Article
Virology
Xiaoyao Cai, Fengjuan Tian, Li Teng, Hongmei Liu, Yigang Tong, Shuai Le, Tingting Zhang
Summary: This study identified a novel mutualistic parasitic dsRNA phage, phiNY, which suggests that dsRNA phages with nonlytic lifestyles might be common in nature and deserve more investigations. Using different virus isolation methods could help identify phages with nonlytic lifestyles beyond strictly lytic ones.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuel Coulbourn Flores, Michal Maly, Dominik Hrebik, Pavel Plevka, Jiri Cerny
Summary: The revolution in cryo-electron microscopy has provided unprecedented capabilities in deciphering large macromolecular complexes, including viruses. However, methods for studying nucleic acids lag behind. This study presents a method that utilizes the spiral winding patterns of DNA in viral capsids to quickly generate DNA shells and explain density. The findings suggest rules for DNA turns that determine the capsid inner diameter.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ke Zhang, Joseph Hodge, Anamika Chatterjee, Tae Seok Moon, Kimberly M. Parker
Summary: Double-stranded RNA undergoes alkaline hydrolysis at orders-of-magnitude slower rates compared to single-stranded RNA, and can remain intact for months at neutral pH. Increasing pH effectively attenuates enzymatic degradation of dsRNA without inducing alkaline hydrolysis, which differs significantly from ssRNA. Understanding these unique properties of dsRNA allows for greater control of stability in RNAi technology and provides insights into various applications, including isolation, detection, and inactivation of dsRNA viruses.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Dinesh Subedi, Jeremy J. Barr
Summary: T-series bacteriophages have been widely used as model organisms in molecular biology research worldwide. A study compared the genetic relatedness of T-series phage stocks over time and found minimal genomic variations among different sublines despite decades of maintenance. Despite the potential for genetic drift between individually maintained stocks, phenotypic alterations have not been observed after 48 years.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Samuel Watts, Madeleine Ramstedt, Stefan Salentinig
Summary: This study reveals the impact of ethanol on the lipid-enveloped virus Phi6, elucidating the mechanism of virus inactivation.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shuhei Hashiro, Yasuhiko Chikami, Haruka Kawaguchi, Alexander A. Krylov, Teruyuki Niimi, Hisashi Yasueda
Summary: RNA-based pesticides utilize RNA interference to suppress the expression of essential genes in target pests. Through the development of a cost-competitive dsRNA overproduction system using Corynebacterium glutamicum as a host bacterium, long-chain dsRNAs were efficiently produced and shown to significantly suppress larval growth of pests like the ladybird beetle. This technology has the potential to reduce production costs and find applications in various industries, including agricultural pest control.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Angela Pelusi, Pasquale De Luca, Francesco Manfellotto, Kimberlee Thamatrakoln, Kay D. Bidle, Marina Montresor
Summary: Algal viruses can induce the formation of resting spores in bloom-forming diatoms as a defense strategy, which reduces mortality caused by viral infection. These infected spores can germinate but do not propagate or transmit infectious viruses.
Article
Agronomy
Ningbo Chen, Xin Dai, Qian Hu, Hongxiao Tan, Liping Qiao, Laifeng Lu
Summary: Postharvest quality deterioration is a major issue in food loss and waste, but the technique of spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) offers a new solution. By spraying double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) onto the surface of plants, specific genes can be targeted for RNA interference, effectively reducing browning in freshly-cut potatoes. This study highlights the potential application of SIGS in controlling postharvest quality deterioration.
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Steven R. Strezsak, Penny J. Beuning, Nicholas J. Skizim
Summary: A method for accurately determining the concentration of long dsRNA was developed using nucleic acid digestion and reversed-phase HPLC/UV methods. The study found that sequence design can dramatically change the extinction coefficient of the molecule, with ssRNA overhangs leading to a 5% reduction in the calculated extinction coefficient.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenbo Xu, Miao Zhang, Yangcun Li, Wanwan He, Shengchun Li, Jiang Zhang
Summary: RNA interference (RNAi) is an effective technology for pest management. This study demonstrates that RNAi can be used to control the 28-spotted potato ladybird by targeting the beta-Actin gene. Transgenic potato plants expressing the target gene showed enhanced resistance to the pest. These findings expand the application range of RNAi technology to Coccinellidae pests.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Jun Zi, Xiuzhu Gao, Juan Du, Hongqin Xu, Junqi Niu, Xiumei Chi
Summary: Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) is the smallest mammalian single-stranded RNA virus that requires host cells and hepatitis B virus (HBV) for its unique life cycle. This review details the specific regions on HDV antigens that drive HDV to utilize host cell machinery for viral replication and entry, and highlights new therapies with better efficacy and fewer adverse reactions, such as Bulevirtide, Lonafarnib, and Nucleic acid polymers.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Yousef Nami, Nazila Imeni, Bahman Panahi
Summary: Phages play a key role in microbial community structure and human health, and machine learning methods have been applied to advance phage research in automated curation, identification, classification, and lifecycle prediction.
Article
Microbiology
Alexander Stevens, Katherine Muratore, Yanxiang Cui, Patricia J. Johnson, Z. Hong Zhou
Summary: The atomic structure of TVV2 reveals the interactions driving capsid assembly and the properties governing viral genome organization. Comparison with other dsRNA viruses suggests conserved strategies of RNA release and potential domains involved in viral RNA maintenance. This provides insights for future investigations into the interactions between Trichomonas vaginalis and its viruses.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jinqiu Fu, Shijing Xu, Huan Lu, Fanchi Li, Shengchun Li, Ling Chang, David G. Heckel, Ralph Bock, Jiang Zhang
Summary: Plant-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) using dsRNA or siRNA has shown promise in pest control, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms. This study found that siRNAs derived from transgenic plants may be more effective triggers of RNAi in Lepidoptera than dsRNAs.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Jianghua Liao, Haoling Rong, Lili You, Kai Xia, Minghui Wang, Peng Han, Chao Li, Jiang Zhang
Summary: By targeting the beta-Actin gene of the Colorado potato beetle, transplastomic plants can trigger a strong resistance to CPB. However, there is still dsRNA accumulation in the tubers, which is unnecessary and may pose a potential food exposure issue. In this study, we compared the activities of two promoters (PrbcL and PpsbD) with the Prrn promoter and found that PpsbD is an effective promoter to reduce dsRNA accumulation in potato tubers while maintaining resistance to CPB in the leaves.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)