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Computational modelling of biochemical systems based on top-down and bottom-up approaches has been well studied over the last decade. In this research, after illustrating how to generate atomic components by a set of given reactants and two user pre-defined component patterns, we propose an integrative top-down and bottom-up modelling approach for stepwise qualitative exploration of interactions among reactants in biochemical systems. Evolution strategy is applied to the top-down modelling approach to compose models, and simulated annealing is employed in the bottom-up modelling approach to explore potential interactions based on models constructed from the top-down modelling process. Both the top-down and bottom-up approaches support stepwise modular addition or subtraction for the model evolution. Experimental results indicate that our modelling approach is feasible to learn the relationships among biochemical reactants qualitatively. In addition, hidden reactants of the target biochemical system can be obtained by generating complex reactants in corresponding composed models. Moreover, qualitatively learned models with inferred reactants and alternative topologies can be used for further web-lab experimental investigations by biologists of interest, which may result in a better understanding of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A simple and fast sap-direct RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) for the rapid detection of 3 viroids of the genus Coleviroid is presented. The templates for cDNA synthesis were obtained directly from the sap of coleus using a pipettor, a common tool in molecular biology laboratories, and 3 coleus blumei viroids (CbVds) were detected simultaneously using a pair of universal primers designed according to sequences in the central conserved region (CCR) of CbVds. RT-PCR results demonstrated that CbVd-1, CbVd-5, and CbVd-6 can be detected accurately in viroid-infected plants but not in viroid-free plants. The results of RT-PCR, dot-blot, sequencing, and batch-detection revealed that this method can be used to identify CbVds rapidly. The method also reduces cross-contamination among different samples to a minimum. It is considered that this rapid and simple technique is an effective method for the identification and cloning of CbVds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The protein(s) that support intercellular movement of Rice ragged stunt virus (RRSV) have not yet been identified. In this study, the role of three nonstructural proteins Pns6, Pns7 and Pns10 in cell-to-cell movement were determined with a movement-deficient Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) vector. The results showed that only the Pns6 could complement the cell-to-cell movement of the movement-deficient TMV in Nicotiana tabacum Xanthi nc and N. benthamiana plants, and both N- and C-terminal 50 amino acids of Pns6 were essential for the cell-to-cell movement. Transient expression in epidermal cells from N. benthamiana showed that the Pns6–eGFP fusion protein was present predominantly along the cell wall as well as a few punctate sites perhaps indicating plasmodesmata. Taken together with previous finding that the Pns6 has nucleic acid-binding activity (), the possible role of Pns6 in cell-to-cell movement of RRSV were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) is a significant fruit crop in the commercial sector, owing to its high nutritional and medicinal value. The advent of high-throughput genomics sequencing technology has led to the publication of a vast amount of passionfruit omics data, encompassing complete genome sequences and transcriptome data under diverse stress conditions. To facilitate the efficient integration, storage, and analysis of these large-scale datasets, and to enable researchers to effectively utilize these omics data, we developed the first passionfruit genome database (PGD). The PGD platform comprises a diverse range of functional modules, including a genome browser, search function, heatmap, gene expression patterns, various tools, sequence alignment, and batch download, thereby providing a user-friendly interface. Additionally, supplementary practical tools have been developed for the PGD, such as gene family analysis tools, gene ontology (GO) terms, a pathway enrichment analysis, and other data analysis and mining tools, which enhance the data's utilization value. By leveraging the database's robust scalability, the intention is to continue to collect and integrate passionfruit omics data in the PGD, providing comprehensive and in-depth support for passionfruit research. The PGD is freely accessible via http://passionfruit.com.cn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra) is an economically significant fruit tree native to eastern Asia and widely planted in south-central China. However, studies about the viruses infecting M. rubra remain largely lacking. In the present study, we employed the metatranscriptomic method to identify viruses in M. rubra leaves exhibiting yellowing and irregular margin symptoms collected in Fuzhou, a city located in China's Fujian province in the year 2022. As a consequence, a novel member of the genus Totivirus was identified and tentatively named "Myrica rubra associated totivirus 1" (MRaTV1). The genome sequencing of MRaTV1 was determined by overlapping reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The two deduced proteins encoded by MRaTV1 have the highest amino acid (aa) sequence identity to the coat protein (CP) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) of Panax notoginseng virus A (PNVA), a member of the genus Totivirus within the family Totiviridae, at 49.7% and 61.7%, respectively. According to the results of the phylogenetic tree and the species demarcation criteria of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) for the genus Totivirus, MRaTV1 is considered a new member of the genus Totivirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato chlorotic spot orthotospovirus (TCSV) is an emerging orthotospovirus that can cause severe disease on tomato plants. There are at least four orthotospoviruses infecting tomato, and mixed infection of two or more orthotospoviruses in a single tomato plant is quite common in the field. With similarity in the symptomatology and cross serological reactivity among tomato-infecting orthotospoviruses, especially between TCSV and groundnut ringspot orthotospovirus (GRSV), the current serological tests could not achieve definite and accurate species-specific determination in disease diagnosis. Here, a one-step reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed for TCSV. Under optimum conditions, the virus was detected in as little as 0.2 ng of total RNA or in 1:10,000 dilution of a simple diluted tissue extract, which was ten times more sensitive than a conventional RT-PCR assay. The RT-LAMP assay was highly specific for TCSV, with no cross reaction with the other two orthotospoviruses: GRSV and tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV). These results demonstrate that this simple and sensitive RT-LAMP could be used to achieve species-specific detection for TCSV under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice stripe virus (RSV) is one of the most important viral pathogens of rice in East Asia. The transcription of RSV is initiated by cap-snatching, a mechanism shared by influenza virus (IFV). This lends the possibility that antiviral compounds targeting the cap-snatching of IFV, many of which have been commercially available, may inhibit RSV transcription. A convenient and inexpensive system allowing researchers to test this idea, however, has been unavailable to date. Here, we show that purified RSV performs transcription in vitro and the transcription was readily detectable by nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). With this system, we tested the effects of 2,4-dioxo-4-phenylbutanoic acid (DPBA) and pimodivir, two well-known IFV cap-snatching inhibitors, as well as ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral compound whose targets remain elusive. In reaction mixtures containing 2.5 ng/µL of purified RSV, DPBA and pimodivir abolished RSV transcription at a concentration of 10 and 100 µM, respectively. In contrast, no inhibitory effect was detected from ribavirin, even at a concentration as high as 400 µM. These results suggest that at least some cap-snatching inhibitors of IFV are inhibitory to RSV transcription. These compounds, which can be identified with the experimental system described here, may serve as starting points in developing antivirals against RSV or related plant viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracellular potassium (K+) transported by plants under the action of a number of transport proteins is crucial for plant survival under distinct abiotic and biotic stresses. A correlation between K+ status and disease incidence has been found in many studies, but the roles of K+ in regulating disease resistance to viral diseases remain elusive. Here, we report that HIGH‐AFFINITY K+ TRANSPORTER 5 (OsHAK5) regulates the infection of rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV), a negative‐sense single‐stranded bunyavirus, in rice (Oryza sativa). We found the K+ content in rice plants was significantly inhibited on RGSV infection. Meanwhile, a dramatic induction of OsHAK5 transcripts was observed in RGSV‐infected rice plants and in rice plants with K+ deficiency. Genetic analysis indicated that disruption of OsHAK5 facilitated viral pathogenicity. In contrast, overexpression of OsHAK5 enhanced resistance to RGSV infection. Our analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including H2O2 and O2−, by DAB and NBT staining, respectively, indicated that RGSV infection as well as OsHAK5 overexpression increased ROS accumulation in rice leaves. The accumulation of ROS is perhaps involved in the induction of host resistance against RGSV infection in OsHAK5 transgenic overexpression rice plants. Furthermore, RGSV‐encoded P3 induced OsHAK5 promoter activity, suggesting that RGSV P3 is probably an elicitor for the induction of OsHAK5 transcripts during RGSV infection. These findings indicate the crucial role of OsHAK5 in host resistance to virus infection. Our results may be exploited in the future to increase crop yield as well as improve host resistance via genetic manipulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochemical networks are of great practical importance. The interaction of biological compounds in cells has been enforced to a proper understanding by the numerous bioinformatics projects, which contributed to a vast amount of biological information. The construction of biochemical systems (systems of chemical reactions), which include both topology and kinetic constants of the chemical reactions, is NP-hard and is a well-studied system biology problem. In this paper, we propose a hybrid architecture, which combines genetic programming and simulated annealing in order to generate and optimize both the topology (the network) and the reaction rates of a biochemical system. Simulations and analysis of an artificial model and three real models (two models and the noisy version of one of them) show promising results for the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bunyaviruses cleave host cellular mRNAs to acquire cap structures for their own mRNAs in a process called cap‐snatching. How bunyaviruses interact with cellular mRNA surveillance pathways such as nonsense‐mediated decay (NMD) during cap‐snatching remains poorly understood, especially in plants. Rice stripe virus (RSV) is a plant bunyavirus threatening rice production in East Asia. Here, with a newly developed system allowing us to present defined mRNAs to RSV in Nicotiana benthamiana, we found that the frequency of RSV to target nonsense mRNAs (nsRNAs) during cap‐snatching was much lower than its frequency to target normal mRNAs. The frequency of RSV to target nsRNAs was increased by virus‐induced gene silencing of UPF1 or SMG7, each encoding a protein component involved in early steps of NMD (in an rdr6 RNAi background). Coincidently, RSV accumulation was increased in the UPF1‐ or SMG7‐silenced plants. These data indicated that the frequency of RSV to target nsRNAs during cap‐snatching is restricted by NMD. By restricting the frequency of RSV to target nsRNAs, NMD may impose a constraint to the overall cap‐snatching efficiency of RSV. Besides a deeper understanding for the cap‐snatching of RSV, these findings point to a novel role of NMD in plant–bunyavirus interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two samples ( YC7, YC27) of Nicotiana tabacum showing leaf curling, vein swelling and enations on undersides of leaves were collected in the Fujian Province of China in 2007. Virus isolates YC7-1 and YC7-2 (associated with betasatellite, YC7-2β) were detected in both samples. The complete DNA- A sequence of YC7-1 ( FJ869907) comprised 2741 nucleotides (nt). The complete DNA- A ( FJ869908) and betasatellite ( FJ869909) sequence of YC7-2 consisted of 2754 and 1344 nt, respectively. YC7-1 had the highest nucleotide sequence identity (97.3%) with Papaya leaf curl Guangdong virus ( Pa LCu Gu V-[ CN:Gd2:02], AJ558122). YC7-2 had the highest sequence identity (90.1%) with Ageratum yellow vein virus ( AYVV- TW[ TW: Tai:99], AF307861) and its betasatellite (96.5%) with Ageratum yellow vein betasatellite ( AYVB-[ TW: CHu:02], AJ542495). These indicate that YC7-1 and YC7-2 are isolates of Pa LCu Gu V and AYVV, respectively. Symptoms including leaf curling, vein swelling and enations on undersides of leaves were observed in N. tabacum and N. glutinosa when infected by whiteflies with sample YC7 as the viral source under greenhouse conditions. PCR results showed that these infected plants contained both YC7-1 and YC7-2/ YC7-2β. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Pa LCu Gu V and AYVV/ AYVB co-infecting N. tabacum in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete nucleotide sequences of two isolates of apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (Z1 and Z3) collected from peach in Henan Province, China, were determined. The genomes of both Z1 and Z3 were found to contain three open reading frames (ORFs). Sequence analysis showed that genomic sequences of Z1 and Z3 isolates shared 67.4%-82.9% and 67.2%-82.6% identity, respectively, with the other eight isolates of ACLSV that have been reported previously. Based on the putative amino acid sequences of the products of the three ORFs, Z1 and Z3 isolates showed the greatest identity to isolate PBM1 (GenBank accession number AJ243438) from plum and the least identity with isolate Ta Tao5 (GenBank Accession Number: EU223295) from peach. Considering the low level of sequence identity between Z1/Z3 isolate and Ta Tao5 isolate, two types of ACLSV may exist in peach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) is a tobamovirus affecting solanaceous crops worldwide. The process of its emergence, however, is poorly understood. Here, Bayesian phylogenetic framework was employed to reconstruct the phylogeography of ToMV in Eurasia. The results showed that the ToMV in Europe, Middle East and East Asia has been evolving at a rate of 4.05 × 10−4 substitutions/site/year (95% credibility interval 2.43 × 10−4 – 5.62 × 10−4). Their most recent common ancestor (MRCA), most probably first appeared in Europe, was dated to around 1757 Common Era. The first introduction of ToMV into Middle East occurred in 1920s, with Europe as the source, while the first introduction of ToMV into East Asia occurred shortly afterwards, with Middle East as the source. From about 1950 onwards, inter-regional migrations of ToMV between Europe, Middle East and East Asia have been common. Overall, these data provide a glimpse into the phylogeographic history of ToMV in Eurasia. • Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) in Eurasia first appeared in around 1757 CE in Europe. • ToMV has evolving at a mean rate of 4.05 × 10−4 substitutions/site/year. • ToMV dispersal pattern in Eurasia corelates with the cultivation history of tomato in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating bacterial pathogen responsible for bacterial wilt in various crops. It employs the Type III Secretion System (T3SS) to deliver effectors known as R. solanacearum injected proteins (Rips) into host plant cells. These Rips play a critical role in the pathogenicity of the bacterium, yet their mechanisms of action remain incompletely understood. In this study, we screened 13 Rips from R. solanacearum strain FJ1003 and discovered that RipAW and RipAU possess the ability to suppress RNA silencing, an essential gene regulatory mechanism in plants. Moreover, we demonstrated heightened susceptibility to R. solanacearum and potato virus X in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana overexpressing RipAW. Silencing of Dicer-like 1 (DCL1) or RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 6 (RDR6) promoted the infection of R. solanacearum in N. benthamiana. Arabidopsis with defects in Argonaute 1 (AGO1) , DCL1 or RDR6 also showed increased susceptibility to R. solanacearum compared to wildtype Arabidopsis. These findings collectively suggest a scenario in which certain Rips interfere with host plant RNA silencing, and RNA silencing suppression may be one of the mechanisms employed by Rips to promote virulence. • Some Rips from R. solanacearum exhibit RNA silencing suppressor activities. • Disruptions in plant RNA silencing increase susceptibility to R. solanacearum. • RNA silencing suppression may be a mechanism by which Rips promote virulence of R. solanacearum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dithiocarbamates (DTCs) pesticides were extensively used as fungicides in a variety of crops during their growth, storage and shipment. The DTCs residue in foods will seriously harm human health. In this study, a novel multicolor colorimetric sensor was developed for visual screening of total DTCs (total of ziram, thiram and zineb) based on sulfhydryl-mediated growth of gold nanobipyramids (AuNBPs). We demonstrated that DTCs can absorb on AuNBPs seed's surface via the formation of Au–S bonds and thus impede the 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ)-promoted AuNBPs growth, which generates DTCs concentration-corresponding color changes. The developed sensor has vivid color changes, short analysis time, higher sensitivity and excellent specificity. It can be used to detect as low as 50 nM of total DTCs by bare eye observation and 17–18 nM of total DTCs by UV–visible spectrometry. By using the multicolor sensor, we have successfully screened total DTCs in apple and black tea by bare eye observation, and detected total DTCs in apple and black tea by UV–visible spectrometry with a recovery of 90%–104% and a relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 5) < 5%. The results obtained with our method consisted well with those obtained with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), verifying that our method had good accuracy and reliability. Especially, the visual detection limit of our method is much lower than the maximum residue limit of total DTCs in vegetable and fruits. All above features make our sensor a promising method for rapid on-site screening of total DTCs in vegetable and fruits by only bare eye observation. Image 1 • A multicolor sensor was developed for visual screening of total dithiocarbamates in foods. • We demonstrated the dithiocarbamates can impede the 8-hydroxyquinoline-promoted growth of AuNBPs. • The sensor has multiple color change, higher sensitivity and excellent specificity. • It can be used for on-site screening of total dithiocarbamates in fruits by bare eye observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Geminiviruses use host transcriptional mechanisms to synthesize their mRNAs. • Plant segmented NSVs snatch capped-leader sequences from co-infecting virus mRNAs. • Mapping of begomovirus transcripts, including monopartite begomovirus, is limited. • RACE results revealed that 11 of 12 cDNA clones corresponded to three TSSs. • Cap snatching-based cloning indicated three TSSs in 5912 of 7326 reads. Geminiviruses constitute a family of plant viruses with characteristic twinned quasi-icosahedral virions and a small circular DNA genome. Geminiviruses, especially begomoviruses, cause substantial economic losses in tropical and subtropical regions globally. Geminiviruses use the host's transcriptional mechanisms to synthesize their mRNAs. They are considered as an attractive model to understand the transcription mechanism of their host plants. Experiments were conducted to identify transcriptional start sites (TSSs) of the three begomoviruses, i.e., Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV), Corchorus yellow vein virus (CoYVV), and Ramie mosaic virus (RamV). We first rub-inoculated Rice stripe tenuivirus (RSV), a segmented negative-sense RNA virus that uses cap-snatching to produce capped viral mRNAs, into N. benthamiana. After the inoculation, RSV-infected N. benthamiana were super-infected by CoYVV, CLCuMuV, or RamV, respectively. The capped-RNA leaders snatched by RSV were obtained by determining the 5′-ends of RSV mRNA with high throughput sequencing. Afterwards, snatched capped-RNA leaders of RSV were mapped onto the genome of each begomovirus and those matching the begomoviral genome were considered to come from the 5′ ends of assumed begomoviral mRNAs. In this way, TSSs of begomoviruses were obtained. After mapping these TSSs onto the genome of the respective begomovirus, it was found very commonly that a begomovirus can use many different TSSs to transcribe the same gene, producing many different mRNA isoforms containing the corresponding open reading frames (ORFs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like their animal-infecting counterparts, plant bunyaviruses use capped RNA leaders cleaved from host cellular mRNAs to prime viral genome transcription in a process called cap-snatching, but in vivo systems to investigate the details of this process are lacking for them. Here, we report that Rice stripe tenuivirus (RSV) and Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) cleave capped RNA leaders from mRNAs transiently expressed by agroinfiltration, which makes it possible to artificially deliver defined cap donors to the two plant bunyaviruses with unprecedented convenience. With this system, some ideas regarding how plant bunyaviruses select and use capped RNA leaders can be tested easily. We were also able to obtain clear evidence that the capped RNA leaders selected by TSWV are generally longer than those by RSV. TSWV frequently uses the prime-and-realign mechanism in transcription primed by capped RNA leaders shorter than a certain length, like that has been demonstrated recently for RSV. • A system allowing cap donor delivery to plant bunyaviruses was developed. • TSWV cleaves longer capped RNA leaders than RSV from the same cap donors. • TSWV has a high tendency to undergo PAR in using short capped RNA leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cytorhabdovirus, tentatively named "strawberry-associated virus 1" (SaV1), was identified in strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.), and its complete genome sequence was determined. Its negative-sense single-stranded RNA genome is composed of 14,159 nucleotides and contains eight open reading frames (ORFs) in the canonical order 3′-N-P-P3-M-G-P6-P7-L-5. The ORFs are separated by conserved intergenic sequences, and the genome coding region is flanked by 3ʹ and 5ʹ untranslated regions of 179 and 856 nt, respectively. SaV1 N and L genes shares 32–57% and 38–64% amino acid sequence identity with those of nine reported cytorhabdoviruses, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SaV1 clustered with high confidence with representative cytorhabdoviruses and is most closely related to tomato yellow mottle-associated virus. There are two additional small genes of unknown function between the G and L genes. We propose that SaV1 should be considered a member of a novel species in the genus Cytorhabdovirus, family Rhabdoviridae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geminiviruses are a family of single-stranded DNA viruses that cause significant yield losses in crop production worldwide. Transcription start site (TSS) mapping is crucial in understanding the gene expression mechanisms of geminiviruses. However, this often requires costly and laborious experiments. Rice stripe virus (RSV) has a mechanism called cap-snatching, whereby it cleaves cellular mRNAs and uses the 5′ cleavage product, a capped-RNA leader (CRL), as primers for transcription. Our previous work demonstrated that RSV snatches CRLs from geminiviral mRNAs in co-infected plants, providing a convenient and powerful approach to map the TSSs of geminiviruses. However, co-infections are not always feasible for all geminiviruses. In this study, we evaluated the use of in vitro cap-snatching of RSV for the same purpose, using tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) as an example. We incubated RNA extracted from TYLCV-infected plants with purified RSV ribonucleoproteins in a reaction mixture that supports in vitro cap-snatching of RSV. The RSV mRNAs produced in the reaction were deep sequenced. The CRLs snatched by RSV allowed us to locate 28 TSSs in TYLCV. These results provide support for using RSV's in vitro cap-snatching to map geminiviral TSSs. • Transcription start site mapping of a geminivirus is possible with the in vitro cap-snatching of a tenuivirus. • Twenty-eight transcription start sites were identified from a geminivirus with the in vitro cap-snatching of a tenuivirus. • The transcription of geminiviruses may be more complex than previously believed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Noncoding RNAs play essential functions during epigenetic regulation of gene expression and development in numerous organisms. Three type of small noncoding RNAs found in eukaryotes, which are small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). Small RNAs (sRNAs) originated from infecting viruses are known as virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs), are responsible for RNA silencing in plants. However, Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is mainly dependent on RNA silencing (RNAi). Interestingly, RNA silencing happens in plants and insects during viral infections. VsiRNAs originate from dsRNA molecules which further require hosts Dicer-like (DCL) proteins, RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) proteins, and Argonaute (AGO) proteins. RdRP uses ssRNA for complete RNA amplification process as well as DCL dependent secondary vsiRNA formation. Viral Suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs) interfere with the movement of signals during silencing mechanism. Moreover, intercellular movement of viruses is facilitated by virus-encoded movement proteins. Proteomic and Transcriptomic mechanisms regulated by specific factors like microRNAs, which has become an essential factor of gene regulation. RNAi is also involved in gene suppression by regulating the transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression in many eukaryotes. Rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV) is a member of genus Tenuivirus. Although, there is no much work done on RGSV, but this virus has become very potent and destructive, and effects rice crop in many Asian countries, particularly in China. In this review, we have highlighted the rice viruses' biology and silencing suppressors. This work will be helpful for plant virologists in understanding the role of vsiRNAs mechanism in rice viruses especially RGSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three cycloviruses (genus Cyclovirus, family Circoviridae) were recovered from a dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera) captured in Fuzhou, China. The three cycloviruses, named dragonfly associated cyclovirus 9, 10 and 11 (DfCyV-9, -10, -11), respectively, show 56.1-79.6% genome-wide identity to known cycloviruses and 61.6-65.1% among themselves. Thus, according to the current species demarcation criteria, they represent three novel cycloviruses. Notably, DfCyV-10 has a predicted replication-associated protein (Rep) that is most similar to that of bat associated cyclovirus 2 (BatACyV-2), a cyclovirus discovered in China, with 79.4% amino acid sequence identity, but a putative capsid protein (Cp) most similar to that of BatACyV-10, a cyclovirus discovered in Brazil, with 71.7% amino acid sequence identity. These data are useful for understanding the diversity and evolution of cycloviruses, especially those found in insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult dragonflies (Anisoptera) were collected from different localities of South China covering eight provinces. Representative sequences were sixty-one, including 16 species, 11 genera and three families (Aeshnidae, Gomphidae and Libellulidae), under cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. After alignment of sequences by BioEdit v6, genetic interaction and divergence were computed by MEGA 7 whereas all the indices of genetic diversity were calculated by DnaSP v5 software. Phylogenetic trees were constructed through Neighbor-Joining method under Jukes-Cantor model, and all species of respective families were assembled with each other into individual groups. Maximum divergence was observed by Trithemis genus (18.69%), followed by Orthetrum genus (18.16%), whereas a minimum value of divergence was noted for Pantala genus (0.31%). On the other hand, maximum genetic diversity was recorded for Orthetrum genus up to 142 mutations, followed by Trithemis genus (126 mutations), while the minimum value (two mutations) was observed for Pantala genus. Genetic diversity for overall and Libellulidae family sequences was much higher, up to 404 mutations and 344 mutations, respectively. Current results suggest a high diversity of odonates in the South China region and results are valuable in gaining a total obligation of the diversity of Asian odonates and conservation measures of this insect group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a cryptic species complex distributed worldwide. In Pakistan, B. tabaci poses a serious threat to agriculture production. To understand its diversity in Pakistan, a large-scale sampling was conducted from various locations of all four provinces of the country and Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I ( mt COI) gene sequencing was used to determine the whiteflies genetically. The study revealed the presence of five different cryptic species in Pakistan namely Asia II-1, Asia II-5, Asia II-7, Asia II-8 and MEAM-1, respectively. Among them, Asia II-1, which was previously reported from a few areas in the country, had been found now to be prevalent all over the country covering 88.7% of all the sequenced samples. Based on the mt COI sequences and genetic distance analyses, the diversity of Asia II-1 was much greater than all other cryptic species, which exist only in small patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 300 dragonflies (Odonata) were collected from six different localities of China and Pakistan. Sixty seven representative samples were selected to sequence their mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). An examination of the resultant sequences identified 21 different dragonfly species, belonging to 15 distinct genera, two families, Libellulidae and Gomphidae. Sequence alignment was executed using Clustal-W in BioEdit v6. The phylogenetic tree was constructed through Neighbor-joining method by using Jukes-Cantor model, and genetic divergence was calculated via Kimura 2-parameter using MEGA7, while Genetic diversity was calculated by DnaSP v5. The maximum genetic divergence was observed for Crocothemis servilia , at 20.49%, followed by Libellulidae sp. with 22.30% while minimum divergence (0.82%) was observed for Melligomphus ardens . Likewise, a significant genetic diversity was observed for all species. However, Crocothemis servilia species presented maximum value (176 mutations) followed by Libellulidae spp. (150 mutations), whereas minimum value (3 mutations) was observed by Orthetrum testaceum . Interestingly, the diversity of C. servilia , all of which are collected from a single location of China, is much higher than those from Pakistan, which were collected from 5 different places with a spatial distance exceeding 500 Kms. Our results are useful in gaining a full appreciation of the global diversity of dragonflies and the development of conservation measures of this insect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Begomoviruses (Geminiviridea), transmitted by whiteflies, constitute one of the most dangerous groups of plant viruses posing a severe threat to economically important crops in tropical and sub-tropical areas. In this study, whiteflies were collected from various locations all over Pakistan. The begomoviruses carried by these whiteflies were detected by PCR with the degenerative primers pair AV94/Dep3. Analysis of the 177 sequences obtained in our study, revealed 14 distinct begomovirus species, including five which were not previously reported in this country. Putative novel strains of Corchorus yellow vein virus (CoYVV) and Chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) showing less than 90% identity with the previously available taxa were also identified. The greatest number of begomoviruses per single site was detected in Sindh province, where up to five different begomovirus species were identified from the same cropping field. Moreover, Cotton leaf curl Multan virus – Rajasthan (CLCuMuV-Ra) was found prevalent in all the cotton growing areas. The data reported here may be useful in the development of control measures against begomoviruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonstructural protein pc6 encoded by rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV) plays a significant role in viral cell-to-cell movement, presumably by transport through plasmodesmata (PD). We confirmed the association of pc6 with PD, and also elucidated the mechanisms of protein targeting to PD. Several inhibitor treatments showed conclusively that pc6 is targeted to PD via the ER-to-Golgi secretory system and actin filaments. In addition, VIII-1 myosin was also found to be involved in pc6 PD targeting. Deletion mutants demonstrated that C-terminal amino acid residues 209-229 (transmembrane domain 2; TM2) are essential for pc6 to move through PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Replication of positive-strand RNA viruses [(+)RNA viruses] takes place in membrane-bound viral replication complexes (VRCs). Formation of VRCs requires virus-mediated manipulation of cellular lipid synthesis. Here, we report significantly enhanced brome mosaic virus (BMV) replication and much improved cell growth in yeast cells lacking PAH1 (pah1Δ), the sole yeast ortholog of human LIPIN genes. PAH1 encodes Pah1p (phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase), which converts phosphatidate (PA) to diacylglycerol that is subsequently used for the synthesis of the storage lipid triacylglycerol. Inactivation of Pah1p leads to altered lipid composition, including high levels of PA, total phospholipids, ergosterol ester, and free fatty acids, as well as expansion of the nuclear membrane. In pah1Δ cells, BMV replication protein 1a and double-stranded RNA localized to the extended nuclear membrane, there was a significant increase in the number of VRCs formed, and BMV genomic replication increased by 2-fold compared to wild-type cells. In another yeast mutant that lacks both PAH1 and DGK1 (encodes diacylglycerol kinase converting diacylglycerol to PA), which has a normal nuclear membrane but maintains similar lipid compositional changes as in pah1Δ cells, BMV replicated as efficiently as in pah1Δ cells, suggesting that the altered lipid composition was responsible for the enhanced BMV replication. We further showed that increased levels of total phospholipids play an important role because the enhanced BMV replication required active synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the major membrane phospholipid. Moreover, overexpression of a phosphatidylcholine synthesis gene (CHO2) promoted BMV replication. Conversely, overexpression of PAH1 or plant PAH1 orthologs inhibited BMV replication in yeast or Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Competing with its host for limited resources, BMV inhibited host growth, which was markedly alleviated in pah1Δ cells. Our work suggests that Pah1p promotes storage lipid synthesis and thus represses phospholipid synthesis, which in turn restricts both viral replication and cell growth during viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton leaf curl Multan virus(CLCuMuV), in conjunction with cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMuB), causes cotton leaf curl disease in South Asia. CLCuMuV-CLCuMuB was first found in 2006 to be associated with a leaf curl disease ofHibiscus rosa-sinensisin China. Recently, CLCuMuV-CLCuMuB has become prevalent inH. rosa-sinensisin the southern part of the country. Here, we identified CLCuMuV-CLCuMuB inH. sabdariffafor the first time. To our knowledge,H. sabdariffais the fourth seed-propagated plant in China to be affected by CLCuMuV-CLCuMuB. Le virus de la frisolée du cotonnier de la région de Multan (CLCuMuV), en conjonction avec le betasatellite de la frisolée de la feuille du cotonnier (CLCuMuB), cause la frisolée de la feuille du cotonnier dans le sud de l’Asie. CLCuMuV-CLCuMuB a été détecté pour la première fois, en 2006, alors qu’il était associé à une frisolée d’Hibiscus rosa-sinensisen Chine. Récemment, CLCuMuV-CLCuMuB s’est répandu chezHibiscus rosa-sinensisdans le sud du pays. Ici, nous avons identifié CLCuMuV-CLCuMuB pour la première fois chezH. sabdariffa. À notre connaissance, il s’agit de la quatrième espèce de plante propagée par semence en Chine qui est touchée par CLCuMuV-CLCuMuB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bottle gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria) is an important vegetable crop as well as a rootstock for other cucurbit crops. In this study, we report a high-quality 313.4-Mb genome sequence of a bottle gourd inbred line, USVL1 VR-Ls, with a scaffold N50 of 8.7 Mb and the longest of 19.0 Mb. About 98.3% of the assembled scaffolds are anchored to the 11 pseudomolecules. Our comparative genomic analysis identifies chromosome-level syntenic relationships between bottle gourd and other cucurbits, as well as lineage-specific gene family expansions in bottle gourd. We reconstructed the genome of the most recent common ancestor of Cucurbitaceae, which revealed that the ancestral Cucurbitaceae karyotypes consisted of 12 protochromosomes with 18 534 protogenes. The 12 protochromosomes are largely retained in the modern melon genome, while have undergone different degrees of shuffling events in other investigated cucurbit genomes. The 11 bottle gourd chromosomes derive from the ancestral Cucurbitaceae karyotypes followed by 19 chromosomal fissions and 20 fusions. The bottle gourd genome sequence has facilitated the mapping of a dominant monogenic locus, Prs, conferring Papaya ring-spot virus ( PRSV) resistance in bottle gourd, to a 317.8-kb region on chromosome 1. We have developed a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence ( CAPS) marker tightly linked to the Prs locus and demonstrated its potential application in marker-assisted selection of PRSV resistance in bottle gourd. This study provides insights into the paleohistory of Cucurbitaceae genome evolution, and the high-quality genome sequence of bottle gourd provides a useful resource for plant comparative genomics studies and cucurbit improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) is a well-characterized virus and a model of virus-host interaction in plants. Here, we identified naturally occurring BaMV isolates from Fujian Province, China and furthermore describe a naturally occurring BaMV coinfection in bamboo ( Bambusa xiashanensis) plants. Two different types of BaMV were identified, represented by isolates BaMV-XSNZHA7 (X7) and BaMV-XSNZHA10 (X10). The phylogenetic relationships between X7- and X10-like isolates and published BaMV isolates were determined based on genomic RNA and amino acid sequences. Three clusters were identified, indicating that BaMV is highly diverse. The in planta viral replication kinetics were determined for X7 and X10 in single infections and in an X7/X10 coinfection. The peak viral load during coinfection was significantly greater than that during single infection with either virus and contained a slightly higher proportion of X10 virus than X7, suggesting that X10-like viruses may have a fitness advantage when compared to X7-like viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A putative chrysovirus recovered from Brassica campestris var. purpurea and provisionally named 'Brassica campestris chrysovirus 1' (BrcCV1) was sequenced. The genome of the putative BrcCV1 consists of three double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) comprising 3,639 (dsRNA 1), 3,567 (dsRNA 2) and 3,337 (dsRNA 3) base pairs, respectively, each containing a single open reading frame (ORF 1-3). The putative proteins encoded by ORF 1-3 show homologies to RdRp, CP and chryso-P3 of approved or tentative chrysoviruses. In addition, the three dsRNAs of BrcCV1 contain highly conserved 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) in a way similar to known chrysoviruses. In a phylogenetic tree based on the conserved amino acid sequences of the RdRps of chrysoviruses, totiviruses and partitiviruses, the putative BrcCV1 formed a separate clade with Raphanus sativus chrysovirus 1 (RasCV1), a putative trisegmented, plant-infecting chrysovirus, in the family Chrysoviridae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterised the virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNA) of bamboo mosaic virus (Ba-vsiRNAs) and its associated satellite RNA (satRNA)-derived siRNAs (satsiRNAs) in a bamboo plant ( Dendrocalamus latiflorus) by deep sequencing. Ba-vsiRNAs and satsiRNAs of 21-22 nt in length, with both (+) and (-) polarity, predominated. The 5′-terminal base of Ba-vsiRNA was biased towards A, whereas a bias towards C/U was observed in sense satsiRNAs, and towards A in antisense satsiRNAs. A large set of bamboo genes were identified as potential targets of Ba-vsiRNAs and satsiRNAs, revealing RNA silencing-based virus-host interactions in plants. Moreover, we isolated and characterised new isolates of bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV; 6,350 nt) and BaMV-associated satRNA (satBaMV; 834 nt), designated BaMV-MAZSL1 and satBaMV-MAZSL1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bean pod mottle virus ( BPMV) has been identified as an important pathogen for plant quarantine in China because large quantities of soya bean seeds (approximately 7 × 107 tons) are imported annually. To develop a practical detection programme for BPMV, a cocktail enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) nested RT- PCR using a combination of serological and molecular methods was designed for soya bean seeds. The single-vessel detection assay was performed in a 96-well ELISA plate, which served as a carrier for the subsequent nested RT- PCR assay. Assay specificity was demonstrated by the production of the expected 330- and 296-bp bands using the external and internal primers, respectively. This method was 104-fold more sensitive than immunocapture- RT- PCR ( IC- RT- PCR). In particular, it is important to note that this assay resulted in successful micro-extraction from soya bean seeds and combined the advantages of each individual technique. The cocktail ELISA nested RT- PCR is a specific, sensitive, rapid and economical procedure to rapidly identify and characterize BPMV and could be suitable for both primary-level platforms and laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal modulators of plant development and host–virus interactions. However, the roles and action modes of specific miRNAs involved in viral infection and host susceptibility remain largely unclear. In this study, we show that Rice ragged stunt virus (RRSV) infection caused increased accumulation of miR319 but decreased expression of miR319-regulated TCP ( TEOSINTE BRANCHED / CYCLOIDEA / PCF ) genes, especially TCP21 , in rice plants. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing miR319 or downregulating TCP21 exhibited disease-like phenotypes and showed significantly higher susceptibility to RRSV in comparison with the wild-type plants. In contrast, only mild disease symptoms were observed in RRSV-infected lines overexpressing TCP21 and especially in the transgenic plants overexpressing miR319-resistant TCP21 . Both RRSV infection and overexpression of miR319 caused the decreased endogenous jasmonic acid (JA) levels along with downregulated expression of JA biosynthesis and signaling-related genes in rice. However, treatment of rice plants with methyl jasmonate alleviated disease symptoms caused by RRSV and reduced virus accumulation. Taken together, our results suggest that the induction of miR319 by RRSV infection in rice suppresses JA-mediated defense to facilitate virus infection and symptom development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two tenuiviruses Rice stripe virus (RSV) and Rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV) were found to co-infect rice with the same reovirus Rice ragged stunt virus (RRSV). During the co-infection, both tenuiviruses recruited 10–21 nucleotides sized capped-RNA leaders from the RRSV. A total of 245 and 102 RRSV-RGSV and RRSV-RSV chimeric mRNA clones, respectively, were sequenced. An analysis of the sequences suggested a scenario consistent with previously reported data on related viruses, in which capped leader RNAs having a 3′ end complementary to the viral template are preferred and upon base pairing the leaders prime processive transcription directly or after one to several cycles of priming and realignment (repetitive prime-and-realign). Interestingly, RSV appeared to have a higher tendency to use repetitive prime-and-realign than RGSV even with the same leader derived from the same RRSV RNA. Combining with relevant data reported previously, this points towards an intrinsic feature of RSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) HBJZ1506 recovered from the phytopathogenic fungus Erysiphe cichoracearum infecting Calendula officinalis in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China, was sequenced. HBJZ1506 comprises 11,908 nucleotides (nt) and contains a 11,859-nt-long open reading frame (ORF) coding for a polypeptide that is 61 % identical to that of a putative endornavirus named grapevine endophyte endornavirus (GeEV). The putative polyprotein has an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain and an RNA helicase domain, which show homology to and have an arrangement that is similar to that of their counterparts in approved or putative endornaviruses. In a phylogenetic tree constructed using amino acid sequences of the RdRp region of HBJZ1506 and selected endornaviruses, HBJZ1506 clustered with endornaviruses and formed a well-supported monophyletic branch with GeEV. These results suggest that HBJZ1506 might represent a novel endornavirus, for which the name Erysiphe cichoracearum endornavirus (EcEV) is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome of a potyvirus (isolate JaVT_FZ) recovered from jasmine ( Jasminum sambac L.) showing yellow ringspot symptoms in Fuzhou, China, was sequenced. JaVT_FZ is closely related to seven other potyviruses with completely sequenced genomes, with which it shares 66-70 % nucleotide and 52-56 % amino acid sequence identity. However, the coat protein (CP) gene shares 82-92 % nucleotide and 90-97 % amino acid sequence identity with those of two partially sequenced potyviruses, named jasmine potyvirus T (JaVT-jasmine) and jasmine yellow mosaic potyvirus (JaYMV-India), respectively. This suggests that JaVT_FZ, JaVT-jasmine and JaYMV-India should be regarded as members of a single potyvirus species, for which the name ' Jasmine virus T' has priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viral-induced banana bunchy top disease and the fungal-induced banana blight are two major causes of concern for industrial scale production of bananas. Banana blight is particularly troublesome, affecting ∼80% of crops worldwide. Strict guidelines and protocols are in place in order to ameliorate the effects of this devastating disease, yet little success has been achieved. From the data presented here, we have found that B anana bunchy top virus ( BBTV)-infected bananas are more resistant to F usarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense ( F oc). BBTV appears to be antagonistic towards Foc, thus improving the survivability of plants against blight. The BBTV suppressor of RNA silencing, namely protein B4, displays fungicidal properties in vitro. Furthermore, transgenic tomatoes expressing green fluorescent protein ( GFP)-tagged protein B4 demonstrate enhanced resistance to F . oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici ( F ol). Differential gene expression analysis indicates that increased numbers of photogenesis-related gene transcripts are present in dark-green leaves of B4- GFP-modified tomato plants relative to those found in WT plants. Conversely, the transcript abundance of immunity-related genes is substantially lower in transgenic tomatoes compared with WT plants, suggesting that plant defences may be influenced by protein B4. This viral-fungal interaction provides new insights into microbial community dynamics within a single host and has potential commercial value for the breeding of transgenic resistance to F usarium-related blight /wilt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete genome sequences of three isolates of bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) from mainland China were determined and compared to those of BaMV isolates from Taiwan. Sequence analysis showed that isolate BaMV-JXYBZ1 from Fuzhou shares 98 % nucleotide sequence identity with BaMV-YTHSL14 from nucleotides 2586 to 6306, and more than 94 % nucleotide sequence identity with BaMV-MUZHUBZ2 in other regions. Recombination and phylogenetic analyses indicate that BaMV-JXYBZ1 is a recombinant with one recombination breakpoint. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a BaMV recombinant worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, sensitive, selective and high-resolution colorimetric method has been developed for the detection of p-aminophenol in environmental water and human urine samples. In the presence of p-aminophenol, silver ions are reduced to silver atoms and subsequently Ag nanoshells anisotropically grow on the surface of Au nanorods to generate orange slice-like Au@Ag core–shell nanocrystals, thereby resulting in the blue-shift of longitudinal surface plasmon resonance band of Au nanorods accompanying a sharp-contrast multicolor change. Using Au@Ag core–shell nanocrystals as the transducer, sub-micromolar p-aminophenol can be detected by the colorimetric method and 10 μmol L −1 p-aminophenol can be visual readout by the naked eyes. Furthermore, a simple, cheap, portable test kit is constructed for the visual assay of urinary p-aminophenol without complicated sample pretreatment and sophisticated instruments. The proposed colorimetric method has the potential for the rapid and on-site analyses of p-aminophenol in environmental water and human urine samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleolar proteins play important roles in plant cytology, growth, and development. Fibrillarin2 is a nucleolar protein of Nicotiana benthamiana (N. benthamiana). Its cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR and inserted into expression vector pEarley101 labeled with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). The fusion protein was localized in the nucleolus and Cajal body of leaf epidermal cells of N. benthamiana. The N. benthamiana fibrillarin2 (NbFib2) protein has three functional domains (i.e., glycine and arginine rich domain, RNA-binding domain, and α-helical domain) and a nuclear localization signal (NLS) in C-terminal. The protein 3D structure analysis predicted that NbFib2 is an α/β protein. In addition, the virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) approach was used to determine the function of NbFib2. Our results showed that symptoms including growth retardation, organ deformation, chlorosis, and necrosis appeared in NbFib2-silenced N. benthamiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice stripe virus ( RSV) is the type species of the genus Tenuivirus and represents a major viral pathogen affecting rice production in East Asia. In this study, RSV p2 was fused to yellow fluorescent protein (p2- YFP) and expressed in epidermal cells of Nicotiana benthamiana. p2- YFP fluorescence was found to move to the nucleolus initially, but to leave the nucleolus for the cytoplasm forming numerous distinct bright spots there at later time points. A bimolecular fluorescence complementation ( BiFC) assay showed that p2 interacted with fibrillarin and that the interaction occurred in the nucleus. Both the nucleolar localization and cytoplasmic distribution of p2- YFP fluorescence were affected in fibrillarin-silenced N. benthamiana. Fibrillarin depletion abolished the systemic movement of RSV, but not that of Tobacco mosaic virus ( TMV) and Potato virus X ( PVX). A Tobacco rattle virus ( TRV)-based virus-induced gene silencing ( VIGS) method was used to diminish RSV NS2 (encoding p2) or NS3 (encoding p3) during RSV infection. Silencing of NS3 alleviated symptom severity and reduced RSV accumulation, but had no obvious effects on virus movement and the timing of symptom development. However, silencing of NS2 abolished the systemic movement of RSV. The possibility that RSV p2 may recruit or manipulate nucleolar functions to promote virus systemic infection is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D graphene macroscopic gel synthesized via self-assembly of GO nanosheets under basic conditions at low temperature is modified with polydopamine and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The modification of polydopamine can not only strengthen the 3D graphene-based macroscopic architecture but also enhance the loadage and binding ability of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The synthesized 3D Fe 3 O 4 -graphene macroscopic composites are characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS, BET, Raman and magnetic property and used as a versatile adsorbent for sub-ppm concentration of As(III) and As(V) removal from aqueous solutions. The experimental results suggest that the synthesized 3D Fe 3 O 4 -graphene macroscopic composites are promising for treating low concentration of arsenic contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemocyanins present in invertebrate hemolymph are multifunctional proteins, responsible for oxygen transport and contributing to innate immunity through phenoloxidase-like activity. In arthropods, hemocyanin has been identified as a source of broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides during infection. Conversely, no hemocyanin-derived antimicrobial peptides have been reported for molluscs. The present study describes a putative antimicrobial region, termed haliotisin, located within the linking sequence between the α-helical domain and β-sheet domain of abalone ( Haliotis tuberculata ) hemocyanin functional unit E. A series of synthetic peptides based on overlapping fragments of the haliotisin region were tested for their bactericidal potential. Incubating Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in the presence of certain haliotisin peptides, notably peptides 3-4-5 (DTFDYKKFGYRYDSLELEGRSISRIDELIQQRQEKDRTFAGFLLKGFGTSAS) led to reductions in microbial growth. Furthermore, transmission electron micrographs of haliotisin-treated bacteria revealed damages to the microbial cell wall. Data discussed here provides the first evidence to suggest that molluscan hemocyanin may act as a source of anti-infective peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] An ultra-sensitive method for detecting lysozyme based on CE–ICP–MS was described. [•] The proposed method has an extremely low detection limit of 3.89 attomole. [•] It can be used to detect trace lysozyme in saliva sample with a satisfied recovery. [•] The method provides a new potential for sensitive detection of low-abundant proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Four viroid species infecting Coleus blumei (CbVd-1, 3, 5, and 6) were studied. [•] Bioassays using infectious viroid cDNA clones were conducted for all four species. [•] Infectivity assay for CbVd-5 and CbVd-6 was reported for the first time. [•] Genetic diversity of CbVd populations may depend on the infected coleus plants and the viroid genotype. [•] CbVd-5 and CBVd-6 were confirmed to be transmitted via seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Expression of GsLRPK gene is regulated by multiple abiotic stresses. [•] GsLRPK protein is localized to plasma membrane of plant cells. [•] Kinase activity of GsLRPK is activated specifically by cold stress. [•] Expression of GsLRPK in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells improves the tolerance to cold stress. [•] Expression of GsLRPK in Arabidopsis enhances the tolerance to chilling and freezing stress. [•] GsLRPK is involved in cold signaling by regulating the expression of CBFs and their target genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A simple, low-cost hybridization assay using a universal DIG-labeled riboprobe for the rapid detection and identification of coleus viroids is presented. An octamer of 32-nucleotide sequence derived from the central conserved region (CCR) of viroids in the genus Coleviroid was used to develop a universal cRNA probe (8-central-conserved-region probe, 8CCR probe) for coleus viroids. Dot-blot hybridization assays demonstrated that the sensitivity of this probe was similar to specific probes for each CbVd, and Northern hybridization results revealed that at least four coleus viroids could be distinguished readily and simultaneously using the 8CCR probe. Batch detection assay showed that hybridization using the 8CCR probe can identify coleus viroids rapidly and effectively. This rapid and low-cost molecular hybridization technique is an effective way to survey the occurrence of coleus viroids, and has reference for the detection of other viroids and possibly viruses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To date, several viroid species have been shown to infect grapevine, including Hop stunt viroid (HpSVd), Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Australian grapevine viroid (AGVd), Grapevine yellow speckle viroid-1 (GYSVd-1), Grapevine yellow speckle viroid-2 (GYSVd-2) and a tentative new species, Grapevine yellow speckle viroid-3 (GYSVd-3). Here, we identified and analyzed the distribution, genetic diversity, and molecular properties of viroids infecting grapevine cultivated in China and Japan, including old grapevines. The analysis showed that all the five known viroids and a tentative species GYSVd-3 infecting grapevine exist in China, and three of them (HpSVd, GYSVd-1 and GYSVd-3) exist in Japan. The contrast in diversity of viroid species in old grapevines from China and Japan may reflect different history of viticulture between the two countries. In general, the species of viroids infecting grapevine in China, as well as those in Iran and Australia, were more diverse than in the other countries. The population structure of viroids infecting grapevine in China and Japan showed species-dependency; i.e., HpSVd shared similar population structures in both countries, but GYSVd-1, GYSVd-2, and AGVd showed regional disparity even within the same country, although the role of sequence diversity in the biology of viroids infecting grapevine, such as the pathogenicity and evolution, still needs further study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV), an insect- and plant-infecting reovirus of the genus Fijivirus, induced the formation of virus-containing tubules in infected plant and insect vector cells. Expression of the nonstructural protein P7-1 of SRBSDV in insect cells by a recombinant baculovirus resulted in the formation of tubules with dimensions and appearance similar to those found in SRBSDV-infected cells. These tubules protruded from the cell surface, supporting the hypothesis that the P7-1 protein contains two putative transmembrane domains that are necessary for the formation of tubules. Furthermore, the self-interaction of SRBSDV P7-1 protein indicates that this protein has the capacity to form homodimers or oligomers to assemble the proposed helical symmetry structure of tubules. Taken together, our results indicate that SRBSDV P7-1 has the intrinsic ability of self-interaction to form tubules growing from the cell surface in the absence of other viral proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]