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Small interfering RNA pathway modulates persistent infection of a plant virus in its insect vector.

ABSTRACT: Plant reoviruses, rhabdoviruses, tospoviruses, and tenuiviruses are transmitted by insect vectors in a persistent-propagative manner. How such persistent infection of plant viruses in insect vectors is established and maintained remains poorly understood. In this study, we used rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV), a plant reovirus, and its main vector leafhopper Recilia dorsalis as a virus-insect system to determine how the small interference (siRNA) pathway modulates persistent infection of a plant virus in its insect vector. We showed that a conserved siRNA antiviral response was triggered by the persistent replication of RGDV in cultured leafhopper cells and in intact insects, by appearance of virus-specific siRNAs, primarily 21-nt long, and the increased expression of siRNA pathway core components Dicer-2 and Argonaute-2. Silencing of Dicer-2 using RNA interference strongly suppressed production of virus-specific siRNAs, promoted viral accumulation, and caused cytopathological changes in vitro and in vivo. When the viral accumulation level rose above a certain threshold of viral genome copy (1.32?×?10(14)?copies/?g insect RNA), the infection of the leafhopper by RGDV was lethal rather than persistent. Taken together, our results revealed a new finding that the siRNA pathway in insect vector can modulate persistent infection of plant viruses.

SUBMITTER: Lan H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4750021 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Small interfering RNA pathway modulates persistent infection of a plant virus in its insect vector.

Lan Hanhong H Wang Haitao H Chen Qian Q Chen Hongyan H Jia Dongsheng D Mao Qianzhuo Q Wei Taiyun T

Scientific reports 20160211

Plant reoviruses, rhabdoviruses, tospoviruses, and tenuiviruses are transmitted by insect vectors in a persistent-propagative manner. How such persistent infection of plant viruses in insect vectors is established and maintained remains poorly understood. In this study, we used rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV), a plant reovirus, and its main vector leafhopper Recilia dorsalis as a virus-insect system to determine how the small interference (siRNA) pathway modulates persistent infection of a plant vi ...[more]

PMID: 26864546

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Project description:Numerous viruses are transmitted in a persistent manner by insect vectors. Persistent viruses establish their initial infection in the midgut epithelium, from where they disseminate to the midgut visceral muscles. Although propagation of viruses in insect vectors can be controlled by the small interfering RNA (siRNA) antiviral pathway, whether the siRNA pathway can control viral dissemination from the midgut epithelium is unknown. Infection by a rice virus (Southern rice black streaked dwarf virus [SRBSDV]) of its incompetent vector (the small brown planthopper [SBPH]) is restricted to the midgut epithelium. Here, we show that the siRNA pathway is triggered by SRBSDV infection in continuously cultured cells derived from the SBPH and in the midgut of the intact insect. Knockdown of the expression of the core component Dicer-2 of the siRNA pathway by RNA interference strongly increased the ability of SRBSDV to propagate in continuously cultured SBPH cells and in the midgut epithelium, allowing viral titers in the midgut epithelium to reach the threshold (1.99 × 10(9) copies of the SRBSDV P10 gene/?g of midgut RNA) needed for viral dissemination into the SBPH midgut muscles. Our results thus represent the first elucidation of the threshold for viral dissemination from the insect midgut epithelium. Silencing of Dicer-2 further facilitated the transmission of SRBSDV into rice plants by SBPHs. Taken together, our results reveal the new finding that the siRNA pathway can control the initial infection of the insect midgut epithelium by a virus, which finally affects the competence of the virus's vector.Many viral pathogens that cause significant global health and agricultural problems are transmitted via insect vectors. The first bottleneck in viral infection, the midgut epithelium, is a principal determinant of the ability of an insect species to transmit a virus. Southern rice black streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) is restricted exclusively to the midgut epithelium of an incompetent vector, the small brown planthopper (SBPH). Here, we show that silencing of the core component Dicer-2 of the small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway increases viral titers in the midgut epithelium past the threshold (1.99 × 10(9) copies of the SRBSDV P10 gene/?g of midgut RNA) for viral dissemination into the midgut muscles and then into the salivary glands, allowing the SBPH to become a competent vector of SRBSDV. This result is the first evidence that the siRNA antiviral pathway has a direct role in the control of viral dissemination from the midgut epithelium and that it affects the competence of the virus's vector.

Project description:In Drosophila, the siRNA pathway is initiated when exogenous or endogenous double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is processed into siRNAs by Dicer-2 (Dcr-2) and a dsRNA-binding protein (dsRBP) cofactor called Loquacious (Loqs). The siRNAs are then loaded onto Argonaute-2 (Ago2) protein by the action of Dcr-2 with another dsRBP cofactor called R2D2. Loaded Ago2 executes the destruction of target RNAs that have sequence complementarity to the siRNA. Dcr-2, R2D2, and Ago2 have also been shown to be required for innate antiviral defense in Drosophila. However, the biogenesis of virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) and their targets in virus-infected cells remain unclear. Here, we analyzed the antiviral response in Drosophila by monitoring the replication of different RNA viruses and deep sequencing of small RNAs in infected animals. We show that vsiRNAs are generated by Dcr-2 processing of dsRNA formed during viral genome replication and transcription. These vsiRNAs then directly target viral transcripts but not genomes, to inhibit viral replication. The biogenesis of vsiRNAs was virtually independent of Loqs and R2D2. R2D2, however, was essential for sorting and loading of vsiRNAs onto Ago2 and effective silencing of viral RNA expression. Loqs was completely dispensable for silencing of viruses in contrast to its role in silencing of endogenous targets. Our results suggest the existence of a specific siRNA pathway triggered by viral infection independent of conserved dsRBP cofactors and separate from the endogenous pathway. Inhibition of virus replication resulting from direct injection of viral RNA into Drosophila embryos was also not dependent on Loqs, suggesting the distinction of the two pathways is not related to the mode of entry but recognition of intrinsic features of viral RNA or its mode of replication. We speculate that this unique framework might be necessary for a prompt and efficient antiviral response We analyzed the small RNA reponse to viral infection by deep sequencing of small RNA libraries from wild type and RNAi mutant adult flies infected with Sindbis birus and Vesicular Stomatatis virus.

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Small interfering RNA pathway modulates persistent infection of a plant virus in its insect vector.

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Small interfering RNA pathway modulates persistent infection of a plant virus in its insect vector.

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