Plant Virus-Insect Vector Interactions: Current and Potential Future Research Directions

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 8; no. 11; p. 303
• Main Authors: Dietzgen, Ralf G, Mann, Krin S, Johnson, Karyn N
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 09.11.2016; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Entomology - trends; Host-Pathogen Interactions; insect stylet; insect vectors; Insect Vectors - physiology; Insect Vectors - virology; molecular virus–insect interactions; mosquitoes; Plant Diseases - virology; plant viruses; Plant Viruses - physiology; Review; salivary gland; Virology - trends; virus control; virus transmission; Wolbachia; mosquitoes; salivary gland; Wolbachia; insect vectors; virus transmission; plant viruses; insect stylet; molecular virus–insect interactions; virus control
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v8110303

Acquisition and transmission by an insect vector is central to the infection cycle of the majority of plant pathogenic viruses. Plant viruses can interact with their insect host in a variety of ways including both non-persistent and circulative transmission; in some cases, the latter involves virus replication in cells of the insect host. Replicating viruses can also elicit both innate and specific defense responses in the insect host. A consistent feature is that the interaction of the virus with its insect host/vector requires specific molecular interactions between virus and host, commonly via proteins. Understanding the interactions between plant viruses and their insect host can underpin approaches to protect plants from infection by interfering with virus uptake and transmission. Here, we provide a perspective focused on identifying novel approaches and research directions to facilitate control of plant viruses by better understanding and targeting virus-insect molecular interactions. We also draw parallels with molecular interactions in insect vectors of animal viruses, and consider technical advances for their control that may be more broadly applicable to plant virus vectors.