Restoration of wild-type virus by double recombination of tombusvirus mutants with a host transgene

Reflections on a Career in Plant Virology: A Chip Floating on a Stream

At the time I entered college and for a few years afterward, I had very few concrete goals. Hence, my progress was more a matter of luck than planning and was somewhat analogous to a small wood chip floating down a slow stream, bumping into various objects tossed and turned hither and thither, all the while being surrounded by larger and more appealing chips. I have been extremely lucky to have been associated with numerous helpful and knowledgeable mentors, colleagues, postdocs, students, and coworkers whose advice had major impacts on my life. Therefore, throughout this article, I have attempted to acknowledge central individuals who contributed to my progress in academia and to highlight the positive bumps to my chip on the steam that affected the directions of my career.

Metagenomic-based impact study of transgenic grapevine rootstock on its associated virome and soil bacteriome

For some crops, the only possible approach to gain a specific trait requires genome modification. The development of virus-resistant transgenic plants based on the pathogen-derived resistance strategy has been a success story for over three decades. However, potential risks associated with the technology, such as horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of any part of the transgene to an existing gene pool, have been raised. Here, we report no evidence of any undesirable impacts of genetically modified (GM) grapevine rootstock on its biotic environment. Using state of the art metagenomics, we analysed two compartments in depth, the targeted Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) populations and nontargeted root-associated microbiota. Our results reveal no statistically significant differences in the genetic diversity of bacteria that can be linked to the GM trait. In addition, no novel virus or bacteria recombinants of biosafety concern can be associated with transgenic grapevine rootstocks cultivated in commercial vineyard soil under greenhouse conditions for over 6 years.

Shrinkage of genome size in a plant RNA virus upon transfer of an essential viral gene into the host genome

Nonretroviral integrated RNA viruses (NIRVs) are genes of nonretroviral RNA viruses found in the genomes of many eukaryotic organisms. NIRVs are thought to sometimes confer virus resistance, meaning that they could impact spread of the virus in the host population. However, a NIRV that is expressed may also impact the evolution of virus populations within host organisms. Here, we experimentally addressed the evolution of a virus in a host expressing a NIRV using Tobacco etch virus (TEV), a plant RNA virus, and transgenic tobacco plants expressing its replicase, NIb. We found that a virus missing the NIb gene, TEV-ΔNIb, which is incapable of autonomous replication in wild-type plants, had a higher fitness than the full-length TEV in the transgenic plants. Moreover, when the full-length TEV was evolved by serial passages in transgenic plants, we observed genomic deletions within NIb--and in some cases the adjacent cistrons--starting from the first passage. When we passaged TEV and TEV-ΔNIb in transgenic plants, we found mutations in proteolytic sites, but these only occurred in TEV-ΔNIb lineages, suggesting the adaptation of polyprotein processing to altered NIb expression. These results raise the possibility that NIRV expression can indeed induce the deletion of the corresponding genes in the viral genome, resulting in the formation of viruses that are replication defective in hosts that do not express the same NIRV. Moreover, virus genome evolution was contingent upon the deletion of the viral replicase, suggesting NIRV expression could also alter patterns of virus evolution.

Non-coding RNAs in crop genetic modification: considerations and predictable environmental risk assessments (ERA)

Of late non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs)-mediated gene silencing is an influential tool deliberately deployed to negatively regulate the expression of targeted genes. In addition to the widely employed small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated gene silencing approach, other variants like artificial miRNA (amiRNA), miRNA mimics, and artificial transacting siRNAs (tasiRNAs) are being explored and successfully deployed in developing non-coding RNA-based genetically modified plants. The ncRNA-based gene manipulations are typified with mobile nature of silencing signals, interference from viral genome-derived suppressor proteins, and an obligation for meticulous computational analysis to prevaricate any inadvertent effects. In a broad sense, risk assessment inquiries for genetically modified plants based on the expression of ncRNAs are competently addressed by the environmental risk assessment (ERA) models, currently in vogue, designed for the first generation transgenic plants which are based on the expression of heterologous proteins. Nevertheless, transgenic plants functioning on the foundation of ncRNAs warrant due attention with respect to their unique attributes like off-target or non-target gene silencing effects, small RNAs (sRNAs) persistence, food and feed safety assessments, problems in detection and tracking of sRNAs in food, impact of ncRNAs in plant protection measures, effect of mutations etc. The role of recent developments in sequencing techniques like next generation sequencing (NGS) and the ERA paradigm of the different countries in vogue are also discussed in the context of ncRNA-based gene manipulations.

Differential requirements for Tombusvirus coat protein and P19 in plants following leaf versus root inoculation

Traditional virus inoculation of plants involves mechanical rubbing of leaves, whereas in nature viruses like Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) are often infected via the roots. A method was adapted to compare leaf versus root inoculation of Nicotiana benthamiana and tomato with transcripts of wild-type TBSV (wtTBSV), a capsid (Tcp) replacement construct expressing GFP (T-GFP), or mutants not expressing the silencing suppressor P19 (TBSVΔp19). In leaves, T-GFP remained restricted to the cells immediately adjacent to the site of inoculation, unless Tcp was expressed in trans from a Potato virus X vector; while T-GFP inoculation of roots gave green fluorescence in upper tissues in the absence of Tcp. Conversely, leaf inoculation with wtTBSV or TBSVΔp19 transcripts initiated systemic infections, while upon root inoculation this only occurred with wtTBSV, not with TBSVΔp19. Evidently the contribution of Tcp or P19 in establishing systemic infections depends on the point-of-entry of TBSV in the plants.

Citrus tristeza virus: Evolution of Complex and Varied Genotypic Groups

Amongst the Closteroviridae, Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is almost unique in possessing a number of distinct and characterized strains, isolates of which produce a wide range of phenotype combinations among its different hosts. There is little understanding to connect genotypes to phenotypes, and to complicate matters more, these genotypes are found throughout the world as members of mixed populations within a single host plant. There is essentially no understanding of how combinations of genotypes affect symptom expression and disease severity. We know little about the evolution of the genotypes that have been characterized to date, little about the biological role of their diversity and particularly, about the effects of recombination. Additionally, genotype grouping has not been standardized. In this study we utilized an extensive array of CTV genomic information to classify the major genotypes, and to determine the major evolutionary processes that led to their formation and subsequent retention. Our analyses suggest that three major processes act on these genotypes: (1) ancestral diversification of the major CTV lineages, followed by (2) conservation and co-evolution of the major functional domains within, though not between CTV genotypes, and (3) extensive recombination between lineages that have given rise to new genotypes that have subsequently been retained within the global population. The effects of genotype diversity and host-interaction are discussed, as is a proposal for standardizing the classification of existing and novel CTV genotypes.

Emergence of distinct brome mosaic virus recombinants is determined by the polarity of the inoculum RNA

Despite overwhelming interest in the impact exerted by recombination during evolution of RNA viruses, the relative contribution of the polarity of inoculum templates remains poorly understood. Here, by agroinfiltrating Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, we show that brome mosaic virus (BMV) replicase is competent to initiate positive-strand [(+)-strand] synthesis on an ectopically expressed RNA3 negative strand [(-) strand] and faithfully complete the replication cycle. Consequently, we sought to examine the role of RNA polarity in BMV recombination by expressing a series of replication-defective mutants of BMV RNA3 in (+) or (-) polarity. Temporal analysis of progeny sequences revealed that the genetic makeup of the primary recombinant pool is determined by the polarity of the inoculum template. When the polarity of the inoculum template was (+), the recombinant pool that accumulated during early phases of replication was a mixture of nonhomologous recombinants. These are longer than the inoculum template length, and a nascent 3' untranslated region (UTR) of wild-type (WT) RNA1 or RNA2 was added to the input mutant RNA3 3' UTR due to end-to-end template switching by BMV replicase during (-)-strand synthesis. In contrast, when the polarity of the inoculum was (-), the progeny contained a pool of native-length homologous recombinants generated by template switching of BMV replicase with a nascent UTR from WT RNA1 or RNA2 during (+)-strand synthesis. Repair of a point mutation caused by polymerase error occurred only when the polarity of the inoculum template was (+). These results contribute to the explanation of the functional role of RNA polarity in recombination mediated by copy choice mechanisms.

RNA-RNA recombination in plant virus replication and evolution

RNA-RNA recombination is one of the strongest forces shaping the genomes of plant RNA viruses. The detection of recombination is a challenging task that prompted the development of both in vitro and in vivo experimental systems. In the divided genome of Brome mosaic virus system, both inter- and intrasegmental crossovers are described. Other systems utilize satellite or defective interfering RNAs (DI-RNAs) of Turnip crinkle virus, Tomato bushy stunt virus, Cucumber necrosis virus, and Potato virus X. These assays identified the mechanistic details of the recombination process, revealing the role of RNA structure and proteins in the replicase-mediated copy-choice mechanism. In copy choice, the polymerase and the nascent RNA chain from which it is synthesized switch from one RNA template to another. RNA recombination was found to mediate the rearrangement of viral genes, the repair of deleterious mutations, and the acquisition of nonself sequences influencing the phylogenetics of viral taxa. The evidence for recombination, not only between related viruses but also among distantly related viruses, and even with host RNAs, suggests that plant viruses unabashedly test recombination with any genetic material at hand.

Evidence for similarity-assisted recombination and predicted stem-loop structure determinant in potato virus X RNA recombination

Virus RNA recombination, one of the main factors for genetic variability and evolution, is thought to be based on different mechanisms. Here, the recently described in vivo potato virus X (PVX) recombination assay [Draghici, H.-K. & Varrelmann, M. (2009). J Virol 83, 7761-7769] was applied to characterize structural parameters of recombination. The assay uses an Agrobacterium-mediated expression system incorporating a PVX green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labelled full-length clone. The clone contains a partial coat protein (CP) deletion that causes defectiveness in cell-to-cell movement, together with a functional CP+3' non-translated region (ntr) transcript, in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf tissue. The structural parameters assessed were the length of sequence overlap, the distance between mutations and the degree of sequence similarity. The effects on the observed frequency of reconstitution and the composition of the recombination products were characterized. Application of four different type X intact PVX CP genes with variable composition allowed the estimation of the junction sites of precise homologous recombination. Although one template switch would have been sufficient for functional reconstitution, between one and seven template switches were observed. Use of PVX-GFP mutants with CP deletions of variable length resulted in a linear decrease of the reconstitution frequency. The critical length observed for homologous recombination was 20-50 nt. Reduction of the reconstitution frequency was obtained when a phylogenetically distant PVX type Bi CP gene was used. Finally, the prediction of CP and 3'-ntr RNA secondary structure demonstrated that recombination-junction sites were located mainly in regions of stem-loop structures, allowing the recombination observed to be categorized as similarity-assisted.

Evidence that the linker between the methyltransferase and helicase domains of potato virus X replicase is involved in homologous RNA recombination

Recombination in RNA viruses, one of the main factors contributing to their genetic variability and evolution, is a widespread phenomenon. In this study, an in vivo assay to characterize RNA recombination in potato virus X (PVX), under high selection pressure, was established. Agrobacterium tumefaciens was used to express in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf tissue both a PVX isolate labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) containing a coat protein deletion mutation (DeltaCP) and a transcript encoding a functional coat protein +3'-ntr. Coexpression of the constructs led to virus movement and systemic infection; reconstituted recombinants were observed in 92% of inoculated plants. Similar results were obtained using particle bombardment, demonstrating that recombination mediated by A. tumefaciens was not responsible for the occurrence of PXC recombinants. The speed of recombination could be estimated by agroinfection of two PVX mutants lacking the 3' and 5' halves of the genome, respectively, with an overlap in the triple gene block 1 gene, allowing GFP expression only in the case of recombination. Ten different pentapeptide insertion scanning replicase mutants with replication abilities comparable to wild-type virus were applied in the different recombination assays. Two neighboring mutants affecting the linker between the methyltransferase and helicase domains were shown to be strongly debilitated in their ability to recombine. The possible functional separation of replication and recombination in the replicase molecule supports the model that RNA recombination represents a distinct function of this protein, although the underlying mechanism still needs to be investigated.

Genetically engineered plants and foods: a scientist's analysis of the issues (part II)

Genetic engineering provides a means to introduce genes into plants via mechanisms that are different in some respects from classical breeding. A number of commercialized, genetically engineered (GE) varieties, most notably canola, cotton, maize and soybean, were created using this technology, and at present the traits introduced are herbicide and/or pest tolerance. In 2007 these GE crops were planted in developed and developing countries on more than 280 million acres (113 million hectares) worldwide, representing nearly 10% of rainfed cropland. Although the United States leads the world in acres planted with GE crops, the majority of this planting is on large acreage farms. In developing countries, adopters are mostly small and resource-poor farmers. For farmers and many consumers worldwide, planting and eating GE crops and products made from them are acceptable and even welcomed; for others GE crops raise food and environmental safety questions, as well as economic and social issues. In Part I of this review, some general and food issues related to GE crops and foods were discussed. In Part II, issues related to certain environmental and socioeconomic aspects of GE crops and foods are addressed, with responses linked to the scientific literature.

Risks from GMOs due to horizontal gene transfer

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the stable transfer of genetic material from one organism to another without reproduction or human intervention. Transfer occurs by the passage of donor genetic material across cellular boundaries, followed by heritable incorporation to the genome of the recipient organism. In addition to conjugation, transformation and transduction, other diverse mechanisms of DNA and RNA uptake occur in nature. The genome of almost every organism reveals the footprint of many ancient HGT events. Most commonly, HGT involves the transmission of genes on viruses or mobile genetic elements. HGT first became an issue of public concern in the 1970s through the natural spread of antibiotic resistance genes amongst pathogenic bacteria, and more recently with commercial production of genetically modified (GM) crops. However, the frequency of HGT from plants to other eukaryotes or prokaryotes is extremely low. The frequency of HGT to viruses is potentially greater, but is restricted by stringent selection pressures. In most cases the occurrence of HGT from GM crops to other organisms is expected to be lower than background rates. Therefore, HGT from GM plants poses negligible risks to human health or the environment.

Recombination with coat protein transgene in a complementation system based onCucumber mosaic virus (CMV)

In order to study the feasibility ofCucumber mosaic virus (CMV) as an expression vector, the full-length cDNA of RNA 3 from strain SD was cloned and the sequence around the start codon of the coat protein (CP) gene was modified to create anNsi I site for insertion of foreign genes. The CP gene was replaced by the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. The cDNAs of Fny RNAs 1 and 2 and the chimeric SD RNA 3 were cloned between the modified 35S promoter and terminator. Tobacco protoplasts were transfected with a mixture of the viral cDNAs containing 35S promoter and terminator as a replacement vector and expressed GFP. A complementation system was established when the replacement vector was inoculated onto the transgenic tobacco plants expressing SD-CMV CP. GFP was detected in the inoculated leaves in 5 of 18 tested plants and in the first upper systemic leaf of one of the 5 plants ten days after inoculation. However, no GFP could be detected in all the plants one month after inoculation. Recombination between the CMV vector and the CP transgene was proved by retro-transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and verified by DNA sequencing. Our results argue against the feasibility of the CMV-based replacement vector trans-complemented by the CP transgene, and at the same time, enlighten ways to improve the CMV-based expression vector and the biosafety of CMV CP-mediated virus resistant transgenic plants.

Expression of the Arabidopsis Xrn4p 5'-3' exoribonuclease facilitates degradation of tombusvirus RNA and promotes rapid emergence of viral variants in plants

Rapid RNA virus evolution is a major problem due to the devastating diseases caused by human, animal and plant-pathogenic RNA viruses. A previous genome-wide screen for host factors affecting recombination in Tomato bushy stunt tombusvirus (TBSV), a small monopartite plant virus, identified Xrn1p 5'-3' exoribonuclease of yeast, a model host, whose absence led to increased appearance of recombinants [Serviene, E., Shapka, N., Cheng, C.P., Panavas, T., Phuangrat, B., Baker, J., Nagy, P.D., (2005). Genome-wide screen identifies host genes affecting viral RNA recombination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 102 (30), 10545-10550]. In this paper, we tested if over-expression of Xrn1p in yeast or expression of the analogous Xrn4p cytoplasmic 5'-3' exoribonuclease, which has similar function in RNA degradation in Arabidopsis as Xrn1p in yeast, in Nicotiana benthamiana could affect the accumulation of tombusvirus RNA. We show that over-expression of Xrn1p led to almost complete degradation of TBSV RNA replicons in yeast, suggesting that Xrn1p is involved in TBSV degradation. Infection of N. benthamiana expressing AtXrn4p with Cucumber necrosis tombusvirus (CNV) led to enhanced viral RNA degradation, suggesting that the yeast and the plant cytoplasmic 5'-3' exoribonuclease play similar roles. We also observed rapid emergence of novel CNV genomic RNA variants formed via deletions of 5' terminal sequences in N. benthamiana expressing AtXrn4p. Three of the newly emerging 5' truncated CNV variants were infectious in N. benthamiana protoplasts, whereas one CNV variant caused novel symptoms and moved systemically in N. benthamiana plants. Altogether, this paper establishes that a single plant gene can contribute to the emergence of novel viral variants.

No recombination detected in artificial potyvirus mixed infections and between potyvirus derived transgenes and heterologous challenging potyviruses

Risk-assessment studies of virus-resistant transgenic plants (VRTPs) focussing on recombination of a plant virus with a transgenic sequence of a different virus should include a comparison of recombination frequencies between viruses in double-infected non-transgenic plants with those observed in singly infected transgenic plants to estimate recombination incidence in VRTPs. In this study, the occurrence of recombination events was investigated in non-transgenic plants double-infected with two different potyviruses, as well as in potyviral genomes in singly infected transgenic plants expressing potyvirus sequences. Different potyviruses, namely Potato virus A (PVA), Tobacco vein mottling virus (TVMV), two strains of Potato virus Y (PVY-O, PVY-H) and two strains of Plum pox virus (PPV-NAT, PPV-SK68), were used in three combinations for double infection of a common host. Furthermore, transgenic plants expressing either potyviral coat protein (CP), helicase (CI) or polymerase (NIb) coding sequences (PPV-NAT-CP, PVY-CI, PVY-NIb) were singly-infected with a heterologous potyvirus, which was not targeted by the respective transgenic resistance. To identify recombinant potyviral sequences, a sensitive RT-PCR was developed to detect up to one recombinant molecule out of 10(6) parental molecules. In 304 mixed infected non-transgenic plants, 92 mixed and 164 single infected transgenic plants screened for recombinant sequences no recombinant potyviral sequence was found. These results indicate that recombination events between different potyviruses in mixed infections and between a potyvirus infecting a potyvirus-resistant transgenic plant are likely to be very infrequent.

Stability of recombinant plant viruses containing genes of unrelated plant viruses

The stability of hybrid plant viruses that might arise by recombination in transgenic plants was examined using hybrid viruses derived from the viral expression vectors potato virus X (PVX) and tobacco rattle virus (TRV). The potato virus Y (PVY) NIb and HCPro open reading frames (ORFs) were introduced into PVX to generate PVX-NIb and PVX-HCPro, while the PVY NIb ORF was introduced into a vector derived from TRV RNA2 to generate TRV-NIb. All three viruses were unstable and most of the progeny viruses had lost the inserted sequences between 2 and 4 weeks post-inoculation. There was some variation in the rate of loss of part or all of the inserted sequence and the number of plants containing the deleted viruses, depending on the sequence, the host (Nicotiana tabacum vs Nicotiana benthamiana) or the vector, although none of these factors was associated consistently with the preferential loss of the inserted sequences. PVX-NIb was unable to accumulate in NIb-transgenic tobacco resistant to infection by PVY and also showed loss of the NIb insert from PVX-NIb in some NIb-transgenic tobacco plants susceptible to infection by PVY. These data indicate that such hybrid viruses, formed in resistant transgenic plants from a transgene and an unrelated virus, would be at a selective disadvantage, first by being targeted by the resistance mechanism and second by not being competitive with the parental virus.

Safety of virus-resistant transgenic plants two decades after their introduction: lessons from realistic field risk assessment studies

Potential safety issues have been raised with the development and release of virus-resistant transgenic plants. This review focuses on safety assessment with a special emphasis on crops that have been commercialized or extensively tested in the field such as squash, papaya, plum, grape, and sugar beet. We discuss topics commonly perceived to be of concern to the environment and to human health--heteroencapsidation, recombination, synergism, gene flow, impact on nontarget organisms, and food safety in terms of allergenicity. The wealth of field observations and experimental data is critically evaluated to draw inferences on the most relevant issues. We also express inside views on the safety and benefits of virus-resistant transgenic plants, and recommend realistic risk assessment approaches to assist their timely deregulation and release.

Synthesis of minus-strand copies of a viral transgene during viral infections of transgenic plants

Viral transgenes designed to provide resistance to specific plant viruses frequently consist of the coat protein gene and a contiguous 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of viral origin. In many RNA viruses the viral 3'UTR establishes a recognition and initiation site for viral RNA replication. Thus the transgenic transcript may contain a functional virus replication site. Experiments were designed to determine if a challenging virus would recognize this replication site on a nuclear derived transcript and synthesize the complementary RNA. These data demonstrate that upon infection by a virus that recognizes the viral replication site, a full-length complement of the transgenic transcript is produced. In these experiments the replication complex of Brome Mosaic bromovirus recognized the transgenic transcript derived from a Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle bromovirus transgene. The resulting RNA may contribute to RNA recombination events.

Heterologous RNA replication enhancer stimulates in vitro RNA synthesis and template-switching by the carmovirus, but not by the tombusvirus, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase: implication for modular evolution of RNA viruses

The viral RNA plays multiple roles during replication of RNA viruses, serving as a template for complementary RNA synthesis and facilitating the assembly of the viral replicase complex. These roles are coordinated by cis-acting regulatory elements, such as promoters and replication enhancers (REN). To test if these RNA elements can be used by related viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp), we compared the potential stimulatory effects of homologous and heterologous REN elements on complementary RNA synthesis and template-switching by the tombus- (Cucumber necrosis virus, CNV), carmovirus (Turnip crinkle virus, TCV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RdRps in vitro. The CNV RdRp selectively utilized its cognate REN, while discriminating against the heterologous TCV REN. On the contrary, RNA synthesis by the TCV RdRp was stimulated by the TCV REN and the heterologous tombusvirus REN with comparable efficiency. The heterologous REN elements also promoted in vitro template-switching by the TCV and HCV RdRps. Based on these observations, we propose that REN elements could facilitate intervirus recombination and post-recombinational amplification of new recombinant viruses.

Tomato bushy stunt virus: a resilient model system to study virus-plant interactions

SUMMARY Taxonomy: Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) (Fig. 1) is the type species of the plant-infecting Tombusvirus genus in the family Tombusviridae. Physical properties: TBSV virions are non-enveloped icosahedral T = 3 particles assembled from 180 coat protein subunits (42 kDa) whose arrangement causes a granular appearance on the surface structure. The particles are approximately 33 nm in diameter and composed of 17% ribonucleic acid and 83% protein. Encapsidated within the virion is the TBSV genome that consists of a positive-sense single-stranded RNA of approximately 4.8 kb, which lacks the 5'-cap or 3'-poly(A) tail typical for eukaryotic mRNAs.

HOST RANGE

In nature, TBSV has a fairly restricted host range, mostly encompassing a few dicotyledonous species in separate families, and affected agricultural crops comprise primarily vegetables. The experimental host range is broad, with over 120 plant species in more than 20 different families reported to be susceptible although in most plants the infection often remains localized around the site of entry. The differences between hosts with regards to requirements for cell-to-cell and long-distance movement have led to the development of TBSV as an attractive model system to obtain general insights into RNA transport through plants.

SYMPTOMS

SYMPTOMS induced by TBSV are largely dependent on the host genotype; they can vary from necrotic and chlorotic lesions, to a systemic mild or severe mosaic, or they may culminate in a lethal necrosis. The original TBSV isolates from tomato plants caused a mottle, crinkle and downward curling of leaves with the youngest leaves exhibiting tip necrosis upon systemic infection. Tomato fruit yield can be greatly reduced by virus infection. Plants may be stunted and a proliferation of lateral shoots leads to a bushy appearance of the infected tomato plants, hence the nomenclature of the pathogen. Useful sites: http://image.fs.uidaho.edu/vide/descr825.htm; http://www.ictvdb.rothamsted.ac.uk/ICTVdB/74010001.htm (general information); http://mmtsb.scripps.edu/viper/info_page.php?vipPDB=2tbv (structural information).

Integrity of nonviral fragments in recombinant Tomato bushy stunt virus and defective interfering RNA is influenced by silencing and the type of inserts

Recombinant plant viruses have the propensity to remove foreign inserts during replication. This process is virus-specific and occurs in a host-dependent manner. In the present study, we investigated the integrity of foreign inserts in recombinant plant viruses using a model system consisting of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and its defective interfering RNA (DI). These were tested in Nicotiana benthamiana plants that were either wild type or transgenic for the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. GFP-derived inserts were retained in the recombinant TBSV and DI population that were inoculated onto GFP-transgenic N. benthamiana plants in which silencing of the GFP transgene was initiated, but they were removed from the virus and DIs that were maintained on wild-type plants. A foreign insert derived from an endogenous N. benthamiana gene encoding the H subunit of the magnesium chelatase (NbChlH) was deleted, whereas the fragment of an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene (NbRdRP1m) was retained in the recombinant TBSV population. These results demonstrate that the recombination of TBSV to remove nonviral fragments is influenced by silencing and the type of inserts.

Field safety assessment of recombination in transgenic grapevines expressing the coat protein gene of Grapevine fanleaf virus

One of the major environmental safety issues over transgenic crops containing virus-derived genes relates to the outcome of recombination events between viral transgene transcripts and RNAs from indigenous virus populations. We addressed this issue by assessing the emergence of viable Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) recombinants in transgenic grapevines expressing the GFLV coat protein (CP) gene. Test plants consisted of nontransgenic scions grafted onto transgenic and nontransgenic rootstocks that were exposed over 3 years to nematode-mediated GFLV infection in two distinct vineyard sites. The CP gene of challenging GFLV isolates was amplified from scions by IC-RT-PCR, and characterized by RFLP and nucleotide sequencing using strain F13 as reference since it provided the CP transgene. Analysis of EcoRI and StyI RFLP banding patterns from 347 challenging GFLV isolates and sequence data from 85 variants revealed no characteristics similar to strain F13 and no difference in the molecular variability among isolates from 190 transgenic and 157 nontransgenic plants, or from plants within (253 individuals) or outside (94 individuals) of the two sites. Interestingly, five GFLV recombinants were identified in three nontransgenic plants located outside of the two field settings. This survey indicates that transgenic grapevines did not assist the emergence of viable GFLV recombinants to detectable levels nor did they affect the molecular diversity of indigenous GFLV populations during the trial period. This is the first report on safety assessment of recombination with a transgenic crop expressing a CP gene under field conditions of heavy disease pressure but low, if any, selection pressure against recombinant viruses.

Development and assessment of a potato virus X-based expression system with improved biosafety

Over the last decade, plant virus-based vectors have been developed and successfully exploited for high-yield production of heterologous proteins in plants. However, widespread application of recombinant viruses raises concerns about possible risks to the environment. One of the primary safety issues that must be considered is the uncontrolled spread of the genetically engineered virus from experimental plants to susceptible weeds or crops. Using a movement-deficient Potato virus X (PVX)-based transient gene expression vector which harbors the beta-glucuronidase (gus) gene, we established a plant viral expression system that provides containment of the recombinant virus and allows for safe and efficient protein production. By deletion of the viral 25k movement protein gene, systemic spread of the modified virus in non-transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants was successfully inhibited. In transgenic N. benthamiana plants expressing the 25K viral movement protein, this deficiency was complemented, thus resulting in systemic infection with the movement-deficient virus. While no differences in virus spread and accumulation were observed compared to infection caused by wild-type PVX in non-transgenic plants, the movement protein transgenic plants exhibited none of the normal symptoms of viral infection. Several biosafety aspects were investigated including the potential for recombination between the defective virus and the movement protein transgene, as well as complementation effects in non-transgenic plants doubly infected with the defective and the wild-type virus. Furthermore, the applicability of the safety system for the production of heterologous proteins was evaluated with gus as a model gene. With respect to the stability of the gus insert and the expression level of the GUS protein, there were no differences between the novel system developed and the conventional PVX-based expression system.

Pathogen-derived resistance in potato to Potato virus Y—aspects of stability and biosafety under field conditions

Plants of three different potato cultivars/lines were transformed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens with a truncated NIb gene of a necrotic strain of Potato virus Y (PVY(N)) which had been C-terminally fused to enhanced blue-fluorescing protein. Resistance of the resulting transgenic clones was evaluated under glass house conditions using an NTN-strain of PVY. Four clones with the highest levels of resistance were chosen for further experiments. Their type of resistance was either recovery or extreme resistance. These clones and their resistance types were also characterised at the molecular level. Mechanisms other than post-transcriptional gene silencing seemed to be involved in the resistance which was not dependent on sequence homology between transgene and challenging virus. Stability of resistance was tested under field conditions. The plants usually became infected with PVY. Tubers of the clone with extreme resistance did not recover from infection whereas those from clones with the recovery type did. No influence of transgenic potatoes was apparent on aphid population numbers in test plots. Recombination events could not be detected at the RNA level between transgene and challenging virus.

The AU-rich RNA recombination hot spot sequence of Brome mosaic virus is functional in tombusviruses: implications for the mechanism of RNA recombination

RNA recombination can be facilitated by recombination signals present in viral RNAs. Among such signals are short sequences with high AU contents that constitute recombination hot spots in Brome mosaic virus (BMV) and retroviruses. In this paper, we demonstrate that a defective interfering (DI) RNA, a model template associated with Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), a tombusvirus, undergoes frequent recombination in plants and protoplast cells when it carries the AU-rich hot spot sequence from BMV. Similar to the situation with BMV, most of the recombination junction sites in the DI RNA recombinants were found within the AU-rich region. However, unlike BMV or retroviruses, where recombination usually occurred with precision between duplicated AU-rich sequences, the majority of TBSV DI RNA recombinants were imprecise. In addition, only one copy of the AU-rich sequence was essential to promote recombination in the DI RNA. The selection of junction sites was also influenced by a putative cis-acting element present in the DI RNA. We found that this RNA sequence bound to the TBSV replicase proteins more efficiently than did control nonviral sequences, suggesting that it might be involved in replicase "landing" during the template switching events. In summary, evidence is presented that a tombusvirus can use the recombination signal of BMV. This supports the idea that common AU-rich recombination signals might promote interviral recombination between unrelated viruses.

Mutations in the RNA-binding domains of tombusvirus replicase proteins affect RNA recombination in vivo

RNA recombination, which is thought to occur due to replicase errors during viral replication, is one of the major driving forces of virus evolution. In this article, we show evidence that the replicase proteins of Cucumber necrosis virus, a tombusvirus, are directly involved in RNA recombination in vivo. Mutations within the RNA-binding domains of the replicase proteins affected the frequency of recombination observed with a prototypical defective-interfering (DI) RNA, a model template for recombination studies. Five of the 17 replicase mutants tested showed delay in the formation of recombinants when compared to the wild-type helper virus. Interestingly, two replicase mutants accelerated recombinant formation and, in addition, these mutants also increased the level of subgenomic RNA synthesis (Virology 308 (2003), 191-205). A trans-complementation system was used to demonstrate that mutation in the p33 replicase protein resulted in altered recombination rate. Isolated recombinants were mostly imprecise (nonhomologous), with the recombination sites clustered around a replication enhancer region and a putative cis-acting element, respectively. These RNA elements might facilitate the proposed template switching events by the tombusvirus replicase. Together with data in the article cited above, results presented here firmly establish that the conserved RNA-binding motif of the replicase proteins is involved in RNA replication, subgenomic RNA synthesis, and RNA recombination.

Advances in the molecular biology of tombusviruses: gene expression, genome replication, and recombination

The tombusviruses are among the most extensively studied messenger-sensed RNA plant viruses. Over the past decade, there have been numerous important advances in our understanding of the molecular biology of members in this genus. Unlike most other RNA viruses, the synthesis of tombusvirus proteins has been found to involve an atypical translational mechanism related to the uncapped and nonpolyadenylated nature of their genomes. Tombusviruses also appear to employ an unusual mechanism for transcription of the sg mRNAs that template translation of a subset of their viral proteins. In addition to these new insights into tombusvirus gene expression, there has also been significant progress made in our understanding of tombusvirus RNA replication. These studies have been facilitated greatly by small genome-derived RNA replicons, referred to as defective interfering RNAs. In addition, the development of an in vitro system to study viral RNA synthesis has allowed for dissection of some of the steps involved in the replication process. Another exciting recent advance has been the creation of yeast-based systems that support amplification of tombusvirus RNA replicons and will allow the identification of host factors involved in viral RNA synthesis. Lastly, the recombinogenic nature of tombusvirus genomes has made them ideal systems for studying RNA-RNA recombination and genetic rearrangements, both in vivo and in vitro. In this review, we compile recent information on each of the aforementioned processes-translation, transcription, replication and recombination-and discuss the significance of the results.

Mechanism of RNA recombination in carmo- and tombusviruses: evidence for template switching by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in vitro

RNA recombination occurs frequently during replication of tombusviruses and carmoviruses, which are related small plus-sense RNA viruses of plants. The most common recombinants generated by these viruses are either defective interfering (DI) RNAs or chimeric satellite RNAs, which are thought to be generated by template switching of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) during the viral replication process. To test if RNA recombination is mediated by the viral RdRp, we used either a purified recombinant RdRp of Turnip crinkle carmovirus or a partially purified RdRp preparation of Cucumber necrosis tombusvirus. We demonstrated that these RdRp preparations generated RNA recombinants in vitro. The RdRp-driven template switching events occurred between either identical templates or two different RNA templates. The template containing a replication enhancer recombined more efficiently than templates containing artificial sequences. We also observed that AU-rich sequences promote recombination more efficiently than GC-rich sequences. Cloning and sequencing of the generated recombinants revealed that the junction sites were located frequently at the ends of the templates (end-to-end template switching). We also found several recombinants that were generated by template switching involving internal positions in the RNA templates. In contrast, RNA ligation-based RNA recombination was not detected in vitro. Demonstration of the ability of carmo- and tombusvirus RdRps to switch RNA templates in vitro supports the copy-choice models of RNA recombination and DI RNA formation for these viruses.

Host-dependent recombination of a Tomato bushy stunt virus coat protein mutant yields truncated capsid subunits that form virus-like complexes which benefit systemic spread

This study examined the contribution of the Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) coat protein (CP) and its corresponding RNA to systemic infection of plants. Compared to results obtained with a mutant lacking the 5'-half of the CP gene, the presence of those CP-RNA sequences in another mutant benefited TBSV infection on Nicotiana benthamiana even though wild-type CP expression was eliminated by introduction of a small out-of-frame deletion. RT-PCR of viral RNA associated with rapid infections established by this CP frameshift deletion mutant revealed that in planta recombination had provided the progeny with the ability to express a truncated CP (tCP) with a block of N-proximal 30 residues deleted from the 66 amino acid RNA-binding domain. Subsequent biochemical characterizations revealed the presence of large ribonucleoprotein complexes that were shown to contain viral RNA as well as the approximately 38-kDa tCP. Electron microscopic examination of purified complexes showed particle-like structures that were nonuniform in size and shape compared to wild-type TBSV particles. Inoculation of pepper with the tCP-containing ribonucleoprotein complexes resulted in a rapid systemic infection similar to that caused by wild-type TBSV. In contrast, infections established in pepper by the original CP frameshift deletion mutant transcripts were restricted to inoculated leaves and did not yield recombinants capable of systemically infecting this host. In summary, TBSV possesses the flexibility to form alternative virion-like structures even if a substantial portion of the RNA-binding domain is deleted from the CP; mutants producing the tCP-containing particle-like structures are more effective for virus spread than those devoid of CP expression; and recombination events to produce the alternative tCP-RNA complexes are host-dependent.

Risk assessment of virus-resistant transgenic plants

Virus-resistant transgenic plants (VRTPs) hold the promise of enormous benefit for agriculture. However, over the past ten years, questions concerning the potential ecological impact of VRTPs have been raised. In some cases, detailed study of the mode of action of the resistance gene has made it possible to eliminate the source of potential risk, notably the possible effects of heterologous encapsidation on the transmission of viruses by their vectors. In other cases, the means of eliminating likely sources of risk have not yet been developed. When such residual risk still exists, the potential risks associated with the VRTP must be compared with those associated with nontransgenic plants so that risk assessment can fully play its role as part of an overall analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of practicable solutions to the problem solved by the VRTP.

Antibody-based resistance to plant pathogens

Plant diseases are a major threat to the world food supply, as up to 15% of production is lost to pathogens. In the past, disease control and the generation of resistant plant lines protected against viral, bacterial or fungal pathogens, was achieved using conventional breeding based on crossings, mutant screenings and backcrossing. Many approaches in this field have failed or the resistance obtained has been rapidly broken by the pathogens. Recent advances in molecular biotechnology have made it possible to obtain and to modify genes that are useful for generating disease resistant crops. Several strategies, including expression of pathogen-derived sequences or anti-pathogenic agents, have been developed to engineer improved pathogen resistance in transgenic plants. Antibody-based resistance is a novel strategy for generating transgenic plants resistant to pathogens. Decades ago it was shown that polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies can neutralize viruses, bacteria and selected fungi. This approach has been improved recently by the development of recombinant antibodies (rAbs). Crop resistance can be engineered by the expression of pathogen-specific antibodies, antibody fragments or antibody fusion proteins. The advantages of this approach are that rAbs can be engineered against almost any target molecule, and it has been demonstrated that expression of functional pathogen-specific rAbs in plants confers effective pathogen protection. The efficacy of antibody-based resistance was first shown for plant viruses and its application to other plant pathogens is becoming more established. However, successful use of antibodies to generate plant pathogen resistance relies on appropriate target selection, careful antibody design, efficient antibody expression, stability and targeting to appropriate cellular compartments.

Retention of a small replicase gene segment in tomato bushy stunt virus defective RNAs inhibits their helper-mediated trans-accumulation

Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and other tombusviruses are notorious for their propensity to accumulate defective interfering RNAs (DIs) upon serial passage through experimental Nicotiana species. Hallmarks of this occurrence include reduced levels of helper RNA and protein accumulation and amelioration of the lethal necrosis induced upon infection of the host with the helper viruses alone. The objective of this study was to determine whether the prolific trans-accumulation of defective RNAs typically occurs for all replicase-deficient TBSV mutants, or if this process is influenced by internal cis-acting elements that have been excised from DIs. For this purpose, various replicase-deficient TBSV cDNA constructs were generated and their transcripts were tested for trans-accumulation competence in the presence of helper virus. The results revealed that a region of ca. 150 nucleotides near the center of the replicase gene, with a predicted high degree of secondary structure, was a potent inhibitor of trans-rescue (ITR) by TBSV. Relocation of the ITR into efficiently trans-replicating DIs inhibited their accumulation drastically, but only when inserted in the reverse orientation and with an intact 5' ITR-specific predicted hairpin structure. Insertion of the ITR element in the positive orientation yielded DI transcripts that were able to replicate, but failed to interfere noticeably with either accumulation of the helper RNA or the onset of the lethal necrosis phenotype in N. benthamiana. In conclusion, the ITR has an intrinsic capacity to inhibit trans-accumulation of defective RNAs, but its stringency and biological effects are strongly influenced by the overall sequence context.

Advances in Understanding Plant Viruses and Virus Diseases

▪ Abstract  Plant viruses have had an impact on the science of virology and on plant pathology ever since the virus concept was discovered with Tobacco mosaic virus at the end of the nineteenth century. In this review, we highlight those discoveries. We have divided plant virus research into a "Classical Discovery Period" from 1883-1951 in which the findings were very descriptive; an "Early Molecular Era" from 1952 to about 1983, in which information was developed that described further properties of the viruses, aided by the development of a number of salient techniques; and the "Recent Period" from 1983 to the present, when techniques have been developed to modify plant virus genomes, to detect nonstructural gene products, to determine the functions of viral gene products, and to transform plants to elicit novel forms of resistance to viral diseases. In this period, plant virology has played a significant role in formulating an understanding of the mechanisms of gene silencing and recombination, plasmodesmatal function, systemic acquired resistance, and in developing methods for pathogen detection. We also attempt to predict the direction plant virology will take in the future.

Transgenic or plant expression vector-mediated recombination of Plum Pox Virus

Different mutants of an infectious full-length clone (p35PPV-NAT) of Plum pox virus (PPV) were constructed: three mutants with mutations of the assembly motifs RQ and DF in the coat protein gene (CP) and two CP chimeras with exchanges in the CP core region of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus and Potato virus Y. The assembly mutants were restricted to single infected cells, whereas the PPV chimeras were able to produce systemic infections in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. After passages in different transgenic N. benthamiana plants expressing the PPV CP gene with a complete (plant line 4.30.45.) or partially deleted 3'-nontranslated region (3'-NTR) (plant line 17.27. 4.), characterization of the viral progeny of all mutants revealed restoration of wild-type virus by recombination with the transgenic CP RNA only in the presence of the complete 3'-NTR (4.30.45.). Reconstitution of wild-type virus was also observed following cobombardment of different assembly-defective p35PPV-NAT together with a movement-defective plant expression vector of Potato virus X expressing the intact PPV-NAT CP gene transiently in nontransgenic N. benthamiana plants. Finally, a chimeric recombinant virus was detected after cobombardment of defective p35PPV-NAT with a plant expression vector-derived CP gene from the sour cherry isolate of PPV (PPV-SoC). This chimeric virus has been established by a double recombination event between the CP-defective PPV mutant and the intact PPV-SoC CP gene. These results demonstrate that viral sequences can be tested for recombination events without the necessity for producing transgenic plants.

Mutations in the coat protein gene of plum pox virus suppress particle assembly, heterologous encapsidation and complementation in transgenic plants of Nicotiana benthamiana

Two different motifs in the coat protein (CP) of Plum pox virus (PPV) (R(3015)Q(3016), D(3059)) were mutated by replacing the respective amino acids with others possessing different chemical properties. The mutated CP genes were introduced into an infectious full-length clone of PPV (p35PPV-NAT) to investigate their influence on systemic infection of transgenic wild-type PPV CP-expressing and non-transgenic plants of Nicotiana benthamiana. All mutants failed to establish systemic infections in non-transgenic N. benthamiana plants, but were complemented by intact CP in transgenic plants. Moreover, the CP-RQ-D mutant (carrying mutations in both the RQ and D motifs) was introduced into p35PPV-NAT engineered to express beta-glucuronidase (GUS) for direct observation of systemic movement and particle assembly in N. benthamiana leaves. GUS-staining revealed that the CP mutant (RQ-D) was restricted to initially infected cells without forming virions. Systemic movement and particle assembly were restored in CP-transgenic N. benthamiana plants. Finally, transgenic N. benthamiana plants were generated that expressed each of the three mutated CP genes. Homozygous T(2) lines were selected and tested for resistance to PPV. Immunogold labelling and electron microscopy revealed that heterologous encapsidation with challenging Chilli veinal mottle virus and Potato virus Y was suppressed in these lines. In addition, assembly mutants did not complement CP-defective p35PPV-NAT. The possible use of modified viral CP genes for the production of virus-resistant transgenic plants, thereby reducing the putative risks of heterologous encapsidation and complementation, is discussed.