Scientists discovered 22 previously unknown plant viruses hiding in genomic data
Sidharthan VK
Viral Discovery
Researchers discovered 22 previously unknown plant viruses by mining public genetic databases. These viruses, found across 22 plant species, expand our understanding of viral diversity and may help develop better crop protection strategies against viral infections.
Key Findings
1
Identified 22 novel closteroviral viruses with 19 complete genomes and 3 partial genomes across 22 plant genera
2
Classified viruses into 5 known genera (Ampelovirus, Bluvavirus, Closterovirus, Olivavirus, Velarivirus) plus 4 potentially novel genera
3
Discovered unique viral features including the largest known closterovirid genome and ampeloviruses with RNA polymerase structures lacking ribosomal frameshifts
description
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Plant transcriptome data mining identified twenty-two putative novel taxa in the family Closteroviridae.
The family Closteroviridae comprises filamentous, RNA genome-containing viruses that infect plants. In the present study, public domain SRA libraries derived from plants were mined for novel closte...
A banana is an elongated, edible fruit—botanically a berry—produced by several kinds of large treelike herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa. In some countries, cooking bananas are called plantains, distinguishing them from dessert bananas. The fruit is variable in size, color and firmnes...
