Reciprocal sequence exchange between non-retro viruses and hosts leading to the appearance of new host phenotypes

Abstract

Divergence among individuals of the same species may be linked to positional retrotransposition into different loci in different individuals. Here we add to recent reports indicating that individual variance occurs due to the integration of non-retroviral (potyviral) RNAs into the host genome via RNA recombination followed by retrotransposition. We report that in bees (Apis mellifera), approximately 30% of all tested populations carry a segment of a dicistrovirus in their genome and have thus become virus-resistant. Reciprocally, segments of host sequences have been found within defective-interfering-like sequences of a dicistrovirus. Similarly, host sequences were found fused to potyviral sequences, previously described integrated into their host genome. A potential, continuous RNA exchange leading to divergence is discussed.

piRNAs derived from ancient viral processed pseudogenes as transgenerational sequence-specific immune memory in mammals

“…Several of these gene transfer events can be clearly attributed to retrotransposon activity (Ballinger et al 2012), and in at least one case the gene transfer is associated with viral resistance (Maori et al 2007). We hypothesize that, lacking RNA-dependent RNA-polymerases used to amplify RNAs for viral silencing in organisms for which this function is well-established (Baulcombe 2004;Rechavi et al 2011), some metazoans could use a multistep process: reverse transcription of viral transcripts followed by RNA polymerization templated on viral complementary DNA (cDNA).…”

A real-time PCR based survey on acute bee paralysis virus in German bee colonies

“…It was shown recently that nucleotide sequence fragments coding for viral RNA can be inserted into the bee genome (Maori et al, 2007). This was demonstrated for Israeli acute bee paralysis virus (IAPV), a member of the Dicistroviridae family.…”

“…In this hypothetical case, the PCR signals of our assay could be derived from sequences embedded in the bee genome. However, the sequence fragments described by Maori et al (2007) came from a distant region downstream of the Rd Rp region. To confirm the non-existence of sequence exchange and the amplification from viral matter alone, additional experiments will be necessary.…”

Short communication. The detection of Israeli Acute Paralysis virus (IAPV), fipronil and imidacloprid in professional apiaries are not related with massive honey bee colony loss in Spain

“…IAPV analyses were carried out as described previously (Maori et al, 2007) in the virus laboratory of Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel). The presence of f ipronil and imidacloprid in stored pollen were carried out as described previously (Jiménez et al, 2007;Higes et al, 2008).…”

“…IAPV was first described in Israel (Maori et al, 2007) and it was associated with bee mortality, even though only some hives in an apiary were affected. It was suggested that genetic diversity among honey bees could explain the different susceptibility/resistance Honeybee colony loss in Spain 659 between hives in an apiary.…”