From Player to Pawn: Viral Avirulence Factors Involved in Plant Immunity

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 13; no. 4; p. 688
• Main Author: Huang, Changjun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 16.04.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Apoptosis; avirulence gene; AVR gene; Coevolution; Disease resistance; effector-triggered immunity (ETI); Evolution; Genes; Genomes; Immune system; Infections; Localization; NB-LRR; Pathogenesis; Pathogens; Phenotyping; Plant immunity; plant viruses; Proteins; Review; viral effectors; Viruses; NB-LRR; avirulence gene; plant viruses; viral effectors; plant immunity; effector-triggered immunity (ETI)
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v13040688

In the plant immune system, according to the 'gene-for-gene' model, a resistance gene product in the plant specifically surveils a corresponding effector protein functioning as an avirulence ( ) gene product. This system differs from other plant-pathogen interaction systems, in which plant genes recognize a single type of gene or gene family because almost all virus genes with distinct structures and functions can also interact with genes as determinants. Thus, research conducted on viral Avr-R systems can provide a novel understanding of and gene product interactions and identify mechanisms that enable rapid co-evolution of plants and phytopathogens. In this review, we intend to provide a brief overview of virus-encoded proteins and their roles in triggering plant resistance, and we also summarize current progress in understanding plant resistance against virus genes. Moreover, we present applications of gene-mediated phenotyping in gene identification and screening of segregating populations during breeding processes.