Extracellular Matrix in Plants and Animals: Hooks and Locks for Viruses

Abstract

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of animal and plants cells plays important roles in viral diseases. While in animal cells extracellular matrix components can be exploited by viruses for recognition, attachment and entry, the plant cell wall acts as a physical barrier to viral entry and adds a higher level of difficulty to intercellular movement of viruses. Interestingly, both in plant and animal systems, ECM can be strongly remodeled during virus infection, and the understanding of remodeling mechanisms and molecular players offers new perspectives for therapeutic intervention. This review focuses on the different roles played by the ECM in plant and animal hosts during virus infection with special emphasis on the similarities and differences. Possible biotechnological applications aimed at improving viral resistance are discussed.

Overexpression of Chicken IRF7 Increased Viral Replication and Programmed Cell Death to the Avian Influenza Virus Infection Through TGF-Beta/FoxO Signaling Axis in DF-1

“…Actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in the entry of influenza virus into cells and proper assembly of viral particles ( Sun and Whittaker, 2013 ; Kumakura et al, 2015 ). ECMs are also critical across many stages of the viral life cycle, including viral entry, transmission, and exit ( Stavolone and Lionetti, 2017 ). Integrin mediated cell adhesion to ECM is essential for survival of many cell types ( Meredith and Schwartz, 1997 ), and apoptotic cells undergo distinct morphological changes characterized by cell and nucleus shrinkage as well as disassembly into apoptotic bodies which are associated with structural proteins such as actins and laminins ( Saraste and Pulkki, 2000 ; Suzanne and Steller, 2009 ).…”

To-Do and Not-To-Do in Model Studies of the Uptake, Fate and Metabolism of Metal-Containing Nanoparticles in Plants

“…Plant tissue matrix is generally made of some or all of the following components: macro and micronutrients, vitamins, amino acids or other nitrogen supplements. In addition, the plant cell wall is composed primarily of polysaccharides, cellulose being its major component, and it is organized into paracrystalline structures inserted in a rich matrix of diverse polysaccharides, including hemicelluloses and pectins, structural glycoproteins and lignin in certain tissues [44].…”

Exploring the Role of Cell Wall-Related Genes and Polysaccharides during Plant Development

“…Although the cues that drive PD formation are unknown, PD are present in many cell types and are accompanied by increased pectin and decreased cellulose deposits in flanking cell wall regions [ 83 ]. Enzymes regulating callose biosynthesis and turnover are enriched in the general PD proteome [ 84 ] in addition to several PMEs, polygalacturonases and diverse receptor kinases that likely influence PD function [ 85 , 86 ]. The biochemical analysis of PD highlights a potential relationship between pectin and callose that has yet to be explored in significant detail.…”