Biology subjects

West-Ortiz, M.

Publications and source records attributed to West-Ortiz, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Viral and bacterial plant pathogens suppress antiviral defense against flaviviruses in their insect vectors

A positive, single-stranded RNA virus member within the Flavivirus genus was identified and characterized infecting Myzus persicae. This new insect-specific virus (ISV), Myzus persicae flavivirus (MpFV), is 23,236 nucleotides in length and encodes a large polyprotein from a single open reading frame. Analysis of conserved domains showed that helicases, NS3-proteases, Fts-J methyltransferase, and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase are present in the coded polyprotein. Aphid-infecting ISVs have been reported to interact with plant viruses within the vector, modulating its titer and manipulating aphid behavior and morphology. Small RNA (sRNA) profile analysis of the M. persicae sRNA profile demonstrated that the circulative plant virus, potato leafroll virus (PLRV), modified the aphid antiviral immunity against MpFV. Abundant sRNA reads matching MpFV were detected when aphids were fed on healthy plants, sucrose diet, and potato virus Y-infected plants. In contrast, no MpFV reads were detected in aphids that had acquired PLRV from infected plants or artificial diet sachets containing purified virions. While the titer of M. persicae densovirus (MpDNV) was previously reported to be regulated by expression of the PLRV silencing suppressor protein P0, P0 had no effect on MpFV titer in the aphid. MpFV was transmitted 100% vertically to the offspring, and exhibited tissue tropisms for the body rather than the head. By artificial diet assays, other aphid species, including Aphis gossypii (cotton aphid), Schizaphis graminum (greenbug aphid), Rhopalosiphum padi (bird cherry-oat aphid), and R. maidis (corn leaf aphid), acquired the MpFV. These findings further support the idea that PLRV suppresses aphid immunity against ISVs, suggest the existence of at least two distinct pathways for PLRV-induced aphid immune system modulation. To test whether other circulative plant pathogens suppress insect anti-viral immunity against insect-specific flaviviruses, we quantified the small RNA response of Diaphorina citri, vector of "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" (CLas) associated with citrus greening disease and showed that CLas also suppresses D. citri anti-viral immunity against D. citri-like flavivirus (DcLFV). These data reveal an evolutionary conserved, unexpected role for diverse circulative plant pathogens in modulating anti-viral immunity in hemipteran vectors.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Data mining redefines the timeline and geographic spread of cotton leafroll dwarf virus

Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV), a threat to the cotton industry, was first reported in the United States (US) as an emergent pathogen in 2017. Phylogenetic analysis supports the hypothesis that US CLRDV strains are genetically distinct from strains in South America and elsewhere, which is not consistent with the hypothesis that the virus is newly introduced into the country. Therefore, using database mining, we evaluated the timeline and geographic distribution of CLRDV in the country. We uncovered evidence that shows that CLRDV had been in the US for over a decade before its official first report. CLRDV sequences were detected in datasets derived from Mississippi in 2006, Louisiana in 2015, and California in 2018. Additionally, through field surveys of upland cotton in 2023, we confirmed that CLRDV is present in California, which had no prior reports of the virus. Viral sequences from these old and new datasets exhibited high nucleotide identities (>98%) with recently characterized US isolates, and phylogenetic analyses with their homologs placed these sequences within a US-specific clade, further supporting the earlier presence of CLRDV in the country. Moreover, potential new hosts, including another fiber crop, flax, were determined through data mining. Retrospective analysis suggests CLRDV presence in the US since at least 2006 (Mississippi). These findings necessitate a reevaluation of spread patterns, inoculum sources, symptomology variations, and control strategies. Our findings challenge the current understanding of the arrival and spread of CLRDV in the US, highlight the power of data mining for virus discovery, and underscore the need for further investigation into CLRDVs impact on US cotton.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Characterization of cotton virus A, a novel and distinct member of the genus Caulimovirus with endogenous viral elements in Gossypium spp.

The complete genome sequence of cotton virus A, a new virus infecting cotton (Gossypium spp.), was determined using high-throughput sequencing, PCR and rolling circle amplification. The 7,482-nt genome is a circular dsDNA molecule that codes for six open reading frames similar to other members of the Caulimovirus genus (family Caulimoviridae) but presenting key genome organization differences. P3, P5 and P6 are presumed movement, coat, and reverse transcriptase proteins, respectively. P1, P2 and P4 showed no homology to virus proteins. Endogenous viral elements were found in G. hirsutum and G. tomentosum, but not in G. barbadense, G. arboreum, or G. herbaceum.

plant biology↗