title: Simultaneous visualization of two Citrus tristeza virus genotypes provides new insights into the structure of multi-component virus populations in a host.
abstract: Complex Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) populations composed of mixtures of different strains of the virus are commonly found in citrus trees in the field. At present, little is known about how these populations are formed, maintained, and how they are structured within a host. Here we used a novel in situ hybridization approach allowing simultaneous visualization of two different RNA targets with high sensitivity and specificity to examine the distribution of two isolates, T36 and T68-1, representing phylogenetically distinct strains of CTV, in a citrus host in single and mixed infections. Remarkably, in doubly inoculated plants the two virus variants appeared to be well mixed within the infected tissue and showed no spatial segregation. In addition, both CTV variants were often found occupying the same cells. Possible mechanisms involved in shaping CTV populations and the biological significance of the observed lack of structural separation of the individual components are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Plant Pathology, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergua
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, FL 32603, USA.
authors.forename: Dane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Plant Pathology, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bak
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, FL 32603, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Plant Pathology, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: svetlana@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Svetlana Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Folimonova
mesh_terms: D002957:Citrus / Q000821:virology*; D017790:Closterovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D056224:Viral Structures / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Citrus tristeza virus; RNA in situ hybridization; Virus populations