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

许多虫传植物病毒的流行病学传播涉及病毒与昆虫宿主（媒介）细胞群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，特定的病毒编码蛋白是关键的决定因素。病毒滞留位点也是必不可少的因素，它们在昆虫体内的具体位置因不同的虫-植物病毒系统而异。要评估的总体假设是，前肠传播的病毒，如白蝇传播的病毒属病毒，是由特定的病毒衣壳成分和昆虫前肠内的特定保留位点介导的。一种新的免疫荧光定位测定以及生化和分子方法将用于解决以下具体目标：1)确定犯罪病毒莴苣感染黄病毒（LIYV）的衣壳成分，即次要外壳蛋白（CPm）是否可以阻断LIYV的特异性滞留和传播，2)确定犯罪病毒莴苣萎黄病毒（LCV）的特异性载体滞留位点，3)确定LIYV和LCV是否在其共同的白蝇载体上共定位到相似的位点，4)通过使用工程突变体确定犯罪病毒滞留和传播的分子决定因素。5)确定LIYV CPm的原子结构，以精确绘制介导病毒滞留和传播的氨基酸决定因子。该项目的研究结果将有助于深入了解白蝇传播冠状病毒的机制，并有助于更广泛地了解病毒与载体的相互作用。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，以及美国国家科学基金会下属的项目，如由加州大学河滨分校建立和支持的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.