Molculuar mechanism of perceptive insect behaviour induced by Geminivirus
J. YE (1) (1) Institute Of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Vector-borne pathogens may alter promote the performance of their primary hosts in ways that influence the frequency and nature of interactions between hosts and vectors. The new concept in virology has been called ‘Perceptive insect behaviour’ and relies on a behavirour change induced by its transmitted viruses. This positive effect of a pathogen on its vector via their shared host plant is termed indirect mutualism. Previous work has reported a phytohormone Jasmonic acid (JA)-mediated terpene biosynthesis is suppressed in begomovirus-infected plants, leading to reduced resistance to whiteflies which transmit these viruses. Recently, we identified the proteins encoded by the monopartite or bipartite begomoviruses as the key genetic factor that suppresses JA-mediated terpene biosynthesis. Our new results suggested that other phytohormones also involve in the terpene-based odor resistance to whitefly. Meanwhile, geminiviruses have evolved sophisticated strategies to counter multiple-layer resistances against whitefly. Our results present a novel scenario of how a pathogen regulates host-derived olfactory cues for vector attraction. The results will also help to address similar tripartite interaction systems in plants, animals or humans and will allow developing of innovative control methods through interference with vector transmission.

Abstract Number: P5-133
Session Type: Poster