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Plant virus particles, as a unique biological substance, have found widespread application in genetic engineering and molecular biology. They not only have natural nanostructures, but they can also remain stable within biological systems while demonstrating high infectivity and replication ability. These properties make plant viruses suitable vectors for genetic modification. Plant virus particles have a wide range of applications, including gene transfer, medication administration, vaccine development, and the display of functional molecules. Plant virus genomes have a simple, changeable structure that allows them to integrate foreign genes or change their surface features through chemical changes to achieve specific goals. With the rapid advancement of nanotechnology and gene editing, the use of plant virus particles in molecular biology has grown in recent years, notably in areas such as gene therapy and vaccine production, where they offer considerable benefits. Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus (TBSV) and Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV) are two plant viruses that have piqued researchers' interest due to their representational virus particles.
PepMV is an RNA virus that is a member of the Alphaflexiviridae family, specifically the genus Potexvirus. PepMV is one of the main plant diseases affecting modern agriculture and particularly affects solanaceous plants, notably tomatoes. PepMV infection can cause a variety of symptoms, from minor yellowing of the leaves to severe discoloration, necrosis, and even shattering of the fruit. The most detrimental symptom is the fruit's marbling pattern, which drastically lowers its market value. The environment has an impact on symptom severity in addition to the virus genotype. The tiny genome and excellent manipulability of PepMV have made it a popular vector in plant gene silencing technology in recent years.
Figure 1. Symptoms caused by PepMV in tomato plants
(Source: Hernando Y, et al., 2024)
A single-stranded, positive-sense RNA that is roughly 6.2 kb long makes up the genome of PepMV. The virus particles have a filamentous shape and measure 700 nm in length and 18–22 nm in diameter. Multiple proteins involved in viral packaging and replication are encoded by the genome. PepMV has emerged as the perfect instrument for researching plant gene activities because of its great diversity and wide host range.
Gene silencing is a technique that use tiny RNA molecules to limit the expression of specific genes. It is often used to investigate gene function or control plant diseases. In gene silencing technology, PepMV serves as a vector for virus-induced gene silencing. VIGS uses viral vectors to deliver specific gene fragments to plants, activating the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism and silencing target genes.
PepMV, due of its rapid replication and systemic distribution in plants, has been successfully employed to silence a variety of plant genes. By adding portions of the target gene into the PepMV genome, researchers can successfully restrict its expression, allowing them to explore its involvement in plant growth, development, and disease resistance. Furthermore, one notable advantage of PepMV as a VIGS vector is that its symptoms are moderate and do not have a significant impact on the host plant's development, making long-term gene function investigations possible.
In recent years, experts have repeatedly refined the PepMV vector system to improve its efficiency and stability in VIGS. For example, improving viral replication elements and systemic dissemination capacities improves gene silencing efficiency. Furthermore, by properly planning the length and sequence of inserted pieces, the viral genome's instability can be minimized, boosting the viability of the VIGS system.
The use of PepMV in gene silencing is not confined to basic research, but also has significant practical applications. For example, utilizing PepMV-mediated gene silencing technology, disease resistance genes in plants can be targeted to improve crop disease resistance.In the future, the PepMV vector is expected to be widely applied in agricultural production as an effective tool for regulating crop traits and controlling diseases.
Figure 2. Gene silencing vector based on PepMV
(Source: Sempere RN, et al., 2011)
The plant virus known as TBSV is a member of the Tombusvirus genus within the Tombusviridae family. Its single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) genome is roughly 4.2 kb in size. It can infect a variety of plants, although it is most common in tomatoes. TBSV has been used recently not just in research on plant pathology but also in nanotechnology, where it has a lot of potential applications.
With a diameter of about 30-35 nm, the quasi-spherical TBSV virus particles are made up of a capsid protein and a single RNA genome. A number of open reading frames (ORFs), including the capsid protein and non-structural proteins that aid in viral replication, are encoded by the comparatively basic TBSV genome. The straightforward genome and strong replication efficiency of TBSV make it a perfect model system for research on plant viruses.
The creation and functionality of TBSV's virus-like particles (VLPs) are the main areas of application for the virus in nanotechnology. Researchers can employ the capsid protein of TBSV as a fundamental tool in nanotechnology since it has the ability to self-assemble into nanoparticles. TBSV VLPs may find use as diagnostic instruments, in vaccine development, and in medication delivery. Targeted delivery of certain substances can be achieved by embedding foreign molecules or bioactive chemicals within virus particles through modification of the capsid protein.
The fact that TBSV's cDNA cloning method offers a potent tool for its application in nanotechnology is one noteworthy feature. Complementary DNA, or cDNA, is produced when the RNA genome of the tuberculosis virus is reverse-transcribed. The TBSV genome can be precisely replicated and modified by researchers via cDNA cloning. The TBSV genome may now be altered with greater control and precision, greatly increasing the technique's potential uses in nanotechnology. For the purpose of guided protein expression or the creation and synthesis of functional nanoparticles, for instance, researchers can introduce foreign genes into the TBSV genome through the use of cDNA technology.
Although TBSV has shown remarkable potential in nanotechnology, there are still technical challenges to overcome. Ensuring the stability of foreign substances within TBSV VLPs and controlling the immune response of VLPs in living organisms are key research directions. In the future, by further optimizing TBSV's cDNA cloning technology and VLP functionalization, TBSV is expected to achieve broader applications in medicine, materials science, and environmental science.
Figure 3. Schematic diagram of TBSV cDNA construct
(Source: Grasso S, et al. 2013)
In conclusion, plant virus particles have demonstrated great potential in genetic engineering and molecular biology. As two representative plant viruses, TBSV and PepMV, through modifications of their virus particle structures, have driven progress in vaccine development, gene delivery, and drug delivery research. The icosahedral particle structure of TBSV and the fibrous particle structure of PepMV endow them with different application characteristics, yet they both exhibit important prospects for nanotechnology and biomedicine. With the continuous advancement of gene editing and molecular biology research, plant virus particles will see broader applications in the future, providing new solutions for biotechnology and sustainable agriculture.
References
| Target | Cat. No. | Product Name | Size | Species Reactivity | Application | Detection Sample | |
| TBSV | DEIAPV284 | Tomato bushy stnt virus (TBSV) ELISA Kit | 500T/1000T/5000T | Qualitative | host plants | Inquiry |
| Target | Cat. No. | Product Name | Host | Isotype | Application | |
| TBSV | CABT-BL6179 | Anti-TBSV polyclonal antibody | Rabbit | IgG | ELISA | Inquiry |
| TBSV | CABT-BL6275 | Anti-TBSV polyclonal antibody [AP] | Rabbit | ELISA | Inquiry |
| Target | Cat. No. | Product Name | Size | Species Reactivity | Application | Detection Sample | |
| PepMV | DEIAPV219 | Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) ELISA Kit | 500T/1000T/5000T | Qualitative | host plants | Inquiry |
| Target | Cat. No. | Product Name | Host | Isotype | Application | |
| PepMV | CABT-BL6159 | Anti-PepMV polyclonal antibody | Rabbit | IgG | ELISA, LFIA | Inquiry |
| PepMV | CABT-BL6255 | Anti-PepMV polyclonal antibody [AP] | Rabbit | ELISA, LFIA | Inquiry |
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