Characterization of a new badnavirus from Wisteria sinensis.

The complete genome sequence of a previously undescribed badnavirus isolated from a wisteria plant exhibiting mosaic and crinkle symptoms in Beijing, China, was determined. The circular double-stranded DNA genome of this virus was 7362 bp in size with four open reading frames (ORFs 1 to 4) on the plus strand. Sequence analysis showed that this virus shared the highest (69%) nucleotide (nt) sequence identity with pagoda yellow mosaic associated virus (PYMAV).

Characterization of apple stem grooving virus and apple chlorotic leaf spot virus identified in a crab apple tree.

Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), and prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) were identified in a crab apple tree by small RNA deep sequencing. The complete genome sequence of ACLSV isolate BJ (ACLSV-BJ) was 7554 nucleotides and shared 67.0%-83.

One-step reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification for the detection of Maize chlorotic mottle virus in maize.

Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) is spreading in many regions worldwide, causing maize lethal necrosis when co-infected with a potyvirid. In this study, one-step reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed to detect MCMV in maize. A set of four specific primers was designed based on the conserved coat protein gene sequences of MCMV.

Synergistic infection of two viruses MCMV and SCMV increases the accumulations of both MCMV and MCMV-derived siRNAs in maize.

The co-infection of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) can cause maize lethal necrosis. However, the mechanism underlying the synergistic interaction between these two viruses remains elusive. In this study, we found that the co-infection of MCMV and SCMV increased the accumulation of MCMV.

The first complete genome sequence of iris severe mosaic virus.

The first complete genome sequence of ISMV was determined by deep sequencing of a small RNA library constructed from ISMV-infected samples and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The ISMV genome consists of 10,403 nucleotides excluding the poly(A) tail and contains a large open reading frame encoding a polyprotein of 3316 amino acids. Putative proteolytic cleavage sites were identified by BLAST analysis.

Characterization of siRNAs derived from cucumber green mottle mosaic virus in infected cucumber plants.

Virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), a member of the genus Tobamovirus, were characterised in cucumber plants by deep sequencing. CGMMV vsiRNAs of 21-22 nt in length predominated, suggesting that there might be a conserved mechanism of DCL2 and DCL4 involvement in the biogenesis of vsiRNAs, as well as a common RNA silencing pathway in CGMMV-infected cucumber plants. The 5'-terminal base of vsiRNAs was biased towards C/A/U, suggesting that CGMMV vsiRNAs might be loaded into diverse AGO-containing RISCs to disturb the gene expression of host plants.

Comparison of three magnetic-bead-based RNA extraction methods for detection of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus by real-time RT-PCR.

To determine the efficiency of RNA extraction methods based on magnetic beads, three different bead-based methods (one using silica-coated magnetic beads [SMNP], one using immunomagnetic beads conjugated to a specific antibody [IMB], and one using magnetic beads to nonspecifically adsorb virions [MNP]) were compared with the TRIzol method for the extraction of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) RNA from cucumber leaves by real-time RT-PCR. The results indicated that the extraction efficiency of the SMNP method was 10 times higher than those of the IMB and MNP methods and 100 times higher than that of the TRIzol method. Therefore, the SMNP method could be considered for use in quarantine measures for the prevention and control of the disease caused by CGMMV.

[Detection of Plasmodium falciparum by using magnetic nanoparticles separation-based quantitative real-time PCR assay].

Objective: To establish a magnetic nanoparticles separation-based quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay for fast and accurate detection of Plasmodium falciparum and providing a technical support for improving the control and prevention of imported malaria.

Methods: According to the conserved sequences of the P. falciparum genome 18SrRNA, the species-specific primers and probe were designed and synthetized.

Application of carboxyphenylboronic acid-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for extracting nucleic acid from seeds.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles functionalized with 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid (CPBA-MNPs) were developed for extracting genomic DNA, total RNA and nucleic acids from seeds. The seed samples were genetically-modified maize seeds and unmodified soybean seeds infected by bean pod mottle virus and tobacco ringspot virus. The total nucleic acids, genomic DNA, and RNA could be separately extracted from these seeds with high qualities using CPBA-MNPs under different conditions.

[Application of screening microarray technology in genus level for detection of Pospiviroid].

The aim was to establish an effective screening microarray at genus level for Pospiviroid. We analyzed nucleotide sequences from Pospiviroid viroid and designed 19 probes with genus identification characteristics. The standards of these probes included the characters of (i) a GC content between 40 and 60%, (ii) less than 50% of single nucleotide, (iii) less than 4 continuous mononucleotides, and (iv) less than 6 nucleotides in the inner hairpin.

Optimization of influencing factors of nucleic acid adsorption onto silica-coated magnetic particles: application to viral nucleic acid extraction from serum.

We present a detailed study of nucleic acid adsorption onto silica-coated magnetic particles in the presence of guanidinium thiocyanate, and extraction of nucleic acid from two important transfusion-transmitted viruses using these particles. Silica-coated magnetic particles were prepared by encapsulating Fe3O4 nanoparticles with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) hydrolysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used for particle characterization.

Extraction of total nucleic acid based on silica-coated magnetic particles for RT-qPCR detection of plant RNA virus/viroid.

In this study, a nucleic acid extraction method based on silica-coated magnetic particles (SMPs) and RT-qPCR assay was developed to detect Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), Lily symptomless virus (LSV), Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) and grape yellow speckle viroid 1 (GYSVd-1). The amplification sequences of RT-qPCR were reversely transcribed in vitro as RNA standard templates. The standard curves covered six or seven orders of magnitude with a detection limit of 100 copies per each assay.

A novel method of real-time reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification developed for rapid and quantitative detection of human astrovirus.

A one-step, real-time reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (rRT-LAMP) method targeting the 5' end of the capsid gene for rapid and quantitative detection of human astrovirus serotype 1 (HAstV 1) was developed. The assay is highly sensitive and comparable to real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR), with a detection limit of ∼100 RNA copies per assay. The specificity of the method was validated by the absence of any cross-reaction with RNA samples of HAstV 2-8 and other gastroenteritis viruses, followed by nucleotide sequencing of the amplified product.