Author
TZANETAKISF, I - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY | |
Martin, Robert | |
SCOTT, S - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY |
Submitted to: American Society for Virology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2007 Publication Date: 5/3/2007 Citation: Tzanetakisf, I.E., Martin, R.R., Scott, S. 2007. Strawberry necrotic shock virus and Blackberry chlorotic ringspot virus: evolution of ilarvirus subgroup 1. American Society for Virology Meeting. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Members of the genus Ilarvirus, family Bromoviridae, have positive-sense single-stranded RNA genomes divided in three genomic molecules. RNA 1 encodes the replicase, RNA 2 the RdRp, and in several member of the group, an RNA silencing suppressor. RNA 3 encodes the movement and coat proteins of the virus. There are six subgroups in the genus. Tobacco streak virus is the type member of subgroup 1, which has at least six species. All sequenced members of the group are very similar in the replicase and polymerase genes (exceeding 80% aa similarity), while the other three genes are less conserved. We have completed the sequences of Strawberry necrotic shock virus (SNSV) and Blackberry chlorotic ringspot virus (BCRV). These viruses have the characteristics of subgroup 1 with aa similarities that exceed 90% in the replication-related proteins, which could make them as strains of the same species. However, the other proteins are less conserved and thus given the current recommendations for species separation they should be regarded as different species. Both viruses are only found in rosaceous hosts, with some hosts in common. The speciation event has occurred in the recent past and probably occurred in two different plant species infected by a common progenitor virus. The sequence information available indicates that one of the original hosts of the viruses was a species of Rubus given that isolates of both viruses isolated from Rubus spp. are more closely related than isolates from other hosts. Sequences of additional isolates of these two viruses are needed to draw a better picture of the evolution of the two viruses. |