Beet curly top virus affects vector biology: The first transcriptome analysis of the beet leafhopper

Strausbaugh, C.A. and Majumdar, R. (2024) Beet curly top virus affects vector biology: The first transcriptome analysis of the beet leafhopper. Journal of General Virology. 105(7):1-15. 29 July 2024.

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Abstract

Curly top disease, caused by beet curly top virus (BCTV), is one of the most serious viral diseases affecting sugar beets in western United States. The virus is exclusively transmitted by the beet leafhopper (BLH, Circulifer tenellus) in a circulative and non-propagative manner. Despite the growing knowledge base on virus-vector interactions, our understanding of the molecular interactions between BCTV and BLH is hampered by limited information regarding the virus impact on the vector and the absence of genomic and transcriptomic resources for BLH. Our study unveils the significant impact of BCTV on both the performance and transcriptome response of BLHs. Viruliferous BLHs had higher fecundity than non-viruliferous counterparts, which was evidenced by up-regulation of differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) associated with the development, viability, and fertility of germline and embryos in viruliferous insects. In contrast, most DETs associated with muscle movement and locomotor activities were down-regulated in viruliferous insects, implying potential behavioral modifications by BCTV. Additionally, a great proportion of differentially expressed transcripts related to innate immunity and detoxification was up-regulated in viruliferous insects. Viral infection also induced notable alterations in primary metabolisms, including energy metabolism namely glucosidases, lipid digestion and transport, and protein degradation, along with other cellular functions, particularly in chromatin remodeling and DNA repair. To our knowledge, this study represents the first comprehensive transcriptome analysis for BLH. Our findings provide new insights into the multifaceted effects of viral infection on various biological processes in BLH, revealing key molecular players in both virus manipulation of vector biology and the vector’s defensive strategies resulting from their long-term association.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1790
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Bean / dry bean Irrigated crops > Sugarbeet > Curly top Irrigated crops > Sugarbeet
Depositing User:	Users 11 not found.
Date Deposited:	14 Aug 2024 20:58
Last Modified:	25 Oct 2024 14:44
Item ID:	1833
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1833