Zhang Lihang, Li Pengfei, Wang Yanfei, Wang Shuangchao, Guo Lihua
State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
mBio. 2025 Jan 8;16(1):e0306624. doi: 10.1128/mbio.03066-24. Epub 2024 Nov 25.
The intricate interplay between mycoviruses and their fungal hosts frequently culminates in asymptomatic infections, but the virus-derived factors underlying these infections remain poorly understood. Our study introduces p18, a novel protein encoded by the DNA-C segment of the genomovirus FgGMTV1, which facilitates the transition from virus-induced hypovirulence to asymptomatic infection within upon its expression. We have confirmed the expression of p18 during FgGMTV1 infection and observed its presence in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Remarkably, strains with a p18 null mutation show a significant reduction in colony expansion, conidial production, and virulence, leading to a hypovirulent phenotype. Our results also indicate that p18 hinders the accumulation of FgGMTV1, thus determining asymptomatic infection and enabling vertical transmission through conidia. Furthermore, the p18 null mutant virus converts from virulent to hypovirulent strains on wheat leaves after horizontal transmission. This work not only expands our knowledge of the genomovirus proteome but also provides insights into the strategies of viral evolution and adaptation. Moreover, we propose an innovative approach for creating hypovirulent strains utilizing engineered mycoviruses for the biocontrol of plant pathogenic fungi.
Mycovirus-fungus interplay often leads to asymptomatic infections. Our study identifies p18, a novel protein from the genomovirus FgGMTV1, as a key determinant of asymptomatic infection in . A p18-null mutant exhibits a pronounced hypovirulent phenotype. By modulating viral accumulation, p18 promotes asymptomatic infection and facilitates vertical transmission via conidia. This insight deepens our understanding of mycovirus-fungus interactions and introduces a novel strategy for biocontrol using engineered mycoviruses.
真菌病毒与其真菌宿主之间复杂的相互作用常常导致无症状感染，但这些感染背后的病毒衍生因子仍知之甚少。我们的研究引入了p18，这是一种由基因组病毒FgGMTV1的DNA - C片段编码的新型蛋白质，其表达促进了从病毒诱导的低毒力向无症状感染的转变。我们已经证实了p18在FgGMTV1感染期间的表达，并观察到它在细胞核和细胞质中均有存在。值得注意的是，具有p18无效突变的菌株在菌落扩展、分生孢子产生和毒力方面显著降低，导致低毒力表型。我们的结果还表明，p18阻碍了FgGMTV1的积累，从而决定了无症状感染并使得通过分生孢子进行垂直传播成为可能。此外，p18无效突变病毒在水平传播后在小麦叶片上从有毒菌株转变为低毒菌株。这项工作不仅扩展了我们对基因组病毒蛋白质组的认识，还为病毒进化和适应策略提供了见解。此外，我们提出了一种利用工程化真菌病毒创建低毒力菌株以用于植物病原真菌生物防治的创新方法。
真菌病毒 - 真菌相互作用通常会导致无症状感染。我们的研究确定了p18，一种来自基因组病毒FgGMTV1的新型蛋白质，是无症状感染的关键决定因素。p18缺失突变体表现出明显的低毒力表型。通过调节病毒积累，p18促进无症状感染并通过分生孢子促进垂直传播。这一见解加深了我们对真菌病毒 - 真菌相互作用的理解，并引入了一种使用工程化真菌病毒进行生物防治的新策略。
