Abstract:
Turtlegrass virus X, which infects the seagrass Thalassia testudinum, is the only potexvirus known to infect marine flowering plants. We investigated potexvirus distribution in seagrasses using a degenerate reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay originally designed to capture potexvirus diversity in terrestrial plants. The assay, which implements Potex-5 and Potex-2RC primers, successfully amplified a 584 nt RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) fragment from TVX-infected seagrasses. Following validation, we screened 74 opportunistically collected, apparently healthy seagrass samples for potexviruses using this RT-PCR assay. The survey examined the host species T. testudinum, Halodule wrightii, Halophila stipulacea, Syringodium filiforme, Ruppia maritima, and Zostera marina. Potexvirus PCR products were successfully generated only from T. testudinum samples and phylogenetic analysis of sequenced PCR products revealed five distinct TVX sequence variants. Although the RT-PCR assay revealed limited potexvirus diversity in seagrasses, the expanded geographic distribution of TVX shown here emphasizes the importance of future studies to investigate T. testudinum populations across its native range and understand how the observed fine-scale genetic diversity affects host-virus interactions.
摘要:
斑纹草病毒X,感染海草Thalassiatestudinum,是唯一已知感染海洋开花植物的pectexvirus。我们使用简并逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)测定法研究了海草中的ptexvirus分布,该测定法最初旨在捕获陆生植物中的ptexvirus多样性。化验,实现了Potex-5和Potex-2RC引物,从TVX感染的海草中成功扩增了584ntRNA依赖性RNA聚合酶(RdRp)片段。验证后,我们筛选了74个机会收集,使用此RT-PCR测定,对于pectexvirus,显然是健康的海草样品。调查检查了寄主物种T.testudinum,霍杜勒·赖特蒂,嗜盐菌,丝状Syringodium,Ruppiamaritima,还有ZosteraMarina.仅从T.testudinum样品成功产生了OtotexvirusPCR产物,测序的PCR产物的系统发育分析揭示了五种不同的TVX序列变体。尽管RT-PCR分析显示海草中potexvirus多样性有限,此处显示的TVX的扩展地理分布强调了未来研究在其本地范围内调查T.testudinum种群并了解观察到的精细尺度遗传多样性如何影响宿主-病毒相互作用的重要性.