Geminiviruses constitute the largest family
of plant-infecting viruses with small,
single- stranded DNA genomes that replicate
through double-stranded DNA
intermediates. Because of their limited
coding capacity, geminiviruses use
plant nuclear machinery to amplify their
genomes, which are packaged into nucleosomes
forming chromatin as multiple
circular minichromosomes. Thus,
viral minichromosomes must encounter
the nuclear pathways that regulate host
gene expression and chromatin states.
DNA methylation and post-transcriptional
gene silencing play critical roles
in controlling infection of geminiviruses
and this pathogen can counteract these
host defense mechanisms and promote
its infectivity. Tomato Yellow Leaf
Curl Virus (TYLCV) belongs to the Begomovirus
genus and is transmitted by the
whitefly Bemisia tabaci. With only seven
viral proteins, TYLCV must create a proper
environment for viral replication,
transcription, and propagation. Behind
the apparent simplicity of geminiviruses
lies a complex network of molecular interactions
with their host and their natural
vector, which induces a wide variety
of transcriptional, post-transcriptional
and chromatin changes in the host. To
better understand this virus-host interaction
at a genetic and epigenetic level
we carried out a global approach of the
TYLCV-tomato interaction to generate
integrated single-base resolution maps
by Next-Generation Sequencing of the
transcriptome, smallRNAome and methylome
of the pathogen and the host.
Total RNA and DNA was extracted from
tomato–infected plants (three biological
replicates) and analysed at 2, 7, 14
and 21-day post-infection (dpi). Analysis
of the changes in host transcription during
the infection and its correlation with changes
in sRNA profiles (microRNA and
phasiRNA) and DNA methylation patterns
will be presented and discussed.
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