Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2025
08:56
Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes
Published on: July 27, 2018
11.1K
Small RNA Analyses of a Ceratobasidium Isolate Infected with Three Endornaviruses
Chi T H Cao1, Mark C Derbyshire2, Roshan Regmi2
1Plant Biotechnology Research Group-Virology, Western Australian State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia.
Viruses
|October 27, 2022
Summary
Three endornaviruses co-infecting a Ceratobasidium fungus alter fungal gene expression. Mycovirus presence significantly up-regulated small RNA species, impacting genes involved in regulation and metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Virology
- Plant-Microbe Interactions
Background:
- Endornaviruses are double-stranded RNA viruses that infect fungi.
- Fungal endosymbionts play crucial roles in plant health and development.
- Terrestrial orchids often harbor symbiotic fungi in their root systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of endornavirus infection on the gene expression of their fungal host, Ceratobasidium.
- To identify novel small RNAs and their potential targets in virus-infected fungi.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of endornavirus species co-infecting Ceratobasidium from orchid roots.
- Derivation of virus-free isogenic fungal lines.
- Small RNA sequencing and comparative analysis between virus-infected and virus-free lines.
Main Results:
- The presence of three endornaviruses significantly altered small RNA expression in the fungal host.
- 9.1% of identified fungus-derived small RNAs were up-regulated, and 0.6% were down-regulated in virus-infected isolates.
- Differential expression was observed in fungal genes related to transcriptional regulation, metabolism, and DNA processes.
Conclusions:
- Endornaviruses modulate gene expression in their fungal hosts, influencing key cellular processes.
- The study identified novel micro-RNA-like RNAs (Cer-milRNAs) in Ceratobasidium.
- Mycovirus infection has implications for understanding fungal biology and host-pathogen interactions.
