The nucleotide sequence and genome organization of two victoriviruses from the rice false smut fungus Ustilaginoidea virens

Co-infection of Four Novel Mycoviruses from Three Lineages Confers Hypovirulence on Phytopathogenic Fungus Ustilaginoidea virens

Rice false smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens has become one of the most important diseases of rice. Mycoviruses are viruses that can infect fungi with the potential to control fungal diseases. However, little is known about the biocontrol role of hypoviruses in U. virens. In this study, we revealed that the hypovirulence-associated U. virens strain Uv325 was co-infected by four novel mycoviruses from three lineages, designated Ustilaginoidea virens RNA virus 16 (UvRV16), Ustilaginoidea virens botourmiavirus virus 8 (UvBV8), Ustilaginoidea virens botourmiavirus virus 9 (UvBV9), and Ustilaginoidea virens narnavirus virus 13 (UvNV13), respectively. The U. virens strain co-infected by four mycoviruses showed slower growth rates, reduced conidial yield, and attenuated pigmentation. We demonstrated that UvRV16 was not only the major factor responsible for the hypovirulent phenotype in U. vriens, but also able to prevent U. virens to accumulate more mycotoxin, thereby weakening the inhibitory effects on rice seed germination and seedling growth. Additionally, we indicated that UvRV16 can disrupt the antiviral response of U. virens by suppressing the transcriptional expression of multiple genes involved in autophagy and RNA silencing. In conclusion, our study provided new insights into the biological control of rice false smut.

Fungal Viruses Unveiled: A Comprehensive Review of Mycoviruses

Mycoviruses (viruses of fungi) are ubiquitous throughout the fungal kingdom and are currently classified into 23 viral families and the genus botybirnavirus by the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). The primary focus of mycoviral research has been on mycoviruses that infect plant pathogenic fungi, due to the ability of some to reduce the virulence of their host and thus act as potential biocontrol against these fungi. However, mycoviruses lack extracellular transmission mechanisms and rely on intercellular transmission through the hyphal anastomosis, which impedes successful transmission between different fungal strains. This review provides a comprehensive overview of mycoviruses, including their origins, host range, taxonomic classification into families, effects on their fungal counterparts, and the techniques employed in their discovery. The application of mycoviruses as biocontrol agents of plant pathogenic fungi is also discussed.

Evolutionary origin of 2A-like sequences in Totiviridae genomes

In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of new species potentially belonging to the Totiviridae family. Most of these new viruses have not yet been covered by the Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) official classification. In this study, a phylogenetic analysis including new sequences of Totiviridae candidates revealed a clade including Giardiavirus and a great diversity of new totiviruses, which infect arthropods, protozoa and mollusc. This expanded Giardiavirus clade comprises two monophyletic groups, one of them including Giardia lamblia virus (GLV) grouped with viruses that infect arthropods and vertebrates (GLV-like group), and the other includes the previously proposed Artivirus group (IMNV-like group). A screening of the members of the GLV-like group in search of genomic elements already described in IMNV-like group revealed the existence of sites with a high propensity to become 2 A-like oligopeptides, mainly in a specific subgroup of arthropod viruses, suggesting that these viruses preserved ancestral characteristics. The existence of these "pseudo 2 A-sites" associated to phylogenetic reconstruction indicates that these sequences appear at a decisive stage for viral evolution. If they are changed to functional 2 A-like sequences, an irreversible route to increase the genome complexity will be initiated.

Mycoviruses in the Plant Pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens Are Not Correlated with the Genetic Backgrounds of Its Hosts

Ustilaginoidea virens, the causal agent of rice false smut, is one of the most devastating grain diseases that causes loss of yield in most rice-growing areas worldwide. In this study, we performed a dsRNA screen to isolate mycoviruses from 35 U. virens strains. The results revealed that 34 of the tested isolates were infected by various dsRNA elements, displaying highly viral diversity and mixed infections. We characterized a 5.3 kbp dsRNA from a typical isolate containing dsRNA segments with sizes ranging from 0.5 to 5.3 kbp. Sequence analysis of its genomic properties indicated that it is a novel victorivirus, named Ustilaginoidea virens RNA virus 5 (UvRV5), that belongs to the family Totiviridae. RT-PCR detection was performed and indicated that not all the dsRNA bands that were 5.3 kbp in size contained UvRV5. Moreover, the genetic relatedness of all the U. virens strains was estimated according to phylogenetic analysis of the partial intergenic spacer region (IGS) sequences. However, concordance was not found between the dsRNA profiles and the IGS-based genetic relatedness of their host fungi.

Current understanding on Villosiclava virens, a unique flower-infecting fungus causing rice false smut disease

Villosiclava virens (Vv) is an ascomycete fungal pathogen that causes false smut disease in rice. Recent reports have revealed some interesting aspects of the enigmatic pathogen to address the question of why it specifically infects rice flowers and converts a grain into a false smut ball. Comparative and functional genomics have suggested specific adaptation of Vv in the colonization of rice flowers. Anatomical studies have disclosed that Vv specifically infects rice stamen filaments before heading and intercepts seed formation. In addition, Vv can occupy the whole inner space of a spikelet embracing all floral organs and activate the rice grain-filling network, presumably for nutrient acquisition to support the development of the false smut ball. This profile provides a general overview of the rice false smut pathogen, and summarizes advances in the Vv life cycle, genomics and genetics, and the molecular Vv-rice interaction. Current understandings of the Vv-rice pathosystem indicate that it is a unique and interesting system which can enrich the study of plant-pathogen interactions. Taxonomy: Ustilaginoidea virens is the anamorph form of the pathogen (Kingdom Fungi; Phylum Ascomycota; Class Ascomycetes; Subclass Incertae sedis; Order Incertae sedis; Family Incertae sedis; Genus Ustilaginoidea). The teleomorph form is Villosiclava virens (Kingdom Fungi; Phylum Ascomycota; Class Ascomycetes; Subclass Sordariomycetes; Order Hypocreales; Family Clavicipitaceae; Genus Villosiclava). Disease symptoms: The only visible symptom is the replacement of rice grains by ball-shaped fungal mycelia, namely false smut balls. When maturing, the false smut ball is covered with powdery chlamydospores, and the colour changes to yellowish, yellowish orange, green, olive green and, finally, to greenish black. Sclerotia are often formed on the false smut balls in autumn. Identification and detection: Vv conidia are round to elliptical, measuring 3-5 μm in diameter. Chlamydospores are ornamented with prominent irregularly curved spines, which are 200-500 nm in length. The sclerotia are black, horseshoe-shaped and irregular oblong or flat, ranging from 2 to 20 mm. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative PCR have been developed to specifically detect Vv presence in rice tissues and other biotic and abiotic samples in fields. Host range: Rice is the primary host for Vv. Natural infection by Vv has been found on several paddy field weeds, including Digitaria marginata, Panicum trypheron, Echinochloa crusgalli and Imperata cylindrica. However, the occurrence of infection in these potential alternative hosts is very rare. Life cycle: Vv infects rice spikelets at the late rice booting stage, and produces false smut balls covered with dark-green chlamydospores. Occasionally, sclerotia form on the surface of false smut balls in late autumn when the temperature fluctuates greatly between day and night. Both chlamydospores and sclerotia may serve as primary infection sources. Rainfall at the rice booting stage is a major environmental factor resulting in epidemics of rice false smut disease. Disease control: The use of fungicides is the major approach for the control of Vv. Several fungicides, such as cuproxat SC, copper oxychloride, tebuconazole, propiconazole, difenoconazole and validamycin, are often applied. However, the employment of resistant rice cultivars and genes has been limited, because of the poor understanding of rice resistance to Vv. Useful websites: Villosiclava virens genome sequence: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Traces/wgs/?val=JHTR01#contigs.

Genome sequence of a novel mycovirus of Rhizoctonia solani, a plant pathogenic fungus

Here we present the genome sequence of a novel dsRNA virus we designed as Rhizoctonia solani RNA virus HN008 (RsRV-HN008) from a filamentous fungus R. solani. Its genome (7596 nucleotides) contains two non-overlapping open reading frames (ORF1 and ORF2). ORF1 encoded a 128 kDa protein that showed no significant identity to any other virus sequence in the NCBI database. ORF2 encoded a protein with a molecular weight of 140 kDa and shared a low percentage of sequence identity to the RdRps of unclassified dsRNA viruses. Sequence analysis revealed that RsRV-HN008 may be a member of a novel unclassified family of mycoviruses.

A novel mycovirus identified from the rice false smut fungus Ustilaginoidea virens

The complete sequence of a novel mycovirus infecting Ustilaginoidea virens, the causal agent of false smut of rice, is reported here and designated as Ustilaginoidea virens unassigned RNA virus HNND-1 (UvURV-HNND-1). This virus has an undivided dsRNA genome of 2903 nt in length and contains two non-overlapping open reading frames (ORF1 and 2), with the small ORF1 encoding a protein of unknown function that showed sequence similarity to the comparable protein in virus Alternaria longipes dsRNA virus 1(AlRV1) and a larger ORF2 encoded the protein showing identities to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of AlRV1 and some other unassigned dsRNA viruses. Phylogenetic analysis showed that UvURV-HNND-1 is more closely related to unclassified viruses such as AlRV1 and distinct from distantly related members of the family Partitiviridae. Here, we propose in accordance with previous reports that UvURV-HNND-1 might belong to a new mycovirus genus together with AlRV1 and other similar viruses.