Viral suppressor of RNA silencing in vascular plants also interferes with the development of the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens.

Plant viruses are important pathogens able to overcome plant defense mechanisms using their viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSR). Small RNA pathways of bryophytes and vascular plants have significant similarities, but little is known about how viruses interact with mosses. This study elucidated the responses of Physcomitrella patens to two different VSRs. We transformed P. patens plants to express VSR P19 from tomato bushy stunt virus and VSR 2b from cucumber mosaic virus, respectively. RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR were used to detect the effects of VSRs on gene expression. Small RNA (sRNA) sequencing was used to estimate the influences of VSRs on the sRNA pool of P. patens. Expression of either VSR-encoding gene caused developmental disorders in P. patens. The transcripts of four different transcription factors (AP2/erf, EREB-11 and two MYBs) accumulated in the P19 lines. sRNA sequencing revealed that VSR P19 significantly changed the microRNA pool in P. patens. Our results suggest that VSR P19 is functional in P. patens and affects the abundance of specific microRNAs interfering with gene expression. The results open new opportunities for using Physcomitrella as an alternative system to study plant-virus interactions.

Development of a Reverse Genetic System for Studying Rose Rosette Virus in Whole Plants.

Rose rosette virus (RRV) is a negative-sense RNA virus with a seven-segmented genome that is enclosed by a double membrane. We constructed an unconventional minireplicon system encoding the antigenomic (ag)RNA1 (encoding the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase [RdRp]), agRNA3 (encoding the nucleocapsid protein [N]), and a modified agRNA5 containing the coding sequence for the iLOV protein in place of the P5 open reading frame (R5-iLOV). iLOV expression from the R5-iLOV template was amplified by activities of the RdRp and N proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. A mutation was introduced into the RdRp catalytic domain and iLOV expression was eliminated, indicating RNA1-encoded polymerase activity drives iLOV expression from the R5-iLOV template. Fluorescence from the replicon was highest at 3 days postinoculation (dpi) and declined at 7 and 13 dpi. Addition of the tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) P19 silencing-suppressor protein prolonged expression until 7 dpi. A full-length infectious clone system was constructed of seven binary plasmids encoding each of the seven genome segments. Agro-delivery of constructs encoding RRV RNAs 1 through 4 or RNAs 1 through 7 to N. benthamiana plants produced systemic infection. Finally, agro-delivery of the full-length RRV infectious clone including all segments produced systemic infection within 60 dpi. This advance opens new opportunities for studying RRV infection biology.

Host specific preference for low temperature in the multiplication of a tombusvirus, gentian virus A.

Gentian virus A (GeVA), a novel tombusvirus isolated from Japanese gentian, has shown only a limited ability to infect Japanese gentians under experimental conditions. In this study, temperature was found to affect the efficient multiplication of GeVA in Japanese gentians. GeVA efficiently multiplied in inoculated leaves of gentians at 18 °C but not at 23 °C. This low-temperature (18 °C)-preferred GeVA multiplication was specifically observed in Japanese gentians and Arabidopsis thaliana but not in other experimental plants, including Nicotiana benthamiana. In A. thaliana, visible defense responses, including pathogenesis-related protein 1 expression, were not detected at 23 °C. Furthermore, several A. thaliana mutants, including those defective in RNA silencing, with altered plant immunities did not allow GeVA to multiply to detectable levels at 23 °C. Taken together, these data suggest that unique interaction between GeVA and gentians/A. thaliana, which is independent of RNA silencing, may underlie the low-temperature-preferred multiplication of GeVA.

Assembly-hub function of ER-localized SNARE proteins in biogenesis of tombusvirus replication compartment.

Positive-strand RNA viruses assemble numerous membrane-bound viral replicase complexes within large replication compartments to support their replication in infected cells. Yet the detailed mechanism of how given subcellular compartments are subverted by viruses is incompletely understood. Although, Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) uses peroxisomal membranes for replication, in this paper, we show evidence that the ER-resident SNARE (soluble NSF attachment protein receptor) proteins play critical roles in the formation of active replicase complexes in yeast model host and in plants. Depletion of the syntaxin 18-like Ufe1 and Use1, which are components of the ER SNARE complex in the ERAS (ER arrival site) subdomain, in yeast resulted in greatly reduced tombusvirus accumulation. Over-expression of a dominant-negative mutant of either the yeast Ufe1 or the orthologous plant Syp81 syntaxin greatly interferes with tombusvirus replication in yeast and plants, thus further supporting the role of this host protein in tombusvirus replication. Moreover, tombusvirus RNA replication was low in cell-free extracts from yeast with repressed Ufe1 or Use1 expression. We also present evidence for the mislocalization of the tombusviral p33 replication protein to the ER membrane in Ufe1p-depleted yeast cells. The viral p33 replication protein interacts with both Ufe1p and Use1p and co-opts them into the TBSV replication compartment in yeast and plant cells. The co-opted Ufe1 affects the virus-driven membrane contact site formation, sterol-enrichment at replication sites, recruitment of several pro-viral host factors and subversion of the Rab5-positive PE-rich endosomes needed for robust TBSV replication. In summary, we demonstrate a critical role for Ufe1 and Use1 SNARE proteins in TBSV replication and propose that the pro-viral functions of Ufe1 and Use1 are to serve as assembly hubs for the formation of the extensive TBSV replication compartments in cells. Altogether, these findings point clearly at the ERAS subdomain of ER as a critical site for the biogenesis of the TBSV replication compartment.

Stability of Cucumber Necrosis Virus at the Quasi-6-Fold Axis Affects Zoospore Transmission.

Cucumber necrosis virus (CNV) is a member of the genus Tombusvirus and has a monopartite positive-sense RNA genome. CNV is transmitted in nature via zoospores of the fungus Olpidium bornovanus As with other members of the Tombusvirus genus, the CNV capsid swells when exposed to alkaline pH and EDTA. We previously demonstrated that a P73G mutation blocks the virus from zoospore transmission while not significantly affecting replication in plants (K. Kakani, R. Reade, and D. Rochon, J Mol Biol 338:507-517, 2004, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2004.03.008). P73 lies immediately adjacent to a putative zinc binding site (M. Li et al., J Virol 87:12166-12175, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.01965-13) that is formed by three icosahedrally related His residues in the N termini of the C subunit at the quasi-6-fold axes. To better understand how this buried residue might affect vector transmission, we determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of wild-type CNV in the native and swollen state and of the transmission-defective mutant, P73G, under native conditions. With the wild-type CNV, the swollen structure demonstrated the expected expansion of the capsid. However, the zinc binding region at the quasi-6-fold at the ß-annulus axes remained intact. By comparison, the zinc binding region of the P73G mutant, even under native conditions, was markedly disordered, suggesting that the ß-annulus had been disrupted and that this could destabilize the capsid. This was confirmed with pH and urea denaturation experiments in conjunction with electron microscopy analysis. We suggest that the P73G mutation affects the zinc binding and/or the ß-annulus, making it more fragile under neutral/basic pH conditions. This, in turn, may affect zoospore transmission.IMPORTANCECucumber necrosis virus (CNV), a member of the genus Tombusvirus, is transmitted in nature via zoospores of the fungus Olpidium bornovanus While a number of plant viruses are transmitted via insect vectors, little is known at the molecular level as to how the viruses are recognized and transmitted. As with many spherical plant viruses, the CNV capsid swells when exposed to alkaline pH and EDTA. We previously demonstrated that a P73G mutation that lies inside the capsid immediately adjacent to a putative zinc binding site (Li et al., J Virol 87:12166-12175, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.01965-13) blocks the virus from zoospore transmission while not significantly affecting replication in plants (K. Kakani, R. Reade, and D. Rochon, J Mol Biol 338:507-517, 2004, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2004.03.008). Here, we show that the P73G mutant is less stable than the wild type, and this appears to be correlated with destabilization of the ß-annulus at the icosahedral 3-fold axes. Therefore, the ß-annulus appears not to be essential for particle assembly but is necessary for interactions with the transmission vector.

Crispr/Cas9 Mediated Inactivation of Argonaute 2 Reveals its Differential Involvement in Antiviral Responses.

RNA silencing constitutes an important antiviral mechanism in plants. Small RNA guided Argonaute proteins fulfill essential role in this process by acting as executors of viral restriction. Plants encode multiple Argonaute proteins of which several exhibit antiviral activities. A recent addition to this group is AGO2. Its involvement in antiviral responses is established predominantly by studies employing mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana. In the virological model plant, Nicotiana benthamiana, the contribution of AGO2 to antiviral immunity is much less certain due to the lack of appropriate genetic mutants. Previous studies employed various RNAi based tools to down-regulate AGO2 expression. However, these techniques have several disadvantages, especially in the context of antiviral RNA silencing. Here, we have utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to inactivate the AGO2 gene of N. benthamiana. The ago2 plants exhibit differential sensitivities towards various viruses. AGO2 is a critical component of the plants' immune responses against PVX, TuMV and TCV. In contrast, AGO2 deficiency does not significantly influence the progression of tombusvirus and CMV infections. In summary, our work provides unequivocal proof for the virus-specific antiviral role of AGO2 in a plant species other than A. thaliana for the first time.

Genome characterization, infectivity assays of in vitro and in vivo infectious transcripts of soybean yellow mottle mosaic virus from India reveals a novel short mild genotype.

Nucleotide sequence of a distinct soybean yellow mottle mosaic virusisolate from Vignaradiata (mungbean isolate, SYMMV-Mb) from India was determined and compared with othermembers of the family Tombusviridae. The complete monopartite single-stranded RNA genome of SYMMV-Mb consisted of 3974nt with six putative open reading frames and includes 5' and 3' untranslated regions of 35 and 254nt, respectively. SYMMV-Mb genome shared 75% nt sequence identity at complete genome level and 67-92% identity at all ORFs level with SYMMV Korean and USA isolates (soybean isolates) followed by CPMoV, whereas it shared very low identity with other tombusviridae members (5-41%). A full-length infectious cDNA clone of the SYMMV-Mb placed under the control of the T7 RNA polymerase and the CaMV35S promoters was generated and French bean plants on mechanical inoculation with in vitro RNA transcripts, p35SSYMMV-O4 plasmid and agroinoculation with p35SSYMMV-O4 showed symptoms typical of SYMMV-Mb infection. The infection was confirmed by DAC-ELISA, ISEM, RT-PCR and mechanical transmission to new plant species. Further testing of different plant species with agroinoculation of p35SSYMMV-O4 showed delay in symptoms but indistinguishable from mechanical sap inoculation and the infection was confirmed by DAC-ELISA, RT-PCR and mechanical transmission to new plants. The system developed here will be useful for further studies on pathogenecity, viral gene functions, plant-virus-vector interactions of SYMMV-Mb and to utilize it as a gene expression and silencing vector.

Synergistic infection of two viruses MCMV and SCMV increases the accumulations of both MCMV and MCMV-derived siRNAs in maize.

The co-infection of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) can cause maize lethal necrosis. However, the mechanism underlying the synergistic interaction between these two viruses remains elusive. In this study, we found that the co-infection of MCMV and SCMV increased the accumulation of MCMV. Moreover, the profiles of virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) from MCMV and SCMV in single- and co-infected maize plants were obtained by high-throughput sequencing. Our data showed that synergistic infection of MCMV and SCMV increased remarkably the accumulation of vsiRNAs from MCMV, which were mainly 22 and 21 nucleotides in length. The single-nucleotide resolution maps of vsiRNAs revealed that vsiRNAs were almost continuously but heterogeneously distributed throughout MCMV and SCMV genomic RNAs, respectively. Moreover, we predicted and annotated dozens of host transcript genes targeted by vsiRNAs. Our results also showed that maize DCLs and several AGOs RNAs were differentially accumulated in maize plants with different treatments (mock, single or double inoculations), which were associated with the accumulation of vsiRNAs. Our findings suggested possible roles of vsiRNAs in the synergistic interaction of MCMV and SCMV in maize plants.

Viral sensing of the subcellular environment regulates the assembly of new viral replicase complexes during the course of infection.

Replication of plus-stranded RNA [(+)RNA] viruses depends on the availability of coopted host proteins and lipids. But, how could viruses sense the accessibility of cellular resources? An emerging concept based on tombusviruses, small plant viruses, is that viruses might regulate viral replication at several steps depending on what cellular factors are available at a given time point. I discuss the role of phospholipids, sterols, and cellular WW domain proteins and eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) in control of activation of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and regulation of the assembly of viral replicase complexes (VRCs). These regulatory mechanisms might explain how tombusviruses could adjust the efficiency of RNA replication and new VRC assembly to the limiting resources of the host cells during infections.

Atomic structure of Cucumber necrosis virus and the role of the capsid in vector transmission.

Cucumber Necrosis Virus (CNV) is a member of the genus Tombusvirus and has a monopartite positive-sense RNA genome packaged in a T=3 icosahedral particle. CNV is transmitted in nature via zoospores of the fungus Olpidium bornovanus. CNV undergoes a conformational change upon binding to the zoospore that is required for transmission, and specific polysaccharides on the zoospore surface have been implicated in binding. To better understand this transmission process, we have determined the atomic structure of CNV. As expected, being a member of the Tombusvirus genus, the core structure of CNV is highly similar to that of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), with major differences lying on the exposed loops. Also, as was seen with TBSV, CNV appears to have a calcium binding site between the subunits around the quasi-3-fold axes. However, unlike TBSV, there appears to be a novel zinc binding site within the ß annulus formed by the N termini of the three C subunits at the icosahedral 3-fold axes. Two of the mutations causing defective transmission map immediately around this zinc binding site. The other mutations causing defective transmission and particle formation are mapped onto the CNV structure, and it is likely that a number of the mutations affect zoospore transmission by affecting conformational transitions rather than directly affecting receptor binding.

The unexpected roles of eukaryotic translation elongation factors in RNA virus replication and pathogenesis.

The prokaryotic translation elongation factors were identified as essential cofactors for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of the bacteriophage Qß more than 40 years ago. A growing body of evidence now shows that eukaryotic translation elongation factors (eEFs), predominantly eEF1A, acting in partially characterized complexes sometimes involving additional eEFs, facilitate virus replication. The functions of eEF1A as a protein chaperone and an RNA- and actin-binding protein enable its "moonlighting" roles as a virus replication cofactor. A diverse group of viruses, from human immunodeficiency type 1 and West Nile virus to tomato bushy stunt virus, have adapted to use eEFs as cofactors for viral transcription, translation, assembly, and pathogenesis. Here we review the mechanisms used by viral pathogens to usurp these abundant cellular proteins for their replication.

Influence of host chloroplast proteins on Tobacco mosaic virus accumulation and intercellular movement.

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) forms dense cytoplasmic bodies containing replication-associated proteins (virus replication complexes [VRCs]) upon infection. To identify host proteins that interact with individual viral components of VRCs or VRCs in toto, we isolated viral replicase- and VRC-enriched fractions from TMV-infected Nicotiana tabacum plants. Two host proteins in enriched fractions, ATP-synthase γ-subunit (AtpC) and Rubisco activase (RCA) were identified by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Through pull-down analysis, RCA bound predominantly to the region between the methyltransferase and helicase domains of the TMV replicase. Tobamovirus, but not Cucumber mosaic virus or Potato virus X, infection of N. tabacum plants resulted in 50% reductions in Rca and AtpC messenger RNA levels. To investigate the role of these host proteins in TMV accumulation and plant defense, we used a Tobacco rattle virus vector to silence these genes in Nicotiana benthamiana plants prior to challenge with TMV expressing green fluorescent protein. TMV-induced fluorescent lesions on Rca- or AtpC-silenced leaves were, respectively, similar or twice the size of those on leaves expressing these genes. Silencing Rca and AtpC did not influence the spread of Tomato bushy stunt virus and Potato virus X. In AtpC- and Rca-silenced leaves TMV accumulation and pathogenicity were greatly enhanced, suggesting a role of both host-encoded proteins in a defense response against TMV. In addition, silencing these host genes altered the phenotype of the TMV infection foci and VRCs, yielding foci with concentric fluorescent rings and dramatically more but smaller VRCs. The concentric rings occurred through renewed virus accumulation internal to the infection front.

A survey of resistance to Tomato bushy stunt virus in the genus Nicotiana reveals that the hypersensitive response is triggered by one of three different viral proteins.

In this study, we screened 22 Nicotiana spp. for resistance to the tombusviruses Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), Cucumber necrosis virus, and Cymbidium ringspot virus. Eighteen species were resistant, and resistance was manifested in at least two different categories. In all, 13 species responded with a hypersensitive response (HR)-type resistance, whereas another five were resistant but either had no visible response or responded with chlorotic lesions rather than necrotic lesions. Three different TBSV proteins were found to trigger HR in Nicotiana spp. in an agroinfiltration assay. The most common avirulence (avr) determinant was the TBSV coat protein P41, a protein that had not been previously recognized as an avr determinant. A mutational analysis confirmed that the coat protein rather than the viral RNA sequence was responsible for triggering HR, and it triggered HR in six species in the Alatae section. The TBSV P22 movement protein triggered HR in two species in section Undulatae (Nicotiana glutinosa and N. edwardsonii) and one species in section Alatae (N. forgetiana). The TBSV P19 RNA silencing suppressor protein triggered HR in sections Sylvestres (N. sylvestris), Nicotiana (N. tabacum), and Alatae (N. bonariensis). In general, Nicotiana spp. were capable of recognizing only one tombusvirus avirulence determinant, with the exceptions of N. bonariensis and N. forgetiana, which were each able to recognize P41, as well as P19 and P22, respectively. Agroinfiltration failed to detect the TBSV avr determinants responsible for triggering HR in N. arentsii, N. undulata, and N. rustica. This study illustrates the breadth and variety of resistance responses to tombusviruses that exists in the Nicotiana genus.

Host factors with regulatory roles in tombusvirus replication.

Similar to animal viruses, the abundant plant positive-strand RNA viruses replicate in infected cells by exploiting the vast resources of the host. This review focuses on virus-host interactions during tombusvirus replication. The multifunctional tombusvirus p33 replication protein not only interacts with itself, the viral p92(pol) polymerase, and viral RNA, but also with approximately 100 cellular proteins and subcellular membranes. Several negative regulatory host proteins, such as cyclophilins and WW motif containing proteins, also bind to p33 and interfere with p33's functions. To explain how p33 can perform multiple functions, we propose that a variety of interactions involving p33 result in the commitment of p33 molecules to specific tasks. This facilitates tight spatial and temporal organization of viral replication in infected cells.

The p19 protein of Grapevine Algerian latent virus is a determinant of systemic infection of Chenopodium quinoa.

A previous study showed that both Grapevine Algerian latent virus (GALV) and Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) systemically infect Nicotiana benthamiana, but GALV causes systemic infection whereas TBSV causes only local lesions in Chenopodium quinoa (C. quinoa). We recently isolated GALV strain Naju (GALV-N) from Limonium sinense and TBSV strain Sacheon (TBSV-S) from tomato. Both viruses belong to the genus Tombusvirus and have a similar genome organization. To identify determinants of systemic infection of GALV-N in C. quinoa in the current study, we generated infectious clones and capsid protein (CP)-deletion clones for the two viruses and confirmed that CP of GALV-N is required for systemic infection of C. quinoa due to its primary structural role in virus assembly. Through the use of chimeras, we identified a viral factor in addition to CP that contributes to systemic infection by GALV-N. Inactivation of the p19 demonstrated that host-specific activities of p19 are necessary for efficient systemic infection of C. quinoa by GALV-N. Our study is the first report to determine the viral factors required for systemic infection of GALV in C. quinoa.

Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) infecting Lycopersicon esculentum.

Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) was detected in tomato crop (Lycopersicon esculentum) in Egypt with characteristic mosaic leaf deformation, stunting, and bushy growth symptoms. TBSV infection was confirmed serologically by ELISA and calculated incidence was 25.5%. Basic physicochemical properties of a purified TBSV Egh isolate were identical to known properties of tombusviruses of isometric 30-nm diameter particles, 41-kDa coat protein and the genome of approximately 4800 nt. This is the first TBSV isolate reported in Egypt. Cloning and partial sequencing of the isolate showed that it is more closely related to TBSV-P and TBSV-Ch than TBSV-Nf and TBSV-S strains of the virus. However, it is distinct from the above strains and could be a new strain of the virus which further confirms the genetic diversity of tombusviruses.

Translation elongation factor 1A facilitates the assembly of the tombusvirus replicase and stimulates minus-strand synthesis.

Replication of plus-strand RNA viruses depends on host factors that are recruited into viral replicase complexes. Previous studies showed that eukaryotic translation elongation factor (eEF1A) is one of the resident host proteins in the highly purified tombusvirus replicase complex. Using a random library of eEF1A mutants, we identified one mutant that decreased and three mutants that increased Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) replication in a yeast model host. Additional in vitro assays with whole cell extracts prepared from yeast strains expressing the eEF1A mutants demonstrated several functions for eEF1A in TBSV replication: facilitating the recruitment of the viral RNA template into the replicase complex; the assembly of the viral replicase complex; and enhancement of the minus-strand synthesis by promoting the initiation step. These roles for eEF1A are separate from its canonical role in host and viral protein translation, emphasizing critical functions for this abundant cellular protein during TBSV replication.

Global genomics and proteomics approaches to identify host factors as targets to induce resistance against Tomato bushy stunt virus.

The success of RNA viruses as pathogens of plants, animals, and humans depends on their ability to reprogram the host cell metabolism to support the viral infection cycle and to suppress host defense mechanisms. Plus-strand (+)RNA viruses have limited coding potential necessitating that they co-opt an unknown number of host factors to facilitate their replication in host cells. Global genomics and proteomics approaches performed with Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a model host have led to the identification of 250 host factors affecting TBSV RNA replication and recombination or bound to the viral replicase, replication proteins, or the viral RNA. The roles of a dozen host factors involved in various steps of the replication process have been validated in yeast as well as a plant host. Altogether, the large number of host factors identified and the great variety of cellular functions performed by these factors indicate the existence of a truly complex interaction between TBSV and the host cell. This review summarizes the advantages of using a simple plant virus and yeast as a model host to advance our understanding of virus-host interactions at the molecular and cellular levels. The knowledge of host factors gained can potentially be used to inhibit virus replication via gene silencing, expression of dominant negative mutants, or design of specific chemical inhibitors leading to novel specific or broad-range resistance and antiviral tools against (+)RNA plant viruses.

Distinct regions at the N-terminus of the Cucumber necrosis virus coat protein target chloroplasts and mitochondria.

Cucumber necrosis virus (CNV) is a spherical virus consisting of 180 identical coat protein (CP) subunits. The N-terminus of the CP subunit contains a 58aa RNA binding (R) domain and a 34aa arm that connects the R domain to the shell. These regions are known to play critical roles in virus assembly and disassembly. It has recently been shown that a region encompassing the arm can function as a chloroplast transit peptide (TP) in infected plants and that targeting may represent a means for virus particle disassembly. In this study, we further delineate the TP region and show that a 22aa sequence at the N-terminus of the shell enhances chloroplast targeting. We also demonstrate that R domain specifically co-localizes with mitochondria in agroinfiltrated plants. Deletion analyses show that the N-terminal 39 amino acids of the R domain are sufficient for mitochondrial targeting and that this region contains features typical of mitochondrial presequences. The R/arm region is found to be dually targeted to mitochondria and chloroplasts suggesting that this region of the CP plays a critical role in determining the fate of CP during the infection process.