Obtaining a citric tristeza virus p65 protein antibody and preliminary results of p65 in vivo expression

The citric tristeza virus (CTV) belongs to the Closteroviridae family which indudes the only vegetal viruses possessing genes homologous to HSP70 thermal cellular shock proteins in their genome. Such is the case of the gene encoding for the CTV p65 protein which presents high homology with the HSP70 protein family. It has been shown recently that HSP70h viral proteins (such as CTV p65) are involved both in viral assembly, as a microtubule binding protein, and in cell-cell movement. Since CTV is the most deleterious citrus pathogen, understanding this protein's role in the pathogenesis process is important. Rabbits were immunised with four synthetic peptides (corresponding to CTV p65 thermal shock protein's carboxyl-terminal region) to obtain polyclonal antibodies. All the peptides used were immunogenic, even though two of them showed greater response. Whilst none of the antibodies obtained reacted to non-infected plant extract, the p65 proteins was detected in extracts taken from citric plants infected with CTV Based on the antibody's reaction to two Colombian isolates having different serological characteristics, the p65 antibody's immunological behaviour appeared to be independent of the symptomatic severity of the CTV isolates. It was shown that the ORF encoded for the HSP70 homologue in CTV was expressed in vivo, even though the p65 antibody was only detected in concentrated protein extracts taken from infected plants, supporting reports from other studies that the concentration of this protein in plants infected with CTV is low. This is the first time that a polyclonal CTV antibody has been obtained in Colombia against p65 (a protein intervening in viral assembly and movement). Adapting a technique for obtaining p65 antibodies by using synthetic peptides as immunogens could be useful in the future for detecting or diagnosing p65 proteins present in different Colombian CTV isolates, especially in developing studies contributing towards greater understanding of viral biology, their control and relationship with the host.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Torres, Yanneth, Guzmán, Mónica, Chaparro, Orlando, Oliveros, Óscar, Acosta, Orlando, Peñaranda, José
Format: Digital revista
Language:spa
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Bogotá - Instituto de Biotecnología 2003
Online Access:https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/biotecnologia/article/view/573
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!