Open AccessThe first phlebo‐like virus infecting plants: a case study on the adaptation of negative‐stranded RNA viruses to new hosts
Author(s) -
Navarro Beatriz,
Minutolo Maria,
De Stradis Angelo,
Palmisano Francesco,
Alioto Daniela,
Di Serio Francesco
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1111/mpp.12587
Subject(s) - biology , virology , virus , genome , rna , rna virus , viral evolution , mycovirus , phylogenetic tree , phylogenetics , genetics , virus classification , novel virus , gene , rna polymerase
Summary A novel negative‐stranded (ns) RNA virus associated with a severe citrus disease reported more than 80 years ago has been identified. Transmission electron microscopy showed that this novel virus, tentatively named citrus concave gum‐associated virus, is flexuous and non‐enveloped. Notwithstanding, its two genomic RNAs share structural features with members of the genus Phlebovirus , which are enveloped arthropod‐transmitted viruses infecting mammals, and with a group of still unclassified phlebo‐like viruses mainly infecting arthropods. CCGaV genomic RNAs code for an RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, a nucleocapsid protein and a putative movement protein showing structural and phylogenetic relationships with phlebo‐like viruses, phleboviruses and the unrelated ophioviruses, respectively, thus providing intriguing evidence of a modular genome evolution. Phylogenetic reconstructions identified an invertebrate‐restricted virus as the most likely ancestor of this virus, revealing that its adaptation to plants was independent from and possibly predated that of the other nsRNA plant viruses. These data are consistent with an evolutionary scenario in which trans‐kingdom adaptation occurred several times during the history of nsRNA viruses and followed different evolutionary pathways, in which genomic RNA segments were gained or lost. The need to create a new genus for this bipartite nsRNA virus and the impact of the rapid and specific detection methods developed here on citrus sanitation and certification are also discussed.