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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Screening and Identification of RNA Silencing Suppressors from Secreted Effectors of Plant Pathogens
Published on: February 3, 2020
Interplay between viroid-induced pathogenesis and RNA silencing pathways.
Gustavo Gómez1, Germán Martínez, Vicente Pallás
1Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Edificio 8 E, Av. de los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
Viroids, simple RNA plant pathogens, subvert host cells using RNA silencing. This study proposes a model linking trans-acting small interfering RNA (ta-siRNA) biogenesis to viroid replication and disease development.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Molecular biology
- RNA biology
Background:
- Viroids are the simplest known plant pathogens, consisting of naked RNA without protein-encoding genes.
- Despite their simplicity, viroids can infect hosts and induce disease symptoms.
- The mechanism of viroid-induced pathogenesis has been a long-standing research question.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the role of RNA silencing in viroid pathogenesis and evolution.
- To propose a model explaining the interaction between viroid infection and host RNA silencing pathways.
Main Methods:
- Chronological analysis of existing research findings.
- Literature review focusing on RNA silencing and viroid interactions.
- Development of a theoretical model.
Main Results:
- Emerging evidence highlights a crucial role for RNA silencing in viroid pathogenesis.
- The trans-acting small interfering RNA (ta-siRNA) biogenesis pathway is implicated.
- A potential interrelation between ta-siRNA pathways and viroid replication/pathogenesis is suggested.
Conclusions:
- RNA silencing is central to understanding viroid infection mechanisms.
- The proposed model offers insights into how viroids manipulate host cellular machinery.
- Further research into ta-siRNA pathways could reveal novel control strategies for viroid diseases.
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