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Testing the Physiological Barriers to Viral Transmission in Aphids Using Microinjection
Published on: May 14, 2008
Electron microscopy studies on luteovirid transmission by aphids
Véronique Brault1, Etienne Herrbach, Catherine Reinbold
1UMR Santé de la Vigne et Qualité du Vin, Virologie et Vection, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Université Louis Pasteur (ULP Strasbourg), 28 rue de Herrlisheim, 68021 Colmar, France. brault@colmar.inra.fr
Micron (Oxford, England : 1993)
|June 6, 2006
Summary
Transmission electron microscopy reveals how luteovirids, plant viruses, travel through aphids. The minor capsid protein is crucial for efficient virus uptake into aphid gut cells.
Area of Science:
- Plant Virology
- Insect-Mediated Transmission
- Microscopy Techniques
Background:
- Luteovirids are phloem-limited, icosahedral plant viruses transmitted circulative-epidemicly by aphids.
- Virus particles are acquired by aphids, circulate without replication, and are internalized in gut and salivary gland cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the transmission route of luteovirids within aphid vectors using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
- To identify viral and aphid proteins involved in luteovirid circulative transmission and gut cell internalization.
Main Methods:
- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to visualize virus particles within aphid tissues.
- Analysis of engineered luteovirid mutants with altered transmission efficiencies.
- Localization studies of aphid proteins with potential virus-binding capabilities.
Main Results:
- TEM observations detailed luteovirid internalization via clathrin-mediated endocytosis in aphid gut cells and transcytosis in accessory salivary gland cells.
- Engineered virus mutants identified viral proteins essential for aphid transmission and hemocoel retention.
- The minor capsid protein was found to be crucial for efficient gut internalization, interacting with putative aphid receptors.
Conclusions:
- The minor capsid protein plays a vital role in luteovirid transmission efficiency by facilitating gut cell entry.
- Aphid proteins may act as receptors or be part of the endocytotic machinery, aiding virus internalization.
