Virus-vector interactions mediating the whitefly transmission of foregut-borne viruses

许多昆虫传播的植物病毒的流行病学传播涉及病毒与昆虫宿主（载体）中的细胞群体之间的分子相互作用。对于成功的相互作用和病毒传播的发生，特定的病毒编码的蛋白质是关键的决定因素。病毒滞留位点也是重要因素，其在昆虫体内的具体位置在不同的昆虫-植物病毒系统中不同。待评价的总体假设是，前肠传播病毒（如白粉虱传播的毛鼻病毒属病毒）的传播由昆虫前肠内的特定病毒衣壳组分和特定滞留位点介导。 将使用新型免疫荧光定位试验以及生物化学和分子方法来解决以下特定目的：1）确定百合传染性黄化病毒（LIYV）的衣壳组分，次要外壳蛋白（CPm）是否可以阻断LIYV的特异性保留和传播，2）确定百合褪绿病毒（LCV）的特异性载体保留位点，3）确定LIYV和LCV是否共定位于它们共同的粉虱载体中的相似位点，4）通过使用工程化突变体来鉴定克里尼病毒保留和传播的分子决定簇，5）确定LIYV CPM的原子结构以精确地绘制参与介导病毒保留和传播的氨基酸决定簇。从这个项目产生的结果将提供深入了解的机制whiteflies传播的criniviruses，并有助于更广泛地了解病毒载体的相互作用。这将有助于将来设计旨在控制病毒传播的阻断剂。更广泛的影响：通过该项目提供的培训机会将使不同文化和社会经济背景的学员能够受益于参与实验室提供的跨学科和技术/科学专业知识，以及NSF附属计划，如在UC滨江建立并支持的CAMP项目。

The epidemiological spread of many insect transmitted plant viruses involves molecular interactions between the virus and a population of cells in the insect host (vector). For successful interactions and virus transmission to occur, specific virus encoded proteins are critical determinants. Virus retention sites are also essential factors and their specific locations within the insect vary among different insect-plant virus systems. The overall HYPOTHESIS to be evaluated is that transmission of foregut-borne viruses, such as the whitefly transmitted viruses in the genus Crinivirus, is mediated by specific virus capsid component(s) and specific retention sites within the foregut of the insects. A novel immunofluorescent localization assay as well as biochemical and molecular approaches will be used to address the following SPECIFIC AIMS: 1) determine if a capsid component, the minor coat protein (CPm), of the crinivirus Lettuce infectious yellows virus (LIYV) can block the specific retention and transmission of LIYV, 2) determine the specific vector retention sites of the crinivirus Lettuce chlorosis virus (LCV), 3) determine if LIYV and LCV co-localize to similar sites in their common whitefly vector, 4) identify, through the use of engineered mutants, the molecular determinants of crinivirus retention and transmission, 5) determine the atomic structure of the LIYV CPm to precisely map the amino acid determinants involved in mediating virus retention and transmission. Results emanating from this project will provide insights into mechanisms underlying the whitefly transmission of criniviruses, and contribute to a broader understanding of virus-vector interactions. This will facilitate the design of blocking agents aimed at controlling the spread of viruses in the future. BROADER IMPACTS: The training opportunities made available through this project will enable trainees of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds to benefit from the cross-disciplinary and technological/scientific expertise provided by the participating laboratories, as well as from NSF-affiliated programs, such as the CAMP Project, established at and supported by UC Riverside.