In planta expression of specific single chain fragment antibody (scFv) against nucleocapsid protein of fig mosaic virus (FMV).

Fig mosaic virus (FMV) is recognized as the main viral agent associated with the mosaic disease (MD) of fig trees (Ficus carica). Due to its worldwide occurrence, FMV represents the most significant global threat to the production of fig fruit. A disease management strategy against the MD in fig orchards has never been effective; and therefore, expression of recombinant antibody in plant cells could provide an alternative approach to suppress FMV infections.

Assessment of co-infection with BNYVV and BSCTV on resistance against Rhizomania disease in transgenic sugar beet plants.

Sugar beet is an economically important crop and one of the major sources of sucrose around the world. Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and Beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV) are two widespread viruses in sugar beet that cause severe damage to its performance. Previously, we have successfully produced resistance to BNYVV based on RNA silencing in sugar beet by introducing constructs carrying the viral coat-protein-encoding DNA sequence, CP21, in sense and anti-sense orientations.

Developing of specific monoclonal recombinant antibody fused to alkaline phosphatase (AP) for one-step detection of fig mosaic virus.

Present study was performed to develop a fusion recombinant monoclonal antibody for one-step and accurate detection of FMV with a specific single-chain variable fragment (scFv) fused to alkaline phosphatase (AP) named as scFv(FMV-NP)-AP. The gene encoding-specific scFv recombinant antibody binding to nucleocapsid protein of (FMV-NP) was fused to upstream of AP gene and integrated in pET26b bacterial expression vector. As vector contain signal peptide, the expressed protein is secreted into periplasmic compartment.

Generation and molecular docking analysis of specific single-chain variable fragments selected by phage display against the recombinant nucleocapsid protein of fig mosaic virus.

The mosaic disease caused by fig mosaic virus (FMV) is considered the plague of fig worldwide. A naïve phage display library, raised against the recombinant nucleocapsid protein of FMV (FMV-Np) was screened to obtain specific monoclonal recombinant antibodies in the form of single chain variable fragments (scFvs). After three rounds of biopanning, the bacterially expressed FMV-Np was used as an antigen for selecting specific phages for the production of specific soluble scFvs to be used in immunological assays.

Ambient conditions of elevated temperature and CO levels are detrimental to the probabilities of transmission by insects of a Potato virus Y isolate and to its simulated prevalence in the environment.

Conditions of elevated temperature and CO levels [30 °C and 970 parts-per-million (ppm), respectively] reduced the systemic titers of a potato virus Y (PVY) isolate in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, relative to standard conditions (25 °C, ~405 ppm CO). Under controlled conditions we studied how these growing environments affected the transmission of infection by aphids. Probabilities of transmission of infection by insects that fed on infected donor plants kept at either standard conditions, or at 30 °C and 970 ppm CO were both determined and found to positively correlate with titers in donor leaves, independently of the ambient conditions in which recipient plantlets would grow.

Production of a polyclonal antiserum against recombinant nucleocapsid protein and its application for the detection of fig mosaic virus.

Mosaic disease (MD), caused by Fig mosaic emaravirus (FMV), is the most important and devastating virus disease of fig trees worldwide. The detection of FMV in infected plants is possible only through the use of molecular techniques, i.e.

Effects of simultaneously elevated temperature and CO levels on Nicotiana benthamiana and its infection by different positive-sense RNA viruses are cumulative and virus type-specific.

We have studied how simultaneously elevated temperature and CO levels [climate change-related conditions (CCC) of 30°C, 970 parts-per-million (ppm) of CO vs. standard conditions (SC) of 25°C, ~ 405ppm CO] affect physiochemical properties of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, and also its infection by several positive-sense RNA viruses. In previous works we had studied effects of elevated temperature, CO levels separately.

Silencing the tobacco gene for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 and infection by potato virus Y cause remodeling of cellular organelles.

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 (RDR1) has been shown to be involved in DNA methylation, RNA silencing and regulating expression of other genes. RDR1 gene expression is stimulated by infection with potato virus Y° (PVY). Transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants silenced for RDR1 gene expression showed morphological changes in mesophyll cells, associated with remodeling of the nuclei, chloroplasts and mitochondria.

Prevalence of Tobacco mosaic virus in Iran and Evolutionary Analyses of the Coat Protein Gene.

The incidence and distribution of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and related tobamoviruses was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on 1,926 symptomatic horticultural crops and 107 asymptomatic weed samples collected from 78 highly infected fields in the major horticultural crop-producing areas in 17 provinces throughout Iran. The results were confirmed by host range studies and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The overall incidence of infection by these viruses in symptomatic plants was 11.

Prevalence and genetic diversity of fig mosaic virus isolates infecting fig tree in Iran.

Commercial and outdoor fig orchards in four Iranian provinces were surveyed for the incidence of fig mosaic virus (FMV), fig leaf mottle associated virus 2 (FLMaV-2) and fig mild mottle associated virus (FMMaV) from March 2011 to October 2012. A total of 350 asymptomatic and symptomatic fig samples were collected and tested by dot-immunobinding assay (DIBA) for the fig mosaic disease (FMD) using a polyclonal antiserum. According to DIBA results, FMD was present in 73% of the collected symptomatic samples from all visited regions.

First Report of Tomato mosaic virus on Common Sow Thistle in Iran.

The natural incidence of Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) in common sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) from vegetable fields was assessed to determine the role of this weed species as a virus inoculum source. Twenty sow thistle plants with virus-like foliar symptoms including mosaic and malformations were collected from five vegetable fields in Tehran province, Iran, and analyzed by double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA for the presence of ToMV, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) using specific polyclonal antibodies (Agdia, Elkhart, IN). Six out of the 20 sow thistle plants tested by ELISA were infected with ToMV.

Genetic diversity, host range, and distribution of tomato yellow leaf curl virus in Iran.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is considered one of the most important tomato pathogens in tropical and subtropical regions including Iran. During the years 2007 to 2009, a total number of 510 symptomatic and asymptomatic vegetable, ornamental and weed samples were collected from fields and greenhouses in ten provinces of Iran. Symptoms included stunting, yellowing, leaf curl and flower senescence.

First Report of Tomato ringspot virus Infecting Pepper in Iran.

Chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) represents an important crop in Iran and is under cultivation in different regions in Northern Iran. In spring 2012, commercially grown tabasco (Capsicum frutescens) peppers in Varamin, Shahriar, and Karaj districts of Tehran province developed an undescribed disease. Symptoms observed were mosaic, leaf malformations, and stunting.

The influence of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 on potato virus Y infection and on other antiviral response genes.

The gene encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 (RDR1) is involved in basal resistance to several viruses. Expression of the RDR1 gene also is induced in resistance to Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) mediated by the N gene in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun NN) in an incompatible hypersensitive response, as well as in a compatible response against Potato virus Y (PVY).

Occurrence of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus and Arabis mosaic virus on Rose in Iran.

Rose is an economically important crop for Iran and the world. A survey was carried out from March 2005 to January 2006 to identify viruses infecting rose plants (Rosa × damascena, R. chinensis, R.