AUTHOR=Chen Gong , Su Qi , Shi Xiaobin , Pan Huipeng , Jiao Xiaoguo , Zhang Youjun 

TITLE=Persistently Transmitted Viruses Restrict the Transmission of Other Viruses by Affecting Their Vectors

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2018.01261

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2018.01261

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>Diverse pathogens, plant hosts, insect vectors, and non-vector herbivores coexist and interact in natural systems. An example is the cooccurrence of insects <italic>Bemisia tabaci</italic> Q and <italic>Frankliniella occidentalis</italic> and the pathogens tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) on the same plant. In addition, both TYLCV and TSWV are persistently transmitted in these insect species. However, TSWV reduces the fitness of <italic>B. tabaci</italic> Q; therefore, we investigated whether TSWV affects the transmission of TYLCV to tomato. Both TYLCV and TSWV are persistently transmitted. Although <italic>B. tabaci</italic> Q cannot transmit TSWV, we found that this insect species is able to acquire and retain this virus serotype, indicating that the effects of TSWV on TYLCV transmission in the current study result from effects on the vector. The acquisition, retention, and transmission of TYLCV by <italic>B. tabaci</italic> Q were reduced when the insect vector contained TSWV. Additionally, the TYLCV acquisition and transmission by <italic>B. tabaci</italic> Q were reduced when the host plant was inoculated with TSWV before TYLCV or simultaneously with TYLCV. We also found that <italic>F. occidentalis</italic> fecundity and transmission of TSWV were reduced when <italic>F. occidentalis</italic> contained TYLCV. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that persistently transmitted viruses can restrict the transmission of other viruses by affecting their insect vectors.</p>