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Protocols for Investigating the Host-tissue Distribution, Transmission-mode, and Effect on the Host Fitness of a Densovirus in the Cotton Bollworm
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Protocols for Investigating the Host-tissue Distribution, Transmission-mode, and Effect on the Host Fitness of a Densovirus in the Cotton Bollworm

Published on: April 12, 2017

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50-plus years of fungal viruses

Said A Ghabrial1, José R Castón2, Daohong Jiang3

  • 1Plant Pathology Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.

Virology
|March 17, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Mycoviruses, fungi viruses, are found across fungal groups and are transmitted intracellularly. Some mycoviruses are valuable for biocontrol by reducing fungal pathogen virulence.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Virology
  • Fungal Genetics

Background:

  • Mycoviruses are ubiquitous in fungi, lacking extracellular phases and typically transmitted intracellularly.
  • Their natural host range is confined to specific fungal compatibility groups, though experimental expansion is possible.
  • Most mycoviruses possess double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genomes, but single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses are increasingly identified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the characteristics and significance of mycoviruses.
  • To highlight the potential of mycoviruses in biological control of fungal pathogens.
  • To discuss the implications of mycovirus structure for understanding virus assembly and evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of mycovirus research.
  • Analysis of mycovirus genome types and transmission routes.
  • Examination of structural studies on mycoviruses.

Main Results:

  • Mycoviruses exhibit diverse genome types (dsRNA, ssRNA, ssDNA) and transmission mechanisms.
  • Certain mycoviruses can attenuate the virulence of phytopathogenic fungi, offering biocontrol potential.
  • Structural studies provide insights into mycovirus assembly, function, and evolutionary dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoviruses represent a diverse group of viruses with significant implications for fungal biology and agriculture.
  • The biocontrol potential of mycoviruses, particularly those reducing pathogen virulence, warrants further investigation.
  • Understanding mycovirus structure is crucial for advancing knowledge of viral evolution and function.
Keywords:
Biological controlCapsid structureChrysoviridaeHypovirulenceMycovirusesPartitiviridaeTotiviridaedsRNA viruses

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