSV S and M RNAs did not hybridise with any of the PBNV RNAs. Based on the absence of serological relationships between PYSV and PBNV, TSWV and INSV and lack of nucleotide homology based on hybridisation studies between the PYSV RNAs and cDNA clones from PBNV, TSWV and INSV, PYSV should be considered as a distinct species of the genus Tospovirus under a new serogroup, putatively designated ‘V’.     

Engineered resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus in transgenic peanut expressing the viral nucleocapsid gene

The nucleocapsid gene of tomato spotted wilt virus Hawaiian L isolate in a sense orientation, and the GUS and NPTII marker genes, were introduced into peanut (Arachis hypogaea cv. New Mexico Valencia A) using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Modifications to a previously defined transformation protocol reduced the time required for production of transformed peanut plants. Transgenes were stably integrated into the peanut genome and transmitted to progeny. RNA expression and production of nucleocapsid protein in transgenic peanut were observed. Progeny of transgenic peanut plants expressing the nucleocapsid gene showed a 10- to 15-day delay in symptom development after mechanical inoculations with the donor isolate of tomato spotted wilt virus. All transgenic plants were protected from systemic tomato spotted wilt virus infection. Inoculated non-transformed control plants and plants transformed with a gene cassette not containing the nucleocapsid gene became systemically infected and displayed typical tomato spotted wilt virus symptoms. These results demonstrate that protection against tomato spotted wilt virus can be achieved in transgenic peanut plants by expression of the sense RNA of the tomato spotted wilt virus nucleocapsid gene     

Structure of the nucleocapsid protein of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an enveloped RNA virus of the Arteriviridae family, genomically related to the coronaviruses. PRRSV is the causative agent of both severe and persistent respiratory disease and reproductive failure in pigs worldwide. The PRRSV virion contains a core made of the 123 amino acid nucleocapsid (N) protein, a product of the ORF7 gene. We have determined the crystal structure of the capsid-forming domain of N. The structure was solved to 2.6 A resolution by SAD methods using the anomalous signal from sulfur. The N protein exists in the crystal as a tight dimer forming a four-stranded beta sheet floor superposed by two long alpha helices and flanked by two N- and two C-terminal alpha helices. The structure of N represents a new class of viral capsid-forming domains, distinctly different from those of other known enveloped viruses, but reminiscent of the coat protein of bacteriophage MS2.     

Analysis of Tospovirus NSs Proteins in Suppression of Systemic Silencing

RNA silencing is a sequence-specific gene regulation mechanism that in plants also acts antiviral. In order to counteract antiviral RNA silencing, viruses have evolved RNA silencing suppressors (RSS). In the case of tospoviruses, the non-structural NSs protein has been identified as the RSS. Although the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) tospovirus NSs protein has been shown to exhibit affinity to long and small dsRNA molecules, its ability to suppress the non-cell autonomous part of RNA silencing has only been studied to a limited extent. Here, the NSs proteins of TSWV, groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) and tomato yellow ring virus (TYRV), representatives for three distinct tospovirus species, have been studied on their ability and strength to suppress local and systemic silencing. A system has been developed to quantify suppression of GFP silencing in Nicotiana benthamiana 16C lines, to allow a comparison of relative RNA silencing suppressor strength. It is shown that NSs of all three tospoviruses are suppressors of local and systemic silencing. Unexpectedly, suppression of systemic RNA silencing by NSs^TYRV was just as strong as those by NSs^TSWV and NSs^GRSV, even though NSs^TYRV was expressed in lower amounts. Using the system established, a set of selected NSs^TSWV gene constructs mutated in predicted RNA binding domains, as well as NSs from TSWV isolates 160 and 171 (resistance breakers of the Tsw resistance gene), were analyzed for their ability to suppress systemic GFP silencing. The results indicate another mode of RNA silencing suppression by NSs that acts further downstream the biogenesis of siRNAs and their sequestration. The findings are discussed in light of the affinity of NSs for small and long dsRNA, and recent mutant screen of NSs^TSWV to map domains required for RSS activity and triggering of Tsw-governed resistance.     

犬瘟热病毒核蛋白基因重组腺病毒的构建、鉴定与表达

核蛋白基因(N)位于犬瘟热病毒基因组的108—1679位置处,是保守性较强的免疫原性蛋白,因此选择N基因作为目的基因,利用酶切、连接等方法构建了含犬瘟热病毒核蛋白基因的穿梭质粒pVAX?E3LPN。以含CAV-2SY株全基因组的pPoly2-CAV-2为载体,构建了重组质粒pCAV-2-CDVLPN,利用脂质体介导法转染MDCK细胞,转染三次后,细胞出现了典型的腺病毒样病变。电镜负染、切片观察,酶切、PCR扩增及测序鉴定的结果表明表达犬瘟热核蛋白基因的重组犬2型腺病毒构建成功,表达的核蛋白分子量为58kDa。     

Role of sindbis virus capsid protein region II in nucleocapsid core assembly and encapsidation of genomic RNA

Sindbis virus is an enveloped positive-sense RNA virus in the alphavirus genus. The nucleocapsid core contains the genomic RNA surrounded by 240 copies of a single capsid protein. The capsid protein is multifunctional, and its roles include acting as a protease, controlling the specificity of RNA that is encapsidated into nucleocapsid cores, and interacting with viral glycoproteins to promote the budding of mature virus and the release of the genomic RNA into the newly infected cell. The region comprising amino acids 81 to 113 was previously implicated in two processes, the encapsidation of the viral genomic RNA and the stable accumulation of nucleocapsid cores in the cytoplasm of infected cells. In the present study, specific amino acids within this region responsible for the encapsidation of the genomic RNA have been identified. The region that is responsible for nucleocapsid core accumulation has considerable overlap with the region that controls encapsidation specificity.     

Anti-sense regions in satellite RNA of cucumber mosaic virus form stable complexes with the viral coat protein gene.

The interaction in vitro of the RNA of the Q-strain of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) with its satellite RNA (sat-RNA) has been studied. In hybridisation reactions containing 30% formamide at 45 degrees, sat-RNA binds to CMV RNA 3 and 4 but not to CMV RNA 1 and 2 or RNA from tobacco mosaic virus and alfalfa mosaic virus. The viral coat protein gene present in RNA 3 and 4 contains the site of binding but this region does not contain complementary sequences of any significant length to the sat-RNA sequence. However, the optimum alignment of short complementary sequences present in these regions revealed a stable structure in which it is proposed that sat-RNA twists around the coat protein gene so that two separate blocks of nucleotides in sat-RNA base pair in opposite directions with two adjacent blocks in the coat protein gene to form a knot-like structure. The binding site is a region of 33 nucleotides within the coding region of the coat protein gene which base pairs with residues 98-113 and 134-152 of sat-RNA. The possibility of the binding region of sat-RNA functioning as an "anti-sense" sequence in regulation of the viral coat protein synthesis is discussed.