Caulimovirus


Caulimovirus is a genus of viruses, in the family Caulimoviridae order Ortervirales. They are para-retroviruses with dsDNA and plants as their host. There are 14 species in this genus. Diseases associated with this genus include: vein-clearing or banding mosaic.

Taxonomy

The genus contains the following species, listed by scientific name and followed by the exemplar virus of the species:
Viruses in Caulimovirus are non-enveloped, with icosahedral geometries, and T=7, T=7 symmetry. The diameter is around 50 nm. Genomes are circular and non-segmented. The genome codes for 6 to 7 proteins.
GenusStructureSymmetryCapsidGenomic arrangementGenomic segmentation
CaulimovirusIcosahedralT=7Non-envelopedCircularMonopartite

Life cycle

Caulimoviruses achieve entry into plant cells via damaged tissues, transmission via an animal vector and . Plant cells do not possess receptors like that would allow the virus to enter and since plant cells are thick, viruses achieve entry as aforementioned. Once inside the plant, the virus spreads using plasmodesmata, a membrane channel found in plants connecting one plant cell to another. Caulimoviruses are para-retroviruses with a DNA genome; thus, part of their viral replication takes place in the nucleus, where the host replication machinery is utilized. The rest of its life cycle takes place in the cytoplasm. Replication follows, where initially the dsDNA enters the nucleus and is transcribed into RNA using the host RNA polymerase. Then, the RNA is reverse transcribed to viral DNA using the host reverse transcriptase in the cytoplasm. The viral product is made and assembled in the cytoplasm, which then spreads to other parts of the plant cell using plasmodesmata. Translation takes place by ribosomal shunting. For most Caulimoviruses, their genome is not integrated into the host cell; however, some viruses, such as , have been identified as having integrated their genome into the host. Transmission routes are mechanical.
GenusHost detailsTissue tropismEntry detailsRelease detailsReplication siteAssembly siteTransmission
CaulimovirusPlants-Viral movement; mechanical inoculationViral movementNucleusCytoplasmMechanical inoculation: aphids

Application: Plant Biotechnology

The Caulimovirus mosaic 35S promoter has become a valuable tool for fine-tuning gene expression in plants and altering the phenotypes of transgenic plants. It can be used as to control gene activity. Moreover, Caulimoviruses have also been investigated as possible vectors for introducing foreign genes into plants since these viruses have dsDNA. Since Caulimoviruses have regulatory promoter elements, they play a role in developing plant modifications to increase resistance to disease and infections.