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Zhou Y, McCormick AA, Kearney CM. Plant Expression of Trans-Encapsidated Chimeric Viral Vaccines with Animal RNA Replicons: An Update. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2786:289-300. [PMID: 38814400 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3770-8_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
In this protocol, we outline how to produce a chimeric viral vaccine in a biosafety level 1 (BSL1) environment. An animal viral vector RNA encapsidated with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein can be fully assembled in planta. Agrobacterium cultures containing each component are inoculated together into tobacco leaves and the self-assembled hybrid chimeric viral vaccine is harvested 4 days later and purified with a simple PEG precipitation. The viral RNA delivery vector is derived from the BSL1 insect virus, Flock House virus (FHV), and replicates in human and animal cells but does not spread systemically. A polyethylene glycol purification protocol is also provided to collect and purify these vaccines for immunological tests. In this update, we also provide a protocol for in trans co-inoculation of a modified FHV protein A, which significantly increased the yield of in planta chimeric viral vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Zhou
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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2
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Nihranz CT, Guzchenko IA, Casteel CL. Silencing ZmPP2C-A10 with a foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) derived vector benefits maize growth and development following water limitation. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2023; 25:956-964. [PMID: 37658795 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change is causing more frequent and severe droughts, which can have negative impacts on plant growth and crop productivity. Under drought conditions, plants produce the hormone ABA (abscisic acid), which regulates adaptive responses, such as stomatal closure and root elongation. Plant viruses have been used in the lab to convey new traits to plants and could also be used to increase production of ABA or to enhance downstream plant drought resistance responses. In this study, foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) was used to silence ZmPP2C-A10, a negative regulator of ABA signalling, in maize (Zea mays L.). Both silenced and control plants were exposed to an 8-day drought treatment, followed by a 30-day period of rewatering, after which indicators of drought resistance were measured. After drought treatment, we observed a nearly twofold increase in expression of a stress-mitigation gene, ZmRAB17, reduced chlorophyll fluorescence changes (indicator of stress), and increased plant biomass and development in the ZmPP2C-A10-silenced maize compared to controls. These results demonstrate that the FoMV system can be used to silence endogenous expression of ZmPP2C-A10 and increase maize tolerance to drought. This could offer a useful tool to improve crop traits and reduce yield loss during the growing season.
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Affiliation(s)
- C T Nihranz
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - I A Guzchenko
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - C L Casteel
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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3
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Beernink BM, Whitham SA. Foxtail mosaic virus: A tool for gene function analysis in maize and other monocots. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:811-822. [PMID: 37036421 PMCID: PMC10257046 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Many plant viruses have been engineered into vectors for use in functional genomics studies, expression of heterologous proteins, and, most recently, gene editing applications. The use of viral vectors overcomes bottlenecks associated with mutagenesis and transgenesis approaches often implemented for analysis of gene function. There are several engineered viruses that are demonstrated or suggested to be useful in maize through proof-of-concept studies. However, foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV), which has a relatively broad host range, is emerging as a particularly useful virus for gene function studies in maize and other monocot crop or weed species. A few clones of FoMV have been independently engineered, and they have different features and capabilities for virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and virus-mediated overexpression (VOX) of proteins. In addition, FoMV can be used to deliver functional guide RNAs in maize and other plants expressing the Cas9 protein, demonstrating its potential utility in virus-induced gene editing applications. There is a growing number of studies in which FoMV vectors are being applied for VIGS or VOX in maize and the vast majority of these are related to maize-microbe interactions. In this review, we highlight the biology and engineering of FoMV as well as its applications in maize-microbe interactions and more broadly in the context of the monocot functional genomics toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bliss M. Beernink
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and MicrobiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
| | - Steven A. Whitham
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and MicrobiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
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4
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The Plant Viruses and Molecular Farming: How Beneficial They Might Be for Human and Animal Health? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021533. [PMID: 36675043 PMCID: PMC9863966 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant viruses have traditionally been studied as pathogens in the context of understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of a particular disease affecting crops. In recent years, viruses have emerged as a new alternative for producing biological nanomaterials and chimeric vaccines. Plant viruses were also used to generate highly efficient expression vectors, revolutionizing plant molecular farming (PMF). Several biological products, including recombinant vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, diagnostic reagents, and other pharmaceutical products produced in plants, have passed their clinical trials and are in their market implementation stage. PMF offers opportunities for fast, adaptive, and low-cost technology to meet ever-growing and critical global health needs. In this review, we summarized the advancements in the virus-like particles-based (VLPs-based) nanotechnologies and the role they played in the production of advanced vaccines, drugs, diagnostic bio-nanomaterials, and other bioactive cargos. We also highlighted various applications and advantages plant-produced vaccines have and their relevance for treating human and animal illnesses. Furthermore, we summarized the plant-based biologics that have passed through clinical trials, the unique challenges they faced, and the challenges they will face to qualify, become available, and succeed on the market.
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5
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Guo G, Li MJ, Lai JL, Du ZY, Liao QS. Development of tobacco rattle virus-based platform for dual heterologous gene expression and CRISPR/Cas reagent delivery. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 325:111491. [PMID: 36216296 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A large number of viral delivery systems have been developed for characterizing functional genes and producing heterologous recombinant proteins in plants, and but most of them are unable to co-express two fusion-free foreign proteins in the whole plant for extended periods of time. In this study, we modified tobacco rattle virus (TRV) as a TRVe dual delivery vector, using the strategy of gene substitution. The reconstructed TRVe had the capability to simultaneously produce two fusion-free foreign proteins at the whole level of Nicotiana benthamiana, and maintained the genetic stability for the insert of double foreign genes. Moreover, TRVe allowed systemic expression of two foreign proteins with the total lengths up to ∼900 aa residues. In addition, Cas12a protein and crRNA were delivered by the TRVe expression system for site-directed editing of genomic DNA in N. benthamiana 16c line constitutively expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). Taker together, the TRV-based delivery system will be a simple and powerful means to rapidly co-express two non-fused foreign proteins at the whole level and facilitate functional genomics studies in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Guo
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Meng-Jiao Li
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Jia-Liang Lai
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Zhi-You Du
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Qian-Sheng Liao
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China.
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6
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Gentzel IN, Ohlson EW, Redinbaugh MG, Wang GL. VIGE: virus-induced genome editing for improving abiotic and biotic stress traits in plants. STRESS BIOLOGY 2022; 2:2. [PMID: 37676518 PMCID: PMC10441944 DOI: 10.1007/s44154-021-00026-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural production is hampered by disease, pests, and environmental stresses. To minimize yield loss, it is important to develop crop cultivars with resistance or tolerance to their respective biotic and abiotic constraints. Transformation techniques are not optimized for many species and desirable cultivars may not be amenable to genetic transformation, necessitating inferior cultivar usage and time-consuming introgression through backcrossing to the preferred variety. Overcoming these limitations will greatly facilitate the development of disease, insect, and abiotic stress tolerant crops. One such avenue for rapid crop improvement is the development of viral systems to deliver CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing technology to plants to generate targeted beneficial mutations. Viral delivery of genomic editing constructs can theoretically be applied to span the entire host range of the virus utilized, circumventing the challenges associated with traditional transformation and breeding techniques. Here we explore the types of viruses that have been optimized for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery, the phenotypic outcomes achieved in recent studies, and discuss the future potential of this rapidly advancing technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene N Gentzel
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Erik W Ohlson
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Corn, Soybean and Wheat Quality Research Unit, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA
| | | | - Guo-Liang Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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7
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Abrahamian P, Hammond J, Hammond RW. Development and optimization of a pepino mosaic virus-based vector for rapid expression of heterologous proteins in plants. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:627-645. [PMID: 33394156 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-11066-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Plant-virus-derived vectors are versatile tools with multiple applications in agricultural and medical biotechnology. In this study, we developed pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) (family Alphaflexiviridae; genus Potexvirus) into a vector for heterologous protein expression in plants. PepMV was initially cloned in a step-wise manner, fully sequenced and the full-length infectious clone was tested for infectivity in Nicotiana benthamiana. Initial infectious clones resulted in poor replication of PepMV and lack of systemic movement. Mutations in the viral sequence affected systemic infection. Two suspected mutations were altered to restore systemic infectivity. PepMV infection was apparent as early as 4 days post agroinfiltration (dpa) inoculation in N. benthamiana. A multiple cloning site was inserted into the PepMV genome for introduction and expression of foreign genes. Several modifications to the wild-type vector were made, such as a replacing the native subgenomic promoter (SGP) with a heterologous SGP, and introduction of translational enhancers and terminators, to improve heterologous expression of the foreign gene-of-interest. GFP was used as a reporter for monitoring virus infection and protein production. Strong GFP expression was observed as early as 4 dpa with a translational enhancer. The PepMV-based vector produces rapid expression of the foreign gene in comparison to two other potexvirus-based vectors. GFP production was monitored over time and optimal protein production was recorded between 5 and 7 dpa. GFP protein levels reached up to 4% and decreased to 0.5% total soluble protein at 7 and 14 dpa, respectively. Future studies will evaluate this virus-based vector for large-scale production of pharmaceutical compounds. KEY POINTS: • A pepino mosaic virus isolate was developed into a plant-based expression vector. • Expression levels of the heterologous protein were comparable or exceeded previously developed viral vectors. • Protein levels in plants were highest between 5 and 7 days and decreased gradually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Abrahamian
- Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
| | - John Hammond
- United States National Arboretum, Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Rosemarie W Hammond
- Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
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8
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Zhou Y, Ghidey MR, Pruett G, Kearney CM. The use of functionally deficient viral vectors as visualization tools to reveal complementation patterns between plant viruses and the silencing suppressor p19. J Virol Methods 2020; 286:113980. [PMID: 33010375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Plant virus transport complementation is classically observed as a helper virus allowing another virus to regain cell-to-cell or systemic movement through a restrictive host plant (Malyshenko et al., 1989). The complementation effect is usually studied by observing virus infection after co-infection or super-inoculation of the helper virus. We herein demonstrate the utility of functionally deficient viral vectors as tools to determine the contribution of individual viral genes to plant viral transport complementation. Two functionally deficient viral vectors were engineered that derive from foxtail mosaic potexvirus and sunn-hemp mosaic tobamovirus, namely FECT (FoMV Eliminate CP and TGB, (Liu and Kearney, 2010)) and SHEC (SHMV Eliminate CP gene, (Liu and Kearney, 2010)), respectively. FECT had all the ORFs removed except for the replicase and thus is defective for both long-distance and cell-to-cell movement. SHEC lacked only the coat protein ORF and retained the movement protein (MP) and is functional for cell-to-cell movement. When FECT and SHEC vectors were inoculated with the silencing suppressor p19 in different zones of the same leaf, FECT was enabled to express its reporter gene beyond the original inoculation zone. When FECT, SHEC, and p19 were individually inoculated in separate zones, both FECT and SHEC reporter gene expression was observed within the p19 zone, distant from the original virus inoculation points. These observations indicate that SHEC movement protein could create a trafficking network to allow viral RNAs of FECT and SHEC and p19/p19 transcript to move from cell to cell. This system provides a tool to visually monitor the movement of viruses and silencing suppressors as well as to identify the effects of individual viral components on virus movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Zhou
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Meron R Ghidey
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Grace Pruett
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Christopher M Kearney
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
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Abrahamian P, Hammond RW, Hammond J. Plant Virus-Derived Vectors: Applications in Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology. Annu Rev Virol 2020; 7:513-535. [PMID: 32520661 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-010720-054958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Major advances in our understanding of plant viral genome expression strategies and the interaction of a virus with its host for replication and movement, induction of disease, and resistance responses have been made through the generation of infectious molecules from cloned viral sequences. Autonomously replicating viral vectors derived from infectious clones have been exploited to express foreign genes in plants. Applications of virus-based vectors include the production of human/animal therapeutic proteins in plant cells and the specific study of plant biochemical processes, including those that confer resistance to pathogens. Additionally, virus-induced gene silencing, which is RNA mediated and triggered through homology-dependent RNA degradation mechanisms, has been exploited as an efficient method to study the functions of host genes in plants and to deliver small RNAs to insects. New and exciting strategies for vector engineering, delivery, and applications of plant virus-based vectors are the subject of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Abrahamian
- Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA
| | - Rosemarie W Hammond
- Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA
| | - John Hammond
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, United States National Arboretum, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA;
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10
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Yuan C, Li H, Qin C, Zhang X, Chen Q, Zhang P, Xu X, He M, Zhang X, Tör M, Xue D, Wang H, Jackson S, He Y, Liu Y, Shi N, Hong Y. Foxtail mosaic virus-induced flowering assays in monocot crops. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:3012-3023. [PMID: 32061090 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Virus-induced flowering (VIF) exploits RNA or DNA viruses to express flowering time genes to induce flowering in plants. Such plant virus-based tools have recently attracted widespread attention for their fundamental and applied uses in flowering physiology and in accelerating breeding in dicotyledonous crops and woody fruit-trees. We now extend this technology to a monocot grass and a cereal crop. Using a Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV)-based VIF system, dubbed FoMViF, we showed that expression of florigenic Flowering Locus T (FT) genes can promote early flowering and spikelet development in proso millet, a C4 grass species with potential as a nutritional food and biofuel resource, and in non-vernalized C3 wheat, a major food crop worldwide. Floral and spikelet/grain induction in the two monocot plants was caused by the virally expressed untagged or FLAG-tagged FT orthologs, and the florigenic activity of rice Hd3a was more pronounced than its dicotyledonous counterparts in proso millet. The FoMViF system is easy to use and its efficacy to induce flowering and early spikelet/grain production is high. In addition to proso millet and wheat, we envisage that FoMViF will be also applicable to many economically important monocotyledonous food and biofuel crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yuan
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Qin
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Pengcheng Zhang
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaorui Xu
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meiling He
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinlian Zhang
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Division of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mahmut Tör
- Worcester-Hangzhou Joint Molecular Plant Health Laboratory, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK
| | - Dawei Xue
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huizhong Wang
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Stephen Jackson
- Warwick-Hangzhou RNA Signaling Joint Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Yuehui He
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yule Liu
- Centre for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Nongnong Shi
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiguo Hong
- Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
- Worcester-Hangzhou Joint Molecular Plant Health Laboratory, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK
- Warwick-Hangzhou RNA Signaling Joint Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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Ghidey M, Islam SMA, Pruett G, Kearney CM. Making plants into cost-effective bioreactors for highly active antimicrobial peptides. N Biotechnol 2020; 56:63-70. [PMID: 31812667 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2019.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens become an ever-increasing concern, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have grown increasingly attractive as alternatives. Potentially, plants could be used as cost-effective AMP bioreactors; however, reported heterologous AMP expression is much lower in plants than in E. coli expression systems and often results in plant cytotoxicity, even for AMPs fused to carrier proteins. This suggests that there may be a physical characteristic of the previously described heterologous AMPs which impedes efficient expression in plants. Using a meta-analysis of protein databases, this study has determined that native plant AMPs were significantly less cationic than AMPs native to other taxa. To apply this finding to plant expression, the transient expression of 10 different heterologous AMPs, ranging in charge from +7 to -5, was tested in the tobacco, Nicotiana benthamiana. Elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) was used as the carrier protein for AMP expression. ELP fusion allowed for a simple, cost-effective temperature shift purification. Using this system, all five anionic AMPs expressed well, with two at unusually high levels (375 and 563 μg/gfw). Furthermore, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis was an order of magnitude greater (average minimum inhibitory concentration MIC of 0.26μM) than that typically seen for AMPs expressed in E. coli systems and was associated with the uncleaved fusion peptide. In summary, this study describes a means of expressing AMP fusions in plants in high yield, purified by a simple temperature-shift protocol, resulting in a fusion peptide with high antimicrobial activity and without the need for a peptide cleavage step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meron Ghidey
- Biomedical Studies Program, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | | | - Grace Pruett
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, One Bear Place #7388, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Christopher Michel Kearney
- Biomedical Studies Program, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA; Department of Biology, Baylor University, One Bear Place #7388, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
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12
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Mei Y, Beernink BM, Ellison EE, Konečná E, Neelakandan AK, Voytas DF, Whitham SA. Protein expression and gene editing in monocots using foxtail mosaic virus vectors. PLANT DIRECT 2019; 3:e00181. [PMID: 31768497 PMCID: PMC6874699 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Plant viruses can be engineered to carry sequences that direct silencing of target host genes, expression of heterologous proteins, or editing of host genes. A set of foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) vectors was developed that can be used for transient gene expression and single guide RNA delivery for Cas9-mediated gene editing in maize, Setaria viridis, and Nicotiana benthamiana. This was accomplished by duplicating the FoMV capsid protein subgenomic promoter, abolishing the unnecessary open reading frame 5A, and inserting a cloning site containing unique restriction endonuclease cleavage sites immediately after the duplicated promoter. The modified FoMV vectors transiently expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP) and bialaphos resistance (BAR) protein in leaves of systemically infected maize seedlings. GFP was detected in epidermal and mesophyll cells by epifluorescence microscopy, and expression was confirmed by Western blot analyses. Plants infected with FoMV carrying the bar gene were temporarily protected from a glufosinate herbicide, and expression was confirmed using a rapid antibody-based BAR strip test. Expression of these proteins was stabilized by nucleotide substitutions in the sequence of the duplicated promoter region. Single guide RNAs expressed from the duplicated promoter mediated edits in the N. benthamiana Phytoene desaturase gene, the S. viridis Carbonic anhydrase 2 gene, and the maize HKT1 gene encoding a potassium transporter. The efficiency of editing was enhanced in the presence of synergistic viruses and a viral silencing suppressor. This work expands the utility of FoMV for virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), virus-mediated overexpression (VOX), and virus-enabled gene editing (VEdGE) in monocots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mei
- Department of Plant Pathology and MicrobiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIAUSA
| | - Bliss M. Beernink
- Department of Plant Pathology and MicrobiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIAUSA
| | - Evan E. Ellison
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and DevelopmentCenter for Genome EngineeringCenter for Precision Plant GenomicsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMNUSA
| | - Eva Konečná
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and DevelopmentCenter for Genome EngineeringCenter for Precision Plant GenomicsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMNUSA
| | | | - Daniel F. Voytas
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and DevelopmentCenter for Genome EngineeringCenter for Precision Plant GenomicsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMNUSA
| | - Steven A. Whitham
- Department of Plant Pathology and MicrobiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIAUSA
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13
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Bouton C, King RC, Chen H, Azhakanandam K, Bieri S, Hammond-Kosack KE, Kanyuka K. Foxtail mosaic virus: A Viral Vector for Protein Expression in Cereals. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 177:1352-1367. [PMID: 29880705 PMCID: PMC6084670 DOI: 10.1104/pp.17.01679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Rapid and cost-effective virus-derived transient expression systems for plants are invaluable in elucidating gene function and are particularly useful in plant species for which transformation-based methods are unavailable or are too time and labor demanding, such as wheat (Triticum aestivum) and maize (Zea mays). The virus-mediated overexpression (VOX) vectors based on Barley stripe mosaic virus and Wheat streak mosaic virus described previously for these species are incapable of expressing free recombinant proteins of more than 150 to 250 amino acids, are not suited for high-throughput screens, and have other limitations. In this study, we report the development of a VOX vector based on a monopartite single-stranded positive sense RNA virus, Foxtail mosaic virus (genus Potexvirus). In this vector, PV101, the gene of interest was inserted downstream of the duplicated subgenomic promoter of the viral coat protein gene, and the corresponding protein was expressed in its free form. The vector allowed the expression of a 239-amino acid-long GFP in both virus-inoculated and upper uninoculated (systemic) leaves of wheat and maize and directed the systemic expression of a larger approximately 600-amino acid protein, GUSPlus, in maize. Moreover, we demonstrated that PV101 can be used for in planta expression and functional analysis of apoplastic pathogen effector proteins such as the host-specific toxin ToxA of Parastagonospora nodorum Therefore, this VOX vector opens possibilities for functional genomics studies in two important cereal crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Bouton
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
| | - Robert C King
- Computational and Analytical Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
| | - Hongxin Chen
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
| | - Kasi Azhakanandam
- Seeds Research, Syngenta Biotechnology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | | | - Kim E Hammond-Kosack
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
| | - Kostya Kanyuka
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
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Burkhow SJ, Stephens NM, Mei Y, Dueñas ME, Freppon DJ, Ding G, Smith SC, Lee YJ, Nikolau BJ, Whitham SA, Smith EA. Characterizing virus-induced gene silencing at the cellular level with in situ multimodal imaging. PLANT METHODS 2018; 14:37. [PMID: 29849743 PMCID: PMC5968576 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-018-0306-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reverse genetic strategies, such as virus-induced gene silencing, are powerful techniques to study gene function. Currently, there are few tools to study the spatial dependence of the consequences of gene silencing at the cellular level. RESULTS We report the use of multimodal Raman and mass spectrometry imaging to study the cellular-level biochemical changes that occur from silencing the phytoene desaturase (pds) gene using a Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) vector in maize leaves. The multimodal imaging method allows the localized carotenoid distribution to be measured and reveals differences lost in the spatial average when analyzing a carotenoid extraction of the whole leaf. The nature of the Raman and mass spectrometry signals are complementary: silencing pds reduces the downstream carotenoid Raman signal and increases the phytoene mass spectrometry signal. CONCLUSIONS Both Raman and mass spectrometry imaging show that the biochemical changes from FoMV-pds silencing occur with a mosaic spatial pattern at the cellular level, and the Raman images show carotenoid expression was reduced at discrete locations but not eliminated. The data indicate the multimodal imaging method has great utility to study the biochemical changes that result from gene silencing at the cellular spatial level of expression in many plant tissues including the stem and leaf. Our demonstrated method is the first to spatially characterize the biochemical changes as a result of VIGS at the cellular level using commonly available instrumentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadie J. Burkhow
- The Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
| | - Nicole M. Stephens
- The Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
| | - Yu Mei
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 USA
| | - Maria Emilia Dueñas
- The Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
| | - Daniel J. Freppon
- The Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
| | - Geng Ding
- Department of Biochemistry Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Center for Metabolic Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 USA
| | - Shea C. Smith
- Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 USA
| | - Young-Jin Lee
- The Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
| | - Basil J. Nikolau
- Department of Biochemistry Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Center for Metabolic Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 USA
| | - Steven A. Whitham
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 USA
| | - Emily A. Smith
- The Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3111 USA
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15
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Mendoza MR, Payne AN, Castillo S, Crocker M, Shaw BD, Scholthof HB. Expression of Separate Proteins in the Same Plant Leaves and Cells Using Two Independent Virus-Based Gene Vectors. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1808. [PMID: 29163561 PMCID: PMC5681929 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Plant viral vectors enable the expression of proteins at high levels in a relatively short time. For many purposes (e.g., cell biological interaction studies) it may be desirable to express more than one protein in a single cell but that is often not feasible when using a single virus vector. Such a co-expression strategy requires the simultaneous delivery by two compatible and non-competitive viruses that can co-exist to each express a separate protein. Here, we report on the use of two agro-launchable coat-protein gene substitution GFP-expressing virus vector systems based on Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) referred to as TG, and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) annotated as TRBO-G. TG expressed GFP in Nicotiana benthamiana, tomato, lettuce and cowpea, whereas expression from TRBO-G was detected only in the first two species. Upon co-infiltration of the two vectors co-expression was monitored by: molecular detection of the two slightly differently sized GFPs, suppressor-complementation assays, and using TG in combination with TRBO-RFP. All the results revealed that in N. benthamiana and tomato the TBSV and TMV vectors accumulated and expressed proteins in the same plants, the same leaves, and in the same cells. Therefore, co-expression by these two vectors provides a platform for fast and high level expression of proteins to study their cell biology or other properties.
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16
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Odokonyero D, Mendoza MR, Moffett P, Scholthof HB. Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-Mediated Silencing of Nicotiana benthamiana ARGONAUTES (NbAGOs) Reveals New Antiviral Candidates and Dominant Effects of TRV-NbAGO1. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2017; 107:977-987. [PMID: 28636437 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-02-17-0049-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of different ARGONAUTE proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana (NbAGOs) to the defense against silencing sensitive GFP-expressing viral constructs based on Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) (Tombusvirus), Sunn-hemp mosaic virus (Tobamovirus), and Foxtail mosaic virus (Potexvirus). Upon Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-mediated down-regulation of NbAGO1, 4, 5, or 6, no effects were noted on susceptibility to any virus construct, whereas knockdown of NbAGO2 specifically prevented silencing of P19-defective TBSV (TGdP19). Down-regulation of a new gene referred to as NbAGO5L showed some reduced silencing for TGdP19 but not for the other two virus constructs, whereas silencing of NbAGO7 gave rise to a subtle increase in susceptibility to all three viruses. Co-infiltrating different TRV-NbAGO constructs simultaneously did not enhance virus susceptibility. However, an unexpected finding was that whenever the TRV-NbAGO1 construct was present, this compromised silencing of genes targeted by co-infiltrated constructs, as shown upon co-infiltration of TRV-NbAGO1 with either TRV-NbAGO2 or TRV-Sul (targeting Magnesium chelatase I). Only after a prolonged period (approximately 2 months) did TRV-Sul-mediated systemic bleaching occur in these co-infected plants, suggesting that TRV-NbAGO1 hinders the silencing ability of other TRV-NbAGO constructs. In conclusion, this study revealed new antiviral NbAGOs and dominant effects of silencing NbAGO1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Odokonyero
- First, second, and fourth authors: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station; and third author: Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maria R Mendoza
- First, second, and fourth authors: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station; and third author: Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Peter Moffett
- First, second, and fourth authors: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station; and third author: Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Herman B Scholthof
- First, second, and fourth authors: Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station; and third author: Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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17
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Zhou Y, Kearney CM. Chimeric Flock House virus protein A with endoplasmic reticulum-targeting domain enhances viral replication and virus-like particle trans-encapsidation in plants. Virology 2017; 507:151-160. [PMID: 28437636 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Flock House virus (FHV) RNA can be trans-encapsidated, entirely in planta, by tobacco mosaic virus coat protein to form virus-like particles (VLPs). Vaccination with these VLPs leads to strong antigen expression in mice and immune-activation. We hypothesize that creating an additional cellular site for replication and/or trans-encapsidation might significantly improve the final output of trans-encapsidated product. FHV protein A was engineered to target the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via a heterologous tobacco etch virus ER-targeting domain, and was expressed in cis or in trans relative to the replicating FHV RNA1. A strong increase in marker gene expression in plants was noted when ER-targeted protein A was supplied in trans. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed RNA1 replication in both the mitochondria and ER, and total RNA1 accumulation was increased. In support of our hypothesis, VLP yield was increased significantly by the addition of this single genetic component to the inoculum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Zhou
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
| | - Christopher M Kearney
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
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18
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Zhou Y, McCormick AA, Kearney CM. Plant Expression of Trans-Encapsidated Viral Nanoparticle Vaccines with Animal RNA Replicons. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1499:77-86. [PMID: 27987143 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6481-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In this protocol, we outline how to produce a live viral nanoparticle vaccine in a biosafety level 1 (BSL1) environment. An animal viral vector RNA encapsidated with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein can be fully assembled in planta. Agrobacterium cultures containing each component are inoculated together into tobacco leaves and the self-assembled hybrid nanoparticle vaccine is harvested 4 days later and purified with a simple PEG precipitation. The viral RNA delivery vector is derived from the BSL1 insect virus, Flock House virus (FHV), and replicates in human and animal cells but does not spread systemically. A polyethylene glycol purification protocol is also provided to collect and purify these vaccines for immunological tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Zhou
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | | | - Christopher M Kearney
- Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
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19
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Wen AM, Steinmetz NF. Design of virus-based nanomaterials for medicine, biotechnology, and energy. Chem Soc Rev 2016; 45:4074-126. [PMID: 27152673 PMCID: PMC5068136 DOI: 10.1039/c5cs00287g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This review provides an overview of recent developments in "chemical virology." Viruses, as materials, provide unique nanoscale scaffolds that have relevance in chemical biology and nanotechnology, with diverse areas of applications. Some fundamental advantages of viruses, compared to synthetically programmed materials, include the highly precise spatial arrangement of their subunits into a diverse array of shapes and sizes and many available avenues for easy and reproducible modification. Here, we will first survey the broad distribution of viruses and various methods for producing virus-based nanoparticles, as well as engineering principles used to impart new functionalities. We will then examine the broad range of applications and implications of virus-based materials, focusing on the medical, biotechnology, and energy sectors. We anticipate that this field will continue to evolve and grow, with exciting new possibilities stemming from advancements in the rational design of virus-based nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Wen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Nicole F Steinmetz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. and Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA and Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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20
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Liu N, Xie K, Jia Q, Zhao J, Chen T, Li H, Wei X, Diao X, Hong Y, Liu Y. Foxtail Mosaic Virus-Induced Gene Silencing in Monocot Plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 171:1801-7. [PMID: 27225900 PMCID: PMC4936545 DOI: 10.1104/pp.16.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a powerful technique to study gene function in plants. However, very few VIGS vectors are available for monocot plants. Here we report that Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) can be engineered as an effective VIGS system to induce efficient silencing of endogenous genes in monocot plants including barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica). This is evidenced by FoMV-based silencing of phytoene desaturase (PDS) and magnesium chelatase in barley, of PDS and Cloroplastos alterados1 in foxtail millet and wheat, and of an additional gene IspH in foxtail millet. Silencing of these genes resulted in photobleached or chlorosis phenotypes in barley, wheat, and foxtail millet. Furthermore, our FoMV-based gene silencing is the first VIGS system reported for foxtail millet, an important C4 model plant. It may provide an efficient toolbox for high-throughput functional genomics in economically important monocot crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Liu
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
| | - Ke Xie
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
| | - Qi Jia
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
| | - Jinping Zhao
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
| | - Tianyuan Chen
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
| | - Huangai Li
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
| | - Xiang Wei
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
| | - Xianmin Diao
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
| | - Yiguo Hong
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
| | - Yule Liu
- Center for Plant Biology and MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (N.L., K.X., Q.J., J.Z., T.C., X.W., H.L., Y.L.); Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China (X.D.); Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China (Y.H.); and Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China (J.Z.)
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21
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Mei Y, Zhang C, Kernodle BM, Hill JH, Whitham SA. A Foxtail mosaic virus Vector for Virus-Induced Gene Silencing in Maize. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 171:760-72. [PMID: 27208311 PMCID: PMC4902600 DOI: 10.1104/pp.16.00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Plant viruses have been widely used as vectors for foreign gene expression and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). A limited number of viruses have been developed into viral vectors for the purposes of gene expression or VIGS in monocotyledonous plants, and among these, the tripartite viruses Brome mosaic virus and Cucumber mosaic virus have been shown to induce VIGS in maize (Zea mays). We describe here a new DNA-based VIGS system derived from Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV), a monopartite virus that is able to establish systemic infection and silencing of endogenous maize genes homologous to gene fragments inserted into the FoMV genome. To demonstrate VIGS applications of this FoMV vector system, four genes, phytoene desaturase (functions in carotenoid biosynthesis), lesion mimic22 (encodes a key enzyme of the porphyrin pathway), iojap (functions in plastid development), and brown midrib3 (caffeic acid O-methyltransferase), were silenced and characterized in the sweet corn line Golden × Bantam. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the FoMV infectious clone establishes systemic infection in maize inbred lines, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and green foxtail (Setaria viridis), indicating the potential wide applications of this viral vector system for functional genomics studies in maize and other monocots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mei
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (Y.M., B.M.K., J.H.H., S.A.W.);Department of Agriculture, Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi 39096 (C.Z.); andDuPont Pioneer, Johnston, Iowa 50131 (B.M.K.)
| | - Chunquan Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (Y.M., B.M.K., J.H.H., S.A.W.);Department of Agriculture, Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi 39096 (C.Z.); andDuPont Pioneer, Johnston, Iowa 50131 (B.M.K.)
| | - Bliss M Kernodle
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (Y.M., B.M.K., J.H.H., S.A.W.);Department of Agriculture, Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi 39096 (C.Z.); andDuPont Pioneer, Johnston, Iowa 50131 (B.M.K.)
| | - John H Hill
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (Y.M., B.M.K., J.H.H., S.A.W.);Department of Agriculture, Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi 39096 (C.Z.); andDuPont Pioneer, Johnston, Iowa 50131 (B.M.K.)
| | - Steven A Whitham
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (Y.M., B.M.K., J.H.H., S.A.W.);Department of Agriculture, Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi 39096 (C.Z.); andDuPont Pioneer, Johnston, Iowa 50131 (B.M.K.)
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22
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Odokonyero D, Mendoza MR, Alvarado VY, Zhang J, Wang X, Scholthof HB. Transgenic down-regulation of ARGONAUTE2 expression in Nicotiana benthamiana interferes with several layers of antiviral defenses. Virology 2015; 486:209-18. [PMID: 26454664 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to analyze the contribution of Nicotiana benthamiana ARGONAUTE2 (NbAGO2) to its antiviral response against different viruses. For this purpose, dsRNA hairpin technology was used to reduce NbAGO2 expression in transgenic plants as verified with RT-PCR. This reduction was specific because the expression of other NbAGOs was not affected, and did not cause obvious developmental defects under normal growth conditions. Inoculation of transgenic plants with an otherwise silencing-sensitive GFP-expressing Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) variant resulted in high GFP accumulation because antiviral silencing was compromised. These transgenic plants also exhibited accelerated spread and/or enhanced susceptibility and symptoms for TBSV mutants defective for P19 or coat protein expression, other tombusviruses, Tobacco mosaic virus, and Potato virus X; but not noticeably for Foxtail mosaic virus. These findings support the notion that NbAGO2 in N. benthamiana can contribute to antiviral defense at different levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Odokonyero
- Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Maria R Mendoza
- Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Veria Y Alvarado
- Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jiantao Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Weslaco, TX, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Weslaco, TX, USA
| | - Herman B Scholthof
- Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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Peyret H, Lomonossoff GP. When plant virology met Agrobacterium: the rise of the deconstructed clones. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2015; 13:1121-35. [PMID: 26073158 PMCID: PMC4744784 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In the early days of molecular farming, Agrobacterium-mediated stable genetic transformation and the use of plant virus-based vectors were considered separate and competing technologies with complementary strengths and weaknesses. The demonstration that 'agroinfection' was the most efficient way of delivering virus-based vectors to their target plants blurred the distinction between the two technologies and permitted the development of 'deconstructed' vectors based on a number of plant viruses. The tobamoviruses, potexviruses, tobraviruses, geminiviruses and comoviruses have all been shown to be particularly well suited to the development of such vectors in dicotyledonous plants, while the development of equivalent vectors for use in monocotyledonous plants has lagged behind. Deconstructed viral vectors have proved extremely effective at the rapid, high-level production of a number of pharmaceutical proteins, some of which are currently undergoing clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadrien Peyret
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - George P Lomonossoff
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
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Zhou Y, Maharaj PD, Mallajosyula JK, McCormick AA, Kearney CM. In planta production of flock house virus transencapsidated RNA and its potential use as a vaccine. Mol Biotechnol 2015; 57:325-36. [PMID: 25432792 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-014-9826-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We have developed a transencapsidated vaccine delivery system based on the insect virus, Flock House virus (FHV). FHV is attractive due to its small genome size, simple organization, and nonpathogenic characteristics. With the insertion of a Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) origin of assembly (Oa), the independently replicating FHV RNA1 can be transencapsidated by TMV coat protein. In this study, we demonstrated that the Oa-adapted FHV RNA1 transencapsidation process can take place in planta, by using a bipartite plant expression vector system, where TMV coat protein is expressed by another plant virus vector, Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV). Dual infection in the same cell by both FHV and FoMV was observed. Though an apparent classical coat protein-mediated resistance repressed FHV expression, this was overcome by delaying inoculation of the TMV coat protein vector by 3 days after FHV vector inoculation. Expression of the transgene marker in animals by these in vivo-generated transencapsidated nanoparticles was confirmed by mouse vaccination, which also showed an improved vaccine response compared to similar in vitro-produced vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Zhou
- Biomedical Studies Program, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA,
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25
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Minato N, Komatsu K, Okano Y, Maejima K, Ozeki J, Senshu H, Takahashi S, Yamaji Y, Namba S. Efficient foreign gene expression in planta using a plantago asiatica mosaic virus-based vector achieved by the strong RNA-silencing suppressor activity of TGBp1. Arch Virol 2014; 159:885-96. [PMID: 24154949 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-013-1860-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Plant virus expression vectors provide a powerful tool for basic research as well as for practical applications. Here, we report the construction of an expression vector based on plantago asiatica mosaic virus (PlAMV), a member of the genus Potexvirus. Modification of a vector to enhance the expression of a foreign gene, combined with the use of the foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A peptide, allowed efficient expression of the foreign gene in two model plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. Comparison with the widely used potato virus X (PVX) vector demonstrated that the PlAMV vector retains an inserted foreign gene for a longer period than PVX. Moreover, our results showed that the GFP expression construct PlAMV-GFP exhibits stronger RNA silencing suppression activity than PVX-GFP, which is likely to contribute to the stability of the PlAMV vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nami Minato
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
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26
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Ramanna H, Ding XS, Nelson RS. Rationale for developing new virus vectors to analyze gene function in grasses through virus-induced gene silencing. Methods Mol Biol 2013; 975:15-32. [PMID: 23386292 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-278-0_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The exploding availability of genome and EST-based sequences from grasses requires a technology that allows rapid functional analysis of the multitude of genes that these resources provide. There are several techniques available to determine a gene's function. For gene knockdown studies, silencing through RNAi is a powerful tool. Gene silencing can be accomplished through stable transformation or transient expression of a fragment of a target gene sequence. Stable transformation in rice, maize, and a few other species, although routine, remains a relatively low-throughput process. Transformation in other grass species is difficult and labor-intensive. Therefore, transient gene silencing methods including Agrobacterium-mediated and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) have great potential for researchers studying gene function in grasses. VIGS in grasses already has been used to determine the function of genes during pathogen challenge and plant development. It also can be used in moderate-throughput reverse genetics screens to determine gene function. However, the number of viruses modified to serve as silencing vectors in grasses is limited, and the silencing phenotype induced by these vectors is not optimal: the phenotype being transient and with moderate penetration throughout the tissue. Here, we review the most recent information available for VIGS in grasses and summarize the strengths and weaknesses in current virus-grass host systems. We describe ways to improve current virus vectors and the potential of other grass-infecting viruses for VIGS studies. This work is necessary because VIGS for the foreseeable future remains a higher throughput and more rapid system to evaluate gene function than stable transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hema Ramanna
- Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Inc., Ardmore, OK, USA
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Larsen JS, Curtis WR. RNA viral vectors for improved Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of heterologous proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana cell suspensions and hairy roots. BMC Biotechnol 2012; 12:21. [PMID: 22559055 PMCID: PMC3403893 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-12-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2012] [Accepted: 05/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant cell suspensions and hairy root cultures represent scalable protein expression platforms. Low protein product titers have thus far limited the application of transient protein expression in these hosts. The objective of this work was to overcome this limitation by harnessing A. tumefaciens to deliver replicating and non-replicating RNA viral vectors in plant tissue co-cultures. RESULTS Replicating vectors derived from Potato virus X (PVX) and Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) were modified to contain the reporter gene β-glucuronidase (GUS) with a plant intron to prevent bacterial expression. In cell suspensions, a minimal PVX vector retaining only the viral RNA polymerase gene yielded 6.6-fold more GUS than an analogous full-length PVX vector. Transient co-expression of the minimal PVX vector with P19 of Tomato bushy stunt virus or HC-Pro of Tobacco etch virus to suppress post-transcriptional gene silencing increased GUS expression by 44 and 83%, respectively. A non-replicating vector containing a leader sequence from Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV-HT) modified for enhanced translation led to 70% higher transient GUS expression than a control treatment. In hairy roots, a TRV vector capable of systemic movement increased GUS accumulation by 150-fold relative to the analogous PVX vector. Histochemical staining for GUS in TRV-infected hairy roots revealed the capacity for achieving even higher productivity per unit biomass. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, replicating PVX vectors and a non-replicating CPMV-HT vector were successfully applied toward transient heterologous protein expression in cell suspensions. A replicating TRV vector achieved transient GUS expression levels in hairy roots more than an order of magnitude higher than the highest level previously reported with a viral vector delivered by A. tumefaciens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Larsen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
| | - Wayne R Curtis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
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28
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Seaberg BL, Hsieh YC, Scholthof KBG, Scholthof HB. Host impact on the stability of a plant virus gene vector as measured by a new fluorescent local lesion passaging assay. J Virol Methods 2011; 179:289-94. [PMID: 22119627 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2011.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2011] [Revised: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Viruses can be used as vectors for transient expression of proteins in plants but frequently foreign gene inserts are not maintained stably over time due to recombination events. In this study the hypothesis was that the choice of plant host affects the foreign gene retention level by a Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) vector expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). To accomplish this, a novel virus vector integrity bioassay was developed based on an old concept, whereby RNA transcripts of the TBSV-GFP vector were rub-inoculated onto leaves of test plants, and at 3 days post inoculation (dpi), these leaves were used as inoculum for passage to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), a local lesion host. Chlorotic lesions at points of virus infection were counted on cowpea at 4dpi and then the leaves were exposed to ultraviolet light to count green fluorescent foci. These tests with seven different plant species covering five families showed that the percentage of green fluorescent lesions varied on the cowpea indicator plants in a host-dependent manner. For instance, the vector was relatively unstable in Nicotiana benthamiana, tomato, bean, and spinach, but compared to those its stability in lettuce was significantly improved (~3-fold). This host-dependent effect suggests that some plants may present a more suitable environment than others to support or maintain optimum levels of virus vector-mediated foreign gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Seaberg
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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