Mixed Infection of Blackcurrant with a Novel Cytorhabdovirus and Black Currant-Associated Nucleorhabdovirus

Viruses. 2022 Nov 6;14(11):2456. doi: 10.3390/v14112456.

Abstract

A virome screen was performed on a new breeding line, KB1, of blackcurrant. Rhabdovirus-like particles were observed by electron microscopy in ultrathin sections of flower stalks, and the complete genome sequence of a novel virus, provisionally named blackcurrant rhabdovirus 2 (BCRV2), was determined and verified using high-throughput sequencing. The genomic organization of BCRV2 was characteristic of cytorhabdoviruses (family Rhabdoviridae) and included seven genes: 3 ́- N-P´-P-P3-M-G-L -5 ́. BLASTP analysis revealed that the putative L protein had the highest amino acid sequence identity (75 %) with strawberry virus 2. BCRV2 was detected in Cryptomyzusgaleopsidis, but efficient transmission by this aphid was not confirmed. Of note, we observed coinfection of the KB1 line with blackcurrant-associated rhabdovirus (BCaRV) by RT-PCR. This is likely the first evidence of the presence of a cyto- and a nucleorhabdovirus in a single host.

Keywords: Ribes nigrum; aphid transmission; blackcurrant rhabdovirus 2; blackcurrant-associated rhabdovirus; electron microscopy; high throughput sequencing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coinfection* / genetics
  • Genome, Viral
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Breeding
  • Plant Diseases
  • Rhabdoviridae* / genetics
  • Ribes*

Grants and funding

The research was supported by the research project “Virology and Antiviral Strategy” within the program ‘Strategie AV 21’ of the Czech Academy of Sciences and institutional support RVO60077344. Access to computing and storage facilities owned by parties and projects contributing to the National Grid Infrastructure MetaCentrum provided under the program “Projects of Large Research, Development, and Innovations Infrastructures” (CESNET LM2015042), is greatly appreciated. Electron microscopy images were obtained at the core facility Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, institution Biology Centre CAS supported by the MEYS CR (LM2015062 Czech-BioImaging) and ERDF (No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_013/0001775).