Publications by authors named "Karen E Keller"

Article Synopsis
  • In March 2020, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) made updates to the taxonomic classification of the phylum Negarnaviricota.
  • The revisions included adding 20 new genera, deleting 2, moving 1, and renaming 3 at the genus level, along with significant changes at the species level, such as adding 160 species.
  • The article provides the latest accepted taxonomy for Negarnaviricota as ratified by the ICTV.
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Rubus yellow net virus (RYNV) infects Rubus spp., causing a severe decline when present in mixed infections with other viruses. RYNV belongs to the family Caulimoviridae, also known as plant pararetroviruses, which can exist as episomal or integrated elements (endogenous).

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In 2018, the family Arenaviridae was expanded by inclusion of 1 new genus and 5 novel species. At the same time, the recently established order Bunyavirales was expanded by 3 species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the family Arenaviridae and the order Bunyavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and summarizes additional taxonomic proposals that may affect the order in the near future.

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A new virus was identified in blackberry plants exhibiting leaf mottling, chlorotic ringspots and curved midribs, symptoms associated with blackberry yellow vein disease (BYVD). The genome of the new virus, provisionally named blackberry leaf mottle-associated virus (BLMaV), was characterized and phylogenetic analysis revealed its close relationship to recognized members of the genus Emaravirus. BLMaV was transmitted by a yet to be described eriophyid mite species, further reinforcing its placement in the genus.

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Yellow ringspot is the only virus-like disease reported in redbud (Cercis spp.) with symptoms including vein clearing, chlorotic ringspots and oak-leaf pattern. A putative new emaravirus was present in all trees displaying typical yellow ringspot symptoms and the name redbud yellow ringspot associated virus is proposed.

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Five new carlaviruses infecting elderberry were characterized and tentatively named as elderberry virus A-E (ElVA-ElVE). Their genome organization is similar to that of other carlaviruses with size ranging from 8540 to 8628 nucleotides, excluding the polyadenylated tails. ElVA, ElVB and ElVD share a common ancestor as do ElVC and ElVE, indicating that speciation may be sympatric with all viruses having emerged in elderberry.

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The population structure of blueberry mosaic associated virus (BlMaV), a putative member of the family Ophioviridae, was examined using 61 isolates collected from North America and Slovenia. The studied isolates displayed low diversity in the movement and nucleocapsid proteins and low ratios of non-synonymous to synonymous nucleotide substitutions, indicative of strong purifying selection. Phylogenetic analyses revealed grouping primarily based on geography with some isolates deviating from this rule.

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Rubus yellow net virus (RYNV) is a member of the genus Badnavirus (family: Caulimoviridae). RYNV infects Rubus species causing chlorosis of the tissue along the leaf veins, giving an unevenly distributed netted symptom in some cultivars of red and black raspberry. Recently, a strain of RYNV was sequenced from a Rubus idaeus plant in Alberta, Canada, exhibiting such symptoms.

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Blueberry mosaic disease (BMD) was first described more than 60 years ago and is caused by a yet unidentified graft transmissible agent. A combination of traditional methods and next generation sequencing disclosed the presence of a new ophiovirus in symptomatic plants. The virus was detected in all BMD samples collected from several production areas of North America and was thus named blueberry mosaic associated virus.

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Blackberry yellow vein disease is the most important viral disease of blackberry in the United States. Experiments were conducted to characterize a new virus identified in symptomatic plants. Molecular analysis revealed a genome organization resembling Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3, the type species of the genus Ampelovirus in the family Closteroviridae.

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Rose rosette was first described in the early 1940s and it has emerged as one of the most devastating diseases of roses. Although it has been 70 years since the disease description, the rosette agent is yet to be characterized. In this communication, we identify and characterize the putative causal agent of the disease, a negative-sense RNA virus and new member of the genus Emaravirus.

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Verbena 'Taylortown Red' plants showed virus-like mottling symptoms. Virus purifications disclosed the presence of elongated and spherical particles, evidence of mixed virus infections, whereas double-stranded RNA analysis revealed the presence of several bands absent in healthy plants. After shotgun cloning, three viruses were identified in 'Taylortown Red': Broad bean wilt virus-1, Coleus vein necrosis virus, and a previously undescribed potyvirus.

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The etiology of pallidosis, a disease of strawberry identified more than 45 years ago, remains unknown. We report a putative agent of the disease, a virus belonging to the Crinivirus genus of the Closterovirideae family. A sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) test has been developed.

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