Geminiviruses and Plant Hosts: A Closer Examination of the Molecular Arms Race

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 9; no. 9; p. 256
• Main Authors: Ramesh, Shunmugiah V, Sahu, Pranav P, Prasad, Manoj, Praveen, Shelly, Pappu, Hanu R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 15.09.2017; MDPI
• Subjects: cellular reprogramming; DNA, Single-Stranded; DNA, Viral; Geminiviridae - genetics; geminivirus; Gene expression; Genetic Vectors; Genome editing; Genome, Plant; Genomes; Host plants; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Metabolic pathways; Plant Diseases - virology; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant viruses; plant-virus interactions; Plants - genetics; Plants - metabolism; Plants - virology; Review; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Untranslated - genetics; RNA-mediated interference; Single-stranded DNA; small non-coding RNAs; Vectors; Viral Proteins - genetics; Viral Proteins - metabolism; viral suppressors; small non-coding RNAs; viral suppressors; plant-virus interactions; geminivirus; cellular reprogramming
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v9090256

Geminiviruses are plant-infecting viruses characterized by a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genome. Geminivirus-derived proteins are multifunctional and effective regulators in modulating the host cellular processes resulting in successful infection. Virus-host interactions result in changes in host gene expression patterns, reprogram plant signaling controls, disrupt central cellular metabolic pathways, impair plant's defense system, and effectively evade RNA silencing response leading to host susceptibility. This review summarizes what is known about the cellular processes in the continuing tug of war between geminiviruses and their plant hosts at the molecular level. In addition, implications for engineered resistance to geminivirus infection in the context of a greater understanding of the molecular processes are also discussed. Finally, the prospect of employing geminivirus-based vectors in plant genome engineering and the emergence of powerful genome editing tools to confer geminivirus resistance are highlighted to complete the perspective on geminivirus-plant molecular interactions.