Viruses of phytopathogens: adaptation and modulation of pathogenesis in Ralstonia spp. and Alternaria alternata

• Ano de defesa: 2016
• Autor(a) principal: Xavier, André da Silva
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de Viçosa
• Palavras-chave em Português: Fitopatologia; Plantas - Doenças e pragas; Fitopatógenos; Ralstonia spp
• Link de acesso: http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/10820

Viruses of phytophatogens are present in the most diverse groups of hosts, infecting from Spiroplasma to nematode and playing an important role in the ecology of these hosts. Because of the potential as biological control agents, the discoveries about these viruses have increased which encourages the ecological management of plant diseases. In this context, this study aimed: isolate and characterize viruses that infect plant pathogenic fungi (1) and Ralstonia spp. in the Americas (2) and investigate antiviral defense mechanisms in Ralstonia spp. (3). In this thesis, three viruses were characterized at biological and molecular level. Two viruses infect bacteria, Ralstonia spp. and the third infect a fungus, Alternaria alternata. The bacterial virus displayed two propagation modes: pseudolysogenic for the RsIBR1 inovirus (Inoviridae) and lytic for the phiAP1 phikmvvirus (Podoviridae). RsIBR1 has been shown to dramatically change the phenotype of the host, while not causing cell lysis, converting the phytopathogenic R. pseudosolanacearum into a commensal bacterium. PhiAP1 was characterized as a new member of the genus Phikmvvirus, and the presence of exolisinas, in addition to the bactericidal properties and EPS degradation make this virus attractive for future proposals of the bacterial wilt management. In A. alternata, it was characterized Alternaria alternata parititivirus 1 (AtPV1), a new divergent mycovirus related to genus Gammapartitivirus. Its persistent lifestyle prevented to dissect completely the interaction, because in the absence of isogenic lineage, it is unclear whether the viral infection led to a conversion of a pathogen in a epiphytic or still if is responsible for controlling phenotypic plasticity expressed by the host. The presence of canonical CRISPR loci in Ralstonia spp. isolates suggested that, in these hosts, this system could compose the antiviral defense arsenal. However, here was demonstrated that in R. solanacearum, the CRISPR-Cas system is unable to acquire new spacers or interfere with foreign DNA, even in a state of priming. The expression of the Cas genes was not detected; indicating that Cas operon apparently is a suppressed transcriptional unit. Two genes h-ns, expressed in R. solanacearum CFBP2957 are candidates to the putative transcriptional repression of CRISPR. The BIMs (Bacteriophages Insensitive Mutants) who escaped of infection by an alternative strategy to the CRISPR, were less competent, but still permissive to viral adsorption, and were able to survive under high inoculum pressure, which excludes the presence of abortive systems. Viral replication was also not detected and sequencing of two BIMs genome revealed the presence of particular mutations in genes encoding components of the secretory and motility pathways (such as Type II and Type IV), potentially involved in the antiviral resistance. Additional analyzes are being conducted to characterize in detail this defense strategy. In conclusion, the discovery and characterization of viruses infecting phytopathogens in Brazil expand the information on this diversity, little known in America, exposes the biotechnological potential of these natural enemies and reveals the important role of these viruses in the modulation and evolutionary course of their hosts