Abstract
So far there is no record of a specific virus able to infect both fungal and plant hosts in nature. However, experimental evidence shows that some plant virus RdRPs are able to perform replication in trans of genomic or DI RNAs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Furthermore, tobacco mosaic virus was recently shown to replicate in a filamentous ascomycetous fungus. Thus, at least experimentally, some plant viruses can infect some fungi. Endophytic fungi have been reported from many plants and several of these fungi have been shown to contain viruses. Here we tested if mycoviruses derived from a marine plant endophyte can replicate in plant cells. For this purpose, we used partially purified viral particles from isolate MUT4330 of Penicillium aurantiogriseum var. viridicatum which harbors six virus species, some having dsRNA and some positive-strand ssRNA genomes. These were transfected into three distinct plant protoplast cell systems. Time-course analysis of absolute RNA accumulation provided for the first time evidence that viruses of two species belonging to the Partitiviridae and Totiviridae families, can replicate in plant cells without evidence of host adaptation, i.e, changes in their nucleotide sequence.
Highlights
There is no record of a specific virus able to infect both fungal and plant hosts in nature
Wider host ranges were experimentally obtained for Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1) and Rosellinia necatrix victorivirus 1 (RnVV1)[36, 37]
In a few cases evidence of wider natural host ranges were reported: Botrytis porri virus 1 (BpRV1), a bipartite dsRNA mycovirus, originally detected in Botrytis porri was found in B. squamosa and in S. sclerotiorum[38]
Summary
There is no record of a specific virus able to infect both fungal and plant hosts in nature. An example of how metagenomics is rapidly changing our perception of the viromes associated with higher organisms was recently shown for the invertebrate virosphere[4] This enriched taxonomic framework shows a number of clades (often at the family or genus taxonomic level) which have as hosts a mosaic of species belonging to different kingdoms[4]. Another example comes from work showing the ability of two replicase proteins, p33 and p92, of tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) to maintain and replicate virus-associated defective interfering (DI) RNAs17 This evidence has confirmed that at least these plant viral RdRPs can function in yeast cells. Another recent work reports evidence of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) replication in three species of fungi in the genus Colletotrichum[18]. These experiments were stimulated by the aim to use a genetically treatable host such as yeast for plant viruses[19]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
