A Transfectable Fusagravirus from a Japanese Strain of Cryphonectria carpinicola with Spherical Particles

A novel dsRNA virus (Cryphonectria carpinicola fusagravirus 1, CcFGV1), isolated from a Japanese strain (JS13) of Cryphonectria carpinicola, was thoroughly characterized. The biological comparison of a set of isogenic CcFGV1-infected and -free (JS13VF) strains indicated asymptomatic infection by CcFGV1. The sequence analysis showed that the virus has a two open reading frame (ORF) genome of 9.6 kbp with the RNA-directed RNA polymerase domain encoded by ORF2. The N-terminal sequencing and peptide mass fingerprinting showed an N-terminally processed or degraded product (150 kDa) of the 5′-proximal ORF1-encoded protein (1462 amino acids) to make up the CcFGV1 spherical particles of ~40 nm in diameter. Interestingly, a portion of CcFGV1 dsRNA co-fractionated with a host protein of 70 kDa. The purified CcFGV1 particles were used to transfect protoplasts of JS13VF as well as the standard strain of an experimental model filamentous fungal host Cryphonectria parasitica. CcFGV1 was confirmed to be associated with asymptomatic infection of both fungi. RNA silencing was shown to target the virus in C. parasitica, resulting in reduced CcFGV1 accumulation by comparing the CcFGV1 content between RNA silencing-competent and -deficient strains. These results indicate the transfectability of spherical particles of a fusagravirus associated with asymptomatic infection.

Coat protein of Chinese wheat mosaic virus upregulates and interacts with cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a negative regulator of plant autophagy, to promote virus infection

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation mechanism involved in antiviral defense, but the strategies employed by plant viruses to counteract autophagy-related defense remain unknown for the majority of the viruses. Herein, we describe how the Chinese wheat mosaic virus (CWMV, genus Furovirus) interferes with autophagy and enhances its infection in Nicotiana benthamiana. Yeast two-hybrid screening and in vivo/in vitro assays revealed that the 19 kDa coat protein (CP19K) of CWMV interacts with cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases (GAPCs), negative regulators of autophagy, which bind autophagy-related protein 3 (ATG3), a key factor in autophagy. CP19K also directly interacts with ATG3, possibly leading to the formation of a CP19K-GAPC-ATG3 complex. CP19K-GAPC interaction appeared to intensify CP19K-ATG3 binding. Moreover, CP19K expression upregulated GAPC gene transcripts and reduced autophagic activities. Accordingly, the silencing of GAPC genes in transgenic N. benthamiana reduced CWMV accumulation, whereas CP19K overexpression enhanced it. Overall, our results suggest that CWMV CP19K interferes with autophagy through the promotion and utilization of the GAPC role as a negative regulator of autophagy.

Distinctive in vitro ATP Hydrolysis Activity of AtVIPP1, a Chloroplastic ESCRT-III Superfamily Protein in Arabidopsis

Vesicle-inducing protein in plastid 1 (VIPP1), characteristic to oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, is a membrane-remodeling factor that forms homo-oligomers and functions in thylakoid membrane formation and maintenance. The cyanobacterial VIPP1 structure revealed a monomeric folding pattern similar to that of endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) III. Characteristic to VIPP1, however, is its own GTP and ATP hydrolytic activity without canonical domains. In this study, we found that histidine-tagged Arabidopsis VIPP1 (AtVIPP1) hydrolyzed GTP and ATP to produce GDP and ADP in vitro, respectively. Unexpectedly, the observed GTPase and ATPase activities were biochemically distinguishable, because the ATPase was optimized for alkaline conditions and dependent on Ca²⁺ as well as Mg²⁺, with a higher affinity for ATP than GTP. We found that a version of AtVIPP1 protein with a mutation in its nucleotide-binding site, as deduced from the cyanobacterial structure, retained its hydrolytic activity, suggesting that Arabidopsis and cyanobacterial VIPP1s have different properties. Negative staining particle analysis showed that AtVIPP1 formed particle or rod structures that differed from those of cyanobacteria and Chlamydomonas. These results suggested that the nucleotide hydrolytic activity and oligomer formation of VIPP1 are common in photosynthetic organisms, whereas their properties differ among species.

Mycovirus Hunting Revealed the Presence of Diverse Viruses in a Single Isolate of the Phytopathogenic Fungus Diplodia seriata From Pakistan

Diplodia seriata in the family Botryosphaeriaceae is a cosmopolitan phytopathogenic fungus and is responsible for causing cankers, fruit rot and leaf spots on economically important plants. In this study, we characterized the virome of a single Pakistani strain (L3) of D. seriata. Several viral-like contig sequences were obtained via a previously conducted next-generation sequencing analysis. Multiple infection of the L3 strain by eight RNA mycoviruses was confirmed through RT-PCR using total RNA samples extracted from this strain; the entire genomes were determined via Sanger sequencing of RT-PCR and RACE clones. A BLAST search and phylogenetic analyses indicated that these eight mycoviruses belong to seven different viral families. Four identified mycoviruses belong to double-stranded RNA viral families, including Polymycoviridae, Chrysoviridae, Totiviridae and Partitiviridae, and the remaining four identified mycoviruses belong to single-stranded RNA viral families, i.e., Botourmiaviridae, and two previously proposed families “Ambiguiviridae” and “Splipalmiviridae”. Of the eight, five mycoviruses appear to represent new virus species. A morphological comparison of L3 and partially cured strain L3ht1 suggested that one or more of the three viruses belonging to Polymycoviridae, “Splipalmiviridae” and “Ambiguiviridae” are involved in the irregular colony phenotype of L3. To our knowledge, this is the first report of diverse virome characterization from D. seriata.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Rhabdoviridae 2022

The family Rhabdoviridae comprises viruses with negative-sense (-) RNA genomes of 10-16 kb. Virions are typically enveloped with bullet-shaped or bacilliform morphology but can also be non-enveloped filaments. Rhabdoviruses infect plants or animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians or fish, as well as arthropods, which serve as single hosts or act as biological vectors for transmission to animals or plants. Rhabdoviruses include important pathogens of humans, livestock, fish or agricultural crops. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the family Rhabdoviridae, which is available at ictv.global/report/rhabdoviridae.

A novel deltapartitivirus from red clover

The family Partitiviridae has five genera, among which is the genus Deltapartitivirus. We report here the complete genome sequence of a deltapartitivirus from red clover, termed "red clover cryptic virus 3" (RCCV3). RCCV3 has a bisegmented double-stranded (ds) RNA genome. dsRNA1 and dsRNA2 are 1580 and 1589 nucleotides (nt) in length and are predicted to encode an RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRP) and a capsid protein (CP), respectively. The RCCV3 RdRP shares the highest sequence identity with the RdRP of a previously reported deltapartitivirus, Medicago sativa deltapartitivirus 1 (MsDPV1) (76.5%), while the RCCV3 CP shows 50% sequence identity to the CP of MsDPV1. RdRP- and CP-based phylogenetic trees place RCCV3 into a clade of deltapartitiviruses. The sequence and phylogenetic analyses clearly indicate that RCCV3 represents a new species in the genus Deltapartitivirus. RCCV3 was detectable in all three tested cultivars of red clover.

A novel victorivirus from the phytopathogenic fungus Neofusicoccum parvum

Neofusicoccum parvum is an important plant-pathogenic ascomycetous fungus that causes trunk diseases in a variety of plants. A limited number of reports on mycoviruses from this fungus are available. Here, we report the characterization of a novel victorivirus, Neofusicoccum parvum victorivirus 3 (NpVV3). An agarose gel dsRNA profile of a Pakistani strain of N. parvum, NFN, showed a band of ~5 kbp that was not detectable in Japanese strains of N. parvum. Taking a high-throughput and Sanger sequencing approach, the complete genome sequence of NpVV3 was determined to be 5226 bp in length with two open reading frames (ORF1 and ORF2) that encode a capsid protein (CP) and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). The RdRP appears to be translated by a stop/restart mechanism facilitated by the junction sequence AUGucUGA, as is found in some other victoriviruses. BLASTp searches showed that NpVV3 CP and RdRP share the highest amino acid sequence identity (80.5% and 72.4%, respectively) with the corresponding proteins of NpVV1 isolated from a French strain of N. parvum. However, NpVV3 was found to be different from NpVV1 in its terminal sequences and the stop/restart facilitator sequence. NpVV3 particles ~35 nm in diameter were partially purified and used to infect an antiviral-RNA-silencing-deficient strain (∆dcl2) of an experimental ascomycetous fungal host, Cryphonectria parasitica. NpVV3 showed symptomless infection in the new host strain.

A new tetra-segmented splipalmivirus with divided RdRP domains from Cryphonectria naterciae, a fungus found on chestnut and cork oak trees in Europe

Positive-sense (+), single-stranded (ss) RNA viruses with divided RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) domains have been reported from diverse filamentous ascomycetes since 2020. These viruses are termed splipalmiviruses or polynarnaviruses and have been characterized largely at the sequence level, but ill-defined biologically. Cryphonectria naterciae, from which only one virus has been reported, is an ascomycetous fungus potentially plant-pathogenic to chestnut and oak trees. We molecularly characterized multiple viruses in a single Portuguese isolate (C0614) of C. naterciae, taking a metatranscriptomic and conventional double-stranded RNA approach. Among them are a novel splipalmivirus (Cryphonectria naterciae splipalmivirus 1, CnSpV1) and a novel fusagravirus (Cryphonectria naterciae fusagravirus 1, CnFGV1). This study focused on the former virus. CnSpV1 has a tetra-segmented, (+)ssRNA genome (RNA1 to RNA4). As observed for other splipalmiviruses reported in 2020 and 2021, the RdRP domain is separately encoded by RNA1 (motifs F, A and B) and RNA2 (motifs C and D). A hypothetical protein encoded by the 5'-proximal open reading frame of RNA3 shows similarity to a counterpart conserved in some splipalmiviruses. The other RNA3-encoded protein and RNA4-encoded protein show no similarity with known proteins in a blastp search. The tetra-segment nature was confirmed by the conserved terminal sequences of the four CnSpV1 segments (RNA1 to RNA4) and their 100% coexistence in over 100 single conidial isolates tested. The experimental introduction of CnSpV1 along with CnFGV1 into a virus free strain C0754 of C. naterciae vegetatively incompatible with C0614 resulted in no phenotypic alteration, suggesting asymptomatic infection. The protoplast fusion assay indicates a considerably narrow host range of CnSpV1, restricted to the species C. naterciae and C. carpinicola. This study contributes to better understanding of the molecular and biological properties of this unique group of viruses.

Assessment of mycoviral diversity in Pakistani fungal isolates revealed infection by 11 novel viruses of a single strain of Fusarium mangiferae isolate SP1

An extensive screening survey was conducted on Pakistani filamentous fungal isolates for the identification of viral infections. A total of 396 fungal samples were screened, of which 36 isolates were found double-stranded (ds) RNA positive with an overall frequency of 9% when analysed by a classical dsRNA isolation method. One of 36 dsRNA-positive strains, strain SP1 of a plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium mangiferae, was subjected to virome analysis. Next-generation sequencing and subsequent completion of the entire genome sequencing by a classical Sanger sequencing method showed the SP1 strain to be co-infected by 11 distinct viruses, at least seven of which should be described as new taxa at the species level according to the ICTV (International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses) species demarcation criteria. The newly identified F. mangiferae viruses (FmVs) include two partitivirids, one betapartitivirus (FmPV1) and one gammapartitivirus (FmPV2); six mitovirids, three unuamitovirus (FmMV2, FmMV4, FmMV6), one duamitovirus (FmMV5), and two unclassified mitovirids (FmMV1, FmMV3); and three botourmiavirids, two magoulivirus (FmBOV1, FmBOV3) and one scleroulivirus (FmBOV2). The number of coinfecting viruses is among the largest ones of fungal coinfections. Their molecular features are thoroughly described here. This represents the first large virus survey in the Indian sub-continent.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Nyamiviridae 2021

Nyamiviridae is a family of viruses in the order Mononegavirales, with unsegmented (except for members of the genus Tapwovirus), negative-sense RNA genomes of 10-13 kb. Nyamviruses have a genome organisation and content similar to that of other mononegaviruses. Nyamiviridae includes several genera that form monophyletic clades on phylogenetic analysis of the RNA polymerase. Nyamiviruses have been found associated with diverse invertebrates as well as land- and seabirds. Members of the genera Nyavirus and Socyvirus produce enveloped, spherical virions. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the family Nyamiviridae, which is available at ictv.global/report/nyamiviridae.

Cellular anatomy of the mouse primary motor cortex

An essential step toward understanding brain function is to establish a structural framework with cellular resolution on which multi-scale datasets spanning molecules, cells, circuits and systems can be integrated and interpreted1. Here, as part of the collaborative Brain Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN), we derive a comprehensive cell type-based anatomical description of one exemplar brain structure, the mouse primary motor cortex, upper limb area (MOp-ul). Using genetic and viral labelling, barcoded anatomy resolved by sequencing, single-neuron reconstruction, whole-brain imaging and cloud-based neuroinformatics tools, we delineated the MOp-ul in 3D and refined its sublaminar organization. We defined around two dozen projection neuron types in the MOp-ul and derived an input-output wiring diagram, which will facilitate future analyses of motor control circuitry across molecular, cellular and system levels. This work provides a roadmap towards a comprehensive cellular-resolution description of mammalian brain architecture.

Identification of a Novel Quinvirus in the Family Betaflexiviridae That Infects Winter Wheat

Yellow mosaic disease in winter wheat is usually attributed to the infection by bymoviruses or furoviruses; however, there is still limited information on whether other viral agents are also associated with this disease. To investigate the wheat viromes associated with yellow mosaic disease, we carried out de novo RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses of symptomatic and asymptomatic wheat-leaf samples obtained from a field in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2018 and 2019. The analyses revealed the infection by a novel betaflexivirus, which tentatively named wheat virus Q (WVQ), together with wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV, a bymovirus) and northern cereal mosaic virus (a cytorhabdovirus). Basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) analyses showed that the WVQ strains (of which there are at least three) were related to the members of the genus Foveavirus in the subfamily Quinvirinae (family Betaflexiviridae). In the phylogenetic tree, they form a clade distant from that of the foveaviruses, suggesting that WVQ is a member of a novel genus in the Quinvirinae. Laboratory tests confirmed that WVQ, like WYMV, is potentially transmitted through the soil to wheat plants. WVQ was also found to infect rye plants grown in the same field. Moreover, WVQ-derived small interfering RNAs accumulated in the infected wheat plants, indicating that WVQ infection induces antiviral RNA silencing responses. Given its common coexistence with WYMV, the impact of WVQ infection on yellow mosaic disease in the field warrants detailed investigation.

A second capsidless hadakavirus strain with 10 positive-sense single-stranded RNA genomic segments from Fusarium nygamai

A unique capsidless virus with a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome (hadakavirus 1, HadV1), a member of the extended picorna-like supergroup, was isolated previously from the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Here, we describe the molecular and biological characterisation of a second hadakavirus strain from Fusarium nygamai, which has not been investigated in detail previously as a virus host. This virus, hadakavirus 1 strain 1NL (HadV1-1NL), has features similar to the first hadakavirus, HadV1-7n, despite having a different number of segments (10 for HadV1-1NL vs. 11 for HadV1-7n). The 10 genomic RNA segments of HadV1-1NL range in size from 0.9 kb to 2.5 kb. All HadV1-1NL segments show 67% to 86% local nucleotide sequence identity to their HadV1-7n counterparts, whereas HadV1-1NL has no homolog of HadV1-7n RNA8, which encodes a zinc-finger motif. Another interesting feature is the possible coding incapability of HadV1-1NL RNA10. HadV1-1NL was predicted to be capsidless based on the RNase A susceptibility of its replicative form dsRNA. Phenotypic comparison of multiple virus-infected and virus-free single-spore isolates indicated asymptomatic infection by HadV1-1NL. Less-efficient vertical transmission via spores was observed as the infected fungal colonies from which the spores were derived became older, as was observed for HadV1-7n. This study shows a second example of a hadakavirus that appears to have unusual features.

Cryphonectria nitschkei chrysovirus 1 with unique molecular features and a very narrow host range

Cryphonectria nitschkei chrysovirus 1 (CnCV1), was described earlier from an ascomycetous fungus, Cryphonectria nitschkei strain OB5/11, collected in Japan; its partial sequence was reported a decade ago. Complete sequencing of the four genomic dsRNA segments revealed molecular features similar to but distinct from previously reported members of the family Chrysoviridae. Unique features include the presence of a mini-cistron preceding the major large open reading frame in each genomic segment. Common features include the presence of CAA repeats in the 5'-untranslated regions and conserved terminal sequences. CnCV1-OB5/11 could be laterally transferred to C. nitschkei and its relatives C. radicalis and C. naterciae via coculturing, virion transfection and protoplast fusion, but not to fungal species other than the three species mentioned above, even within the genus Cryphonectria, suggesting a very narrow host range. Phenotypic comparison of a few sets of CnCV1-infected and -free isogenic strains showed symptomless infection in new hosts.

Direct effects of canagliflozin on human myocardial redox signalling: a novel role for SGLT1 inhibition

Background

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated a role for sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in improving cardiovascular outcomes in heart failure patients, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated the direct effects of canagliflozin, a non-selective SGLT1/SGLT2 inhibitor on myocardial redox signalling in humans.

Methods

Study 1 included 364 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Human right atrial appendage biopsies, obtained during surgery, were used to quantify the sources of superoxide (O2.-) and the gene expression of inflammation, fibrosis and myocardial stretch markers. In Study 2, myocardial biopsies from 51 patients were used ex vivo to study the direct effects of canagliflozin on O2.- generation and understand its role in controlling the activity of NADPH-oxidases and uncoupled nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Finally, we used differentiated H9C2 and human primary cardiomyocytes (hCM) to further characterise the key regulatory mechanisms (Study 3).

Results

SGLT1 was abundantly expressed in the human myocardial biopsies and hCM whilst SGLT2 was barely detectable. SGLT1 expression levels were positively correlated with basal O2.- production and the expression of natriuretic peptides, proinflammatory cytokines and pro-fibrotic markers in human myocardial biopsies from study 1. Incubation of human myocardium with canagliflozin significantly reduced basal and NADPH-oxidase-derived O2.- via AMP kinase (AMPK)-mediated suppression of GTP-activation and consequent reduction of membrane translocation of Rac1, an NADPH-oxidase subunit. This resulted in reduced oxidation and increased bioavailability of tetrahydrobiopterin, the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) co-factor essential for enzymatic coupling, leading to improved NOS coupling. These findings were replicated in hCM, where canagliflozin was shown to regulate AMP/ATP ratio, which could be upstream of AMPK activation. The effects of canagliflozin were significantly attenuated by knocking-down SGLT1 in hCM. Transcriptional profiling of hCM treated with canagliflozin revealed that canagliflozin had striking effects on myocardial redox signalling, causing suppression of apoptotic and inflammatory pathways in the human heart.

Conclusions

We demonstrate for the first time in humans that canagliflozin suppresses myocardial NADPH-oxidase activity and improves NOS coupling through an SGLT1/AMPK/Rac1-mediated pathway, leading to global anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in the human myocardium. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the beneficial effects of SGLT1/2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): 1. British Heart Foundation (FS/16/15/32047 and PG/13/56/30383 to CA, CH/16/1/32013 to KC, and Centre of Research Excellence award RG/13/1/30181), 2. The Japanese Heart Rhythm Society-European Heart Rhythm Association fellowship grant sponsored by Biotronik.

Establishment of Neurospora crassa as a model organism for fungal virology

The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is used as a model organism for genetics, developmental biology and molecular biology. Remarkably, it is not known to host or to be susceptible to infection with any viruses. Here, we identify diverse RNA viruses in N. crassa and other Neurospora species, and show that N. crassa supports the replication of these viruses as well as some viruses from other fungi. Several encapsidated double-stranded RNA viruses and capsid-less positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses can be experimentally introduced into N. crassa protoplasts or spheroplasts. This allowed us to examine viral replication and RNAi-mediated antiviral responses in this organism. We show that viral infection upregulates the transcription of RNAi components, and that Dicer proteins (DCL-1, DCL-2) and an Argonaute (QDE-2) participate in suppression of viral replication. Our study thus establishes N. crassa as a model system for the study of host-virus interactions.

The fungus Neurospora crassa is a model organism for the study of various biological processes, but it is not known to be infected by any viruses. Here, Honda et al. identify RNA viruses that infect N. crassa and examine viral replication and RNAi-mediated antiviral responses, thus establishing this fungus as a model for the study of host-virus interactions.

Molecular Characterization of a Novel Polymycovirus From Penicillium janthinellum With a Focus on Its Genome-Associated PASrp

The genus Polymycovirus of the family Polymycoviridae accommodates fungal RNA viruses with different genomic segment numbers (four, five, or eight). It is suggested that four members form no true capsids and one forms filamentous virus particles enclosing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In both cases, viral dsRNA is associated with a viral protein termed “proline-alanine-serine-rich protein” (PASrp). These forms are assumed to be the infectious entity. However, the detailed molecular characteristics of PASrps remain unclear. Here, we identified a novel five-segmented polymycovirus, Penicillium janthinellum polymycovirus 1 (PjPmV1), and characterized its purified fraction form in detail. The PjPmV1 had five dsRNA segments associated with PASrp. Density gradient ultracentrifugation of the PASrp-associated PjPmV1 dsRNA revealed its uneven structure and a broad fractionation profile distinct from that of typical encapsidated viruses. Moreover, PjPmV1-PASrp interacted in vitro with various nucleic acids in a sequence-non-specific manner. These PjPmV1 features are discussed in view of the diversification of genomic segment numbers of the genus Polymycovirus.

Early detection of Niemann-pick disease type C with cataplexy and orexin levels: continuous observation with and without Miglustat

Study objectives

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) is an autosomal recessive and congenital neurological disorder characterized by the accumulation of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids. Symptoms include hepatosplenomegaly, vertical supranuclear saccadic palsy, ataxia, dystonia, and dementia. Some cases frequently display narcolepsy-like symptoms, including cataplexy which was reported in 26% of all NPC patients and was more often recorded among late-infantile onset (50%) and juvenile onset (38%) patients. In this current study, we examined CSF orexin levels in the 10 patients of NPC with and without cataplexy, which supports previous findings.

Methods

Ten patients with NPC were included in the study (5 males and 5 females). NPC diagnosis was biochemically confirmed in all 10 patients, from which 8 patients with NPC1 gene were identified. We compared CSF orexin levels among NPC, narcoleptic and idiopathic hypersomnia patients.

Results

Six NPC patients with cataplexy had low or intermediate orexin levels. In 4 cases without cataplexy, their orexin levels were normal. In 5 cases with Miglustat treatment, their symptoms stabilized or improved. For cases without Miglustat treatment, their conditions worsened generally. The CSF orexin levels of NPC patients were significantly higher than those of patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy and lower than those of patients with idiopathic hypersomnia, which was considered as the control group with normal CSF orexin levels.

Discussion

Our study indicates that orexin level measurements can be an early alert of potential NPC. Low or intermediate orexin levels could further decrease due to reduction in the neuronal function in the orexin system, accelerating the patients’ NPC pathophysiology. However with Miglustat treatment, the orexin levels stabilized or improved, along with other general symptoms. Although the circuitry is unclear, this supports that orexin system is indeed involved in narcolepsy-cataplexy in NPC patients.

Conclusion

The NPC patients with cataplexy had low or intermediate orexin levels. In the cases without cataplexy, their orexin levels were normal. Our study suggests that orexin measurements can serve as an early alert for potential NPC; furthermore, they could be a marker of therapy monitoring during a treatment.

Diverse Partitiviruses From the Phytopathogenic Fungus, Rosellinia necatrix

Partitiviruses (dsRNA viruses, family Partitiviridae) are ubiquitously detected in plants and fungi. Although previous surveys suggested their omnipresence in the white root rot fungus, Rosellinia necatrix, only a few of them have been molecularly and biologically characterized thus far. We report the characterization of a total of 20 partitiviruses from 16 R. necatrix strains belonging to 15 new species, for which “Rosellinia necatrix partitivirus 11–Rosellinia necatrix partitivirus 25” were proposed, and 5 previously reported species. The newly identified partitiviruses have been taxonomically placed in two genera, Alphapartitivirus, and Betapartitivirus. Some partitiviruses were transfected into reference strains of the natural host, R. necatrix, and an experimental host, Cryphonectria parasitica, using purified virions. A comparative analysis of resultant transfectants revealed interesting differences and similarities between the RNA accumulation and symptom induction patterns of R. necatrix and C. parasitica. Other interesting findings include the identification of a probable reassortment event and a quintuple partitivirus infection of a single fungal strain. These combined results provide a foundation for further studies aimed at elucidating mechanisms that underly the differences observed.