Apoptosis in a Whitefly Vector Activated by a Begomovirus Enhances Viral Transmission.

ABSTRACT: Apoptosis is generally considered the first line of defense against viral infection. However, the role of apoptosis in the interactions between plant viruses and their insect vectors has rarely been investigated. By studying plant DNA viruses of the genus Begomovirus within the family Geminiviridae, which are transmitted by whiteflies of the Bemisia tabaci species complex in a persistent manner, we revealed that virus-induced apoptosis in insect vectors can facilitate viral accumulation and transmission. We found that infection with tomato yellow leaf curl virus activated the apoptosis pathway in B. tabaci Suppressing apoptosis by inhibitors or silencing caspase-3 significantly reduced viral accumulation, while the activation of apoptosis increased viral

SUBMITTER: Wang XR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7511215 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature