Isolation and characterization of a novel mycovirus from Penicillium digitatum

Virology. 2016 Jul:494:15-22. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.04.004. Epub 2016 Apr 7.

Abstract

A novel double-stranded RNA virus designated Penicillium digitatum virus 1 (PdV1) was isolated from the citrus fruit rot pathogen P. digitatum (HS-RH1). The full-length cDNA sequence of the dsRNA/PdV1 (5211bp) possesses two partially overlapping open reading frames, which encode a coat protein (CP) and a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on multiple alignments of the amino acid sequences of the RdRp and CP indicated that PdV1 tentatively belongs to the genus Victorivirus in the Totiviridae family. Electron micrographs of negatively stained viral particles purified from the peak fraction of sucrose density gradient centrifugation showed spherical particles ~35nm in diameter. Transfection experiments with purified virions indicated that PdV1 could reduce the vegetative growth and virulence of P. digitatum strain HS-F6. In summary, we report the first isolation and characterization of a mycovirus from P. digitatum that contributes to the hypovirulence phenotypes of the host strain.

Keywords: Hypovirulence; PdV1; Penicillium digitatum; Transfection; Victorivirus in Totiviridae; dsRNA mycovirus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Fungal Viruses / classification*
  • Fungal Viruses / genetics*
  • Fungal Viruses / isolation & purification
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Penicillium / virology*
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA, Viral
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Virion / ultrastructure

Substances

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA, Viral