Altered cell shapes, hyperplasia, and secondary growth in Arabidopsis caused by beet curly top geminivirus infection

Arabidopsis Sei-O ecotype was found to be hypersusceptible to the BCTV-Logan strain in that it developed very severe symptoms, including severely deformed inflorescences with the callus-like structure, and accumulated high level of viral DNA. Microscopic studies of the BCTV-induced cell divisions demonstrated that the activation of cell divisions was preceded by the phloem disruption and the callus-like structure seemed to be originated from the cortex nearby disrupted phloem. We have further defined the callus-like structure formed by BCTV infection using molecular and histochemical analyses. Results indicate that BCTV infection causes the phloem disruption, following by cell enlargement and elongation in cortex and even epidermis. Finally, BCTV induced symptomatic secondary growth in cortex by de novo anticlinal and periclinal cell divisions. Expression of cdc2 and saur from BCTV-infected Arabidopsis correlates with symptom development. These results suggest a critical role of auxin in symptom development in the interactions between Arabidopsis and BCTV.     

Induction of plant cell division by beet curly top virus gene C4

Beet curly top virus (BCTV) is a small DNA virus that causes tumorigenic growths (enations) in infected plants by inducing division of phloem parenchyma cells (hyperplasia). It has previously been shown that BCTV C4 plays an important role in symptom development in sugarbeet and Nicotiana benthamiana , and it has been suggested that this gene is responsible for the induction of hyperplasia. Using in situ hybridization, we show that BCTV infection is closely associated with the vascular system in these hosts, although hyperplastic cells associated with wild-type virus infection frequently do not contain detectable levels of viral DNA. Extensive hyperplasia was not observed in plants infected with a C4 mutant, demonstrating a role for C4 in virus-induced cell proliferation. Ectopic expression of C4 in transgenic N. benthamiana resulted in abnormal plant development and the production of tumorigenic growths, confirming that this gene alone is sufficient to initiate cell division in permissive cells when removed from the context of the viral genome.     

The unconventional geminivirus Beet curly top Iran virus: satisfying Koch's postulates and determining vector and host range

Beet curly top Iran virus (BCTIRV) is a geminivirus with unusual genomic organisation, recently reported in Iran, infecting sugarbeet and a few other plant species. Although three BCTIRV sequences have been reported, demonstration that BCTIRV DNA is the causal agent of the disease was missing. A full‐length genomic DNA was obtained from symptomatic leaves of sugarbeet collected in the Sivand area of Iran, and its nucleotide sequence was determined (BCTIRV‐Siv, 2845 nt). To satisfy Koch's postulates, an infectivity assay was developed by inserting a 1.4‐mer of BCTIRV‐Siv DNA in Agrobacterium tumefaciens and using it in agroinoculation experiments. The cloned viral DNA was capable of infecting sugarbeets, reproducing the leaf curling and vein enations observed in the field. These results demonstrate that the single DNA component of BCTIRV is sufficient for infectivity. Host range studies indicated that some economically important crops can be affected, such as spinach, tomato and sweet pepper, as well as important laboratory plants including Nicotiana benthamiana, Arabidopsis thaliana and Jimson weed. Circulifer haematoceps, the dominant leafhopper species present in sugarbeet fields in Iran, was successfully used to transmit the disease. The availability of an infectious clone will facilitate extended host range studies, to determine the potential risks to other crops, as well as genetic studies on this unusual member of the family Geminiviridae.     

The complete nucleotide sequence of an infectious clone of cauliflower mosaic virus by M13mp7 shotgun sequencing.

We have determined the complete primary structure (8031 base pairs) of an infectious clone of cauliflower mosaic virus strain CM1841. The sequence was obtained using the strategy of cloning shotgun restriction fragments in the sequencing vector M13mp7. Comparison of the CM1841 sequence with that published for another caMV strain (Strasbourg) reveals 4.4% changes, mostly nucleotide substitutions with a few small insertions and deletions. The six open reading frames in the sequence of the Strasbourg isolate are also present in CM1841.     

Identification of a tolerant locus on Arabidopsis thaliana to hypervirulent beet curly top virus CFH strain

The infection of hosts by the geminivirus depends on the interactions between host and viral factors for viral DNA replication, viral gene expression, and the movement of virus throughout the hosts. This work reports that a hypervirulent strain of Beet curly top virus (BCTV) is different in its ability to infect several ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana. Symptoms appeared on Arabidopsis ecotypes around 7 to 10 d after inoculation with BCTV-CFH. Symptoms were more severe in ecotype SKKU including severe leaf curling and development of severely deformed and stunted boting compared to Col-O as a lab standard ecotype. One ecotype Cen-O was asymptomatic to BCTV-CFH infection. Studies of viral DNA replication and virus movement in three excised organs of asymptomatic Cen-O demonstrated that BCTV-CFH could replicate viral DNA and move systemically in this ecotype, suggesting that tolerance was due to the blocks of interactions between host and viral factors on symptom development. This asymptomatic phenotype is similar to the mutation of leftward ORFs, especially ORF R2. Genetic analysis of this ecotype Cen-O indicated that tolerance is due to a single recessive locus.     

Beet curly top virus transmission by artificially fed and injected beet leafhoppers (Circulfer tenellus)

The transmission of beet curly top virus (BCTV) by leafhoppers, Circulifer tenellus, fed virus through Parafilm® membranes was compared with their transmission when injected with virus from phloem exudates of Amsinckia douglasiana. Virus uptake from ³²P-labelled test solutions and the resulting virus transmission, as measured by an infectivity index, varied widely. By contrast, insects injected with virus transmitted with similar efficiencies. If insects were fasted for 3, 5, or 7 h before a 6 h acquisition access period on test solutions, their ³²P, and presumably virus uptake, was greater than that of nonfasted insects and their variability in virus transmission decreased. The proportion of insects transmitting curly top virus, after fasting and given a 6 h acquisition access period, was similar to that of insects injected with virus. Maximum liquid uptake by the beet leafhopper occurred with a 12% sucrose solution.     

A study of the source of virus in the Pholem exudate appearing on leaves of Amscinckia infected with the beet curly top virus

Abstract Leaves of Amsinckia douglasiana discharging phloem exudate after infection with the beet curly top virus (BCTV) were studied with the electron microscope. Infected tissue differed from the noninfected in having much hyperplastic phloem characterized by abnormally high proportion of sieve elements, scarcity of companion cells, degenerating parenchyma cells, and some unusually large intercellular spaces. Many spaces contained amorphous debris. Particles resembling BCTV were discernible within the debris. Such particles were encountered also in the debris trapped between stomatal guard cells. Since the phloem exudate excreted from leaves of BCTV-infected plants contains virus particles, and since the virus is found extremely rarely in sieve elements, we suggest (1) that most of BCTV particles apparently released into intercellular spaces are derived from degenerating parenchyma cells in which the virus had multiplied; (2) that the exudate is derived from sieve elements of the hyper-plastic phloem in which the normal functional control by companion cells is lacking; (3) that the exudate leaks from the nontransporting sieve elements through cell walls into intercellular spaces and carries the virus to the outside. Initially, stomata may serve as exits for the infectious exudate, but subsequently ruptures in the epidermis are involved.     

Characterisation of watermelon curly mottle virus, a geminivirus distinct from squash leaf curl virus

Purified preparations of watermelon curly mottle virus (WCMoV), a whitefly-transmitted geminivirus, contained dimeric or geminate particles of 20 times 30 nm and the virus was transmissible by mechanical means. Virus yields ranged from 100–150 μg/100 g leaf tissue. Purified preparations exhibited a typical nucleoprotein absorbance profile with a maximum absorbance at 258 nm, and A280 / A260 ratio of 0.61–0.64. Infectivity was associated with two light-scattering, virus-containing bands following sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The viral capsid protein was resolved as a doublet by SDS-PAGE. The estimated mol. wts of the two bands within the doublet were 29 100 (±1550) and 27 733 (±1550), respectively. DNA isolated from virus particles was resolved by gel electrophoresis into two circular single-stranded DNA bands of approximately 2.6 to 2.7 kb. The two bands are believed to represent the individual components of a bipartite genome, characteristic of previously described whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses.     

Beet curly top virus from phloem exudate of Amsinckia douglasiana

Amsinckia douglasiana when infected with beet curly top virus (BCTV) produces more exudate, which is highly infective, than any other known host. Attempts were made to purify BCTV from the phloem exudate of infected Amsinckia douglasiana by differential centrifugation and sucrose density gradient fractionation. A_260/280 ratio of virus preparations was 1.58; S values were 74 and 147. Infectivity was distributed among several fractions during density gradient purification. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of pentagonal and hexagonal particles of 14–23 nm, some of which were paired. The virus was insensitive to DNAse, RNAse, and trypsin when these enzymes were tested individually but infectivity was substantially decreased when the virus was subjected to trypsin treatment followed by DNAse, suggesting that DNA is associated with the beet curly top virus.     

Computer analysis between nucleotide and amino acid sequences of bean golden mosaic virus and those of maize streak, wheat dwarf, chloris striate mosaic, and beet curly top viruses

Bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) DNA 1 and 2 have little sequence homology with maize streak virus (MSV), wheat dwarf virus (WDV), and chloris striate mosaic virus (CSMV) DNAs. BGMV DNA 1 and beet curly top virus (BCTV) DNA are closely related, whereas BGMV DNA 2 and BCTV DNA are not related. Direct amino acid homologies of predicted proteins between BGMV ORFs and MSV ORFs, WDV ORFs or CSMV ORFs were 40-50%. BGMV 1L1 and BCTV L1, and BGMV IL3 and BCTV L4 were highly conserved. The sequence TAATATTAC was detected in the loops of hairpin structures of 5 gemini-viruses.     

一株A型口蹄疫流行毒株全序列的测定及其全长感染性克隆的构建

【目的】测定一株A型口蹄疫流行毒株的全基因组序列,并构建其全长感染性克隆。【方法】参照已公布的A型口蹄疫病毒序列设计引物,将分离的口蹄疫病毒株A/Sea-97/CHA/2014全基因组分为4个重叠的片段进行RT-PCR扩增,并对其进行序列测定与分析。利用酶切连接法将4个基因片段依次克隆至p Blue Script SKhdv载体中,构建该流行毒株的全长c DNA克隆p QAHN。pQAHN经NotⅠ线性化后转染表达T7 RNA聚合酶的BSR/T7细胞,拯救病毒。【结果】口蹄疫病毒全基因组序列测定结果表明该毒株基因组全长8 171 bp[不包括poly(C)区段和poly(A)尾巴],开放阅读框为6 996 bp,编码2 332个氨基酸,5′和3′非编码区分别为1 091 bp和95 bp。VP1系统发生树分析表明该毒株与A/GDMM/CHA/2013毒株亲缘关系最近,相似性为99.1%。线化全长质粒转染BSR/T7细胞68 h后可观察到典型的细胞病变。拯救病毒的间接免疫荧光、RT-PCR和序列测定结果表明成功拯救出了具有感染性的FMDV。拯救病毒与亲本病毒的噬斑表型及生长曲线试验表明二者具有相似的生长表型和增殖能力。【结论】该研究为我国口蹄疫病原生态分布、分子流行病学调查以及A型FMD新型疫苗的研究提供了有益的材料。     

Beet curly top virus DI DNA-mediated resistance is linked to its size

Beet curly top virus (BCTV) infection is associated with the de novo synthesis of a heterogeneous population of subgenomic viral DNAs. Nicotiana benthamiana plants transformed with a partial repeat of one such subgenomic DNA remained susceptible to infection but produced ameliorated symptoms when agroinoculated with BCTV. Symptom amelioration is associated with the mobilization of subgenomic DNA from the integrated copy. In an attempt to improve the resistance, N. benthamiana has been transformed with a partial repeat of a much smaller subgenomic DNA. However, transgenic plants showed almost no resistance although subgenomic DNA was mobilised from the host genome. To further understand the molecular basis of the interference phenomenon, we compared the ability of BCTV to replicate and accumulate in leaf discs derived from resistant and non-resistant transgenic plants. Both subgenomic DNAs were able to interfere with virus replication but only in case of resistant plants the DI DNA efficiently suppressed viral accumulation.     

Complete nucleotide sequence and the genome organization of tobacco leaf curl geminivirus from Japan

The genomic DNA of tobacco leaf curl geminivirus (TLCV) from tomato plants with leaf curl disease in Japan has been sequenced. The single circular DNA molecule comprises 2,761 nucleotides. TLCV DNA contains six open reading frames (ORFs) capable of encoding proteins with a molecular weight greater than 10 K. In total nucleotide sequence comparisons with other geminiviruses, TLCV was most closely related to tomato leaf curl virus from Taiwan (TwToLCV) (76% identity), tomato leaf curl virus from Bangalore (ToLCV-Ba) (74%) and agerantum yellow vein virus (AYVV) (74%), all possessing a monopartite genome. The significant but relatively low sequence similarity in the genomic DNA between TLCV and other geminiviruses suggests it is a distinct geminivirus in genus Begomovirus.     

The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone encoding the wheat Em protein.

The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone isolated from developing wheat embryos and encoding the Em protein is reported. The entire coding region for Em and the 3' non-translated flank are contained within this clone. The amino acid sequence deduced for Em is very rich in glycine (18 mol%) as well as both basic and acidic residues. The molecular weight of the protein is ca. 9,900 daltons. The deduced sequence is supported by direct amino acid sequencing of cyanogen bromide cleavage fragments obtained from purified Em protein. Em is shown by Southern blots to be a product of a gene family of approximately ten members.     

The nucleotide sequence of a rat liver glutathione S-transferase subunit cDNA clone

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a cloned cDNA derived from liver poly(A) RNA of pentobarbital-treated rats encoding a glutathione S-transferase subunit. This cDNA clone pGTR261 contains one open reading frame of 222 amino acids, a complete 3' noncoding region, and 63 nucleotides in the 5' noncoding region. The cloned DNA hybridizes to rat poly(A) RNA in a tissue-specific fashion, with strong signals to liver and kidney poly(A) RNA(s) of approximately 1100 and approximately 1400 nucleotides in size but little or no hybridization to poly(A) RNAs from heart, lung, seminal vesicles, spleen, or testis under stringent conditions. Our sequence covers the cDNA sequence of pGST94 which contains a partial coding sequence for a liver glutathione S-transferase subunit of Ya size. Comparison of sequences with our earlier clone pGTR112 suggests that there are at least two mRNA species coding for two different subunits of the Ya (Mr = 25,600) subunit family with very limited amino acid substitutions mainly of conserved polarity. The divergent 3' noncoding sequences should be useful molecular probes in differentiating these two different but otherwise very similar subunits in induction and genomic structure analyses. Our results suggest that tissue-specific expression of the glutathione S-transferase subunits represented by the sequences of pGTR261 and pGTR112 may occur at or prior to the level of RNA processing.     

马立克氏病病毒meq基因敲除株感染性克隆的免疫效果评价

【目的】比较和评价了敲除meq基因的MDV感染性克隆作为新型DNA疫苗的免疫保护效果。【方法】将1日龄SPF鸡饲养于正压过滤空气的SPF动物饲养隔离罩内。1日龄时,将SPF鸡以10μg/只的剂量通过大腿肌肉注射的方式接种溶解于PBS缓冲液中的敲除meq基因的MDV感染性克隆GX0101 Δmeq-BAC,分别在免疫后5天或12天以500PFU/只的剂量接种超强毒rMd5。饲养90天,观察死亡情况,对每一只鸡剖检并取心脏与肝脏做石蜡切片,进行病理观察。【结果】免疫5天后攻毒,CVI988/Rispens对超强毒rMd5的保护指数可达到87%,GX0101 Δmeq-BAC对rMd5的保护指数仅达33%;而免疫12天后对rMd5的保护指数为53%。【结论】相对于细胞结合疫苗CVI988/Rispens,DNA疫苗在机体内的病毒拯救是使其获得保护力的前提条件,因此有一定的免疫空当期。以GX0101 Δmeq-BAC作为疫苗免疫不仅能使雏鸡在受到超强毒感染时发病延迟,而且还能提供较好的免疫保护效果。