Roles for host factors in plant viral pathogenicity

• Published in: Current opinion in plant biology Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 365 - 371
• Main Authors: Whitham, Steven A, Wang, Yongzeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2004
• Subjects: Arabidopsis thaliana; Brome mosaic virus; Cabbage leaf curl virus; Cell Wall - virology; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; defense mechanisms; disease resistance; gene expression; host-pathogen relationships; literature reviews; Nicotiana tabacum; pathogenicity; plant diseases and disorders; Plant Proteins - metabolism; plant viruses; Plant Viruses - pathogenicity; Plant Viruses - physiology; Plants - virology; Protein Biosynthesis; Tobacco mosaic virus; transcription (genetics); translation (genetics); Virus Replication; SNF1; RNAi; CLCV; MP; NtNCAPP; ADK; BMV; NSP; CP; ER; TGB; MPB2C; PVX; AtNSI; TOM1; HC-Pro; miRNA; DCL1; TMV; HSP101; ssDNA
• ISSN: 1369-5266; 1879-0356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2004.04.006

The simple, obligate nature of viruses requires them to usurp or divert cellular resources, including host factors, away from their normal functions. The characterization of host proteins, membranes, and nucleic acids that are implicated in viral infection cycles, together with other recent discoveries, is providing fundamental clues about the molecular bases of viral susceptibility. As viruses invade susceptible plants, they create conditions that favor systemic infections by suppressing multiple layers of innate host defenses. When viruses meddle in these defense mechanisms, which are interlinked with basic cellular functions, phenotypic changes can result that contribute to disease symptoms.