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Insect Pathology/ Biotechnology Lab

Insect Pathology/ Biotechnology Lab

Insect Virus Discovery

Next Generation sequencing technologies provide an outstanding resource for the discovery of insect virus-derived sequences. Genomes, transcriptomes and small RNA libraries provide evidence for virus-derived sequences in a given organism. Virus transcripts in combination with small RNA data and more classical virus discovery techniques can result in identification of both overt and covert viruses, of known and unknown classification. By using this technology, we have identified several new viruses in laboratory and field colonies of various insects, and also in insect cell lines. Such viruses may provide potential new tools for suppression of pestiferous insect populations or, in some cases, for the development of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) vectors.

Related publications

Nudivirus sequences identified from the southern and western corn rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Liu S, Sappington TW, Coates BS, Bonning BC.  Viruses 2021; 13(2), 269. doi: 10.3390/v13020269

Endogenous viral elements integrated into the genome of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines. Liu S, Coates BS, Bonning BC. Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. Aug 2020; 123:10345 doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103405

Diabrotica undecimpunctata virus 2, a novel small RNA virus discovered from southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Liu S, Valencia-Jiménez A, Darlington M, Vélez AM, Bonning BC. Microbiol Resourc Announc 2020 e00380-20. doi: 10.1128/MRA.00380-20

Genome sequence of a small RNA virus of the southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Liu S, Valencia-Jiménez A, Darlington M, Vélez AM, Bonning BC. Microbiol Res Announc 25 Jun 2020; 9(26): e00379-20. doi: 10.1128/MRA.00379-20

The Insect Virome: Opportunities and Challenges. Bonning BC. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2019 Jun 6;34:1-12. doi: 10.21775/cimb.034.001

Genome Sequence of a Novel Positive-Sense, Single-Stranded RNA Virus Isolated from Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte. Liu S, Chen Y, Sappington TW, Bonning BC. Genome Announc. 2017 May 18;5(20). pii: e00366-17. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.00366-17.

Genome Sequence of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera virus2, a Novel Small RNA Virus of the Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte. Liu S, Chen Y, Sappington TW, Bonning BC. Genome Announc. 2017 May 18;5(20). pii: e00365-17. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.00365-17.

Aphis Glycines Virus 2, a Novel Insect Virus with a Unique Genome Structure. Liu S, Vijayendran D, Chen Y, Bonning BC. Viruses. 2016 Nov 19;8(11). pii: E315. Viruses. 2011 Oct;3(10):1849-69. doi: 10.3390/v3101849. Epub 2011 Oct 10.

Genome Sequence of a Novel Iflavirus from the Leafhopper Graminella nigrifrons. Chen Y, Liu S, Bonning BC. Genome Announc. 2015 Apr 30;3(2). pii: e00323-15. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.00323-15.

Analysis of new aphid lethal paralysis virus (ALPV) isolates suggests evolution of two ALPV species. Liu S, Vijayendran D, Carrillo-Tripp J, Miller WA, Bonning BC. J Gen Virol. 2014 Dec;95(Pt 12):2809-19. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.069765-0. Epub 2014 Aug 28.

Lymantria dispar iflavirus 1 (LdIV1), a new model to study iflaviral persistence in lepidopterans. Carrillo-Tripp J, Krueger EN, Harrison RL, Toth AL, Miller WA, Bonning BC. J Gen Virol. 2014 Oct;95(Pt 10):2285-96. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.067710-0. Epub 2014 Jul 1.

Arthropod viruses and small RNAs. Vijayendran D, Airs PM, Dolezal K, Bonning BC. J Invertebr Pathol. 2013 Oct;114(2):186-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2013.07.006.

Next generation sequencing technologies for insect virus discovery. Liu S, Vijayendran D, Bonning BC. Liu S, Vijayendran D, Bonning BC. Viruses. 2011 Oct;3(10):1849-69. doi: 10.3390/v3101849. Epub 2011 Oct 10.

Insect-transmitted Plant Viruses

Insect transmitted plant viruses cause significant economic loss to U.S. agriculture. Current control methods rely heavily on the use of chemical insecticides for reducing populations of the insect vector. Research on the molecular interactions between a plant virus and its vector has resulted in virus-based strategies for management of both the insect vector, and the insect-vectored disease.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of recognition and uptake of plant viruses into their aphid vectors has allowed for development of new technologies for management of plant virus transmission (Liu et al., 2010), and of the aphid vectors of plant viruses (Bonning et al., 2014). In collaboration with Dr. Allen Miller, Iowa State University, we demonstrated the potential for use of the coat protein of aphid-transmitted viruses for management of aphids. The coat protein of a luteovirus can serve to deliver insect-specific toxins from the gut into the hemocoel of both vector and non-vector aphids (Bonning et al., 2014). We are now working to extend these new technologies to other plant virus – insect vector systems.

Related publications

Quantification of Pea enation mosaic virus 1 and 2 during infection of Pisum sativum by one step real-time RT-PCR. Doumayrou J, Sheber M, Bonning BC, Miller WA. J Virol Methods. 2017 Feb; 240:63-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2016.11.013. Epub 2016 Nov 30.

Role of Pea Enation Mosaic Virus Coat Protein in the Host Plant and Aphid Vector. Doumayrou J, Sheber M, Bonning BC, Miller WA. Viruses. 2016 Nov 18;8(11). pii: E312.

In Vitro Evidence Supports Membrane Alanyl Aminopeptidase N as a Receptor for a Plant Virus in the Pea Aphid Vector. Linz LB, Liu S, Chougule NP, Bonning BC. J Virol. 2015 Nov;89(22):11203-12. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01479-15. Epub 2015 Aug 26.

Automated Solution-Phase Synthesis of Insect Glycans to Probe the Binding Affinity of Pea Enation Mosaic Virus. Tang SL, Linz LB, Bonning BC, Pohl NL. J Org Chem. 2015 Nov 6;80(21):10482-9. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.5b01428. Epub 2015 Oct 12.

Toxin delivery by the coat protein of an aphid-vectored plant virus provides plant resistance to aphids. Bonning BC, Pal N, Liu S, Wang Z, Sivakumar S, Dixon PM, King GF, Miller WA. 2014. Nat. Biotechnol. 32(1):102-5. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2753.

Delivery of intrahemocoelic peptides for insect pest management. Bonning BC, Chougule NP. 2014. Trends Biotechnol. 2013 Dec 11. pii: S0167-7799(13)00177-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2013.08.001.

A peptide that binds the pea aphid gut impedes entry of Pea enation mosaic virus into the aphid hemocoel. Liu, S., Sivakumar, S., Sparks, W.O., Miller, W.A., Bonning, B.C. 2010. Virology 401 (1): 107-16

Viruses of the Honey Bee

A honey bee resting on a gloved handHoney bees and native bees play a pivotal role in pollination for production of many fruits and vegetables. Recent declines in honey bee populations have been linked to changing land use and a decrease in bee nutritional resources. In collaboration with Dr. Amy Toth, Iowa State University and Dr. Adam Dolezal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, we used an integrative approach to test the hypothesis that a combination of nutritional stress and infection with multiple viruses leads to colony demise.

We are now working to identify gut proteins bound by honey bee viruses that serve as virus receptors. Identification of virus receptors in the gut will allow for novel technologies to block virus infection.

Related publications

Honey bee virus causes context-dependent changes in host social behavior. Geffre AC, Gernat T, Harwood GP, Jones B M, Morselli Gysi D, Hamilton AR, Bonning BC, Toth AL, Robinson GE, Dolezal AG. 2020. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA May 12, 2020; 117(19) 10406-10413. doi:10.1073/pnas.2002268117

Cell lines for honey bee virus research. Guo Y, Goodman CL, Stanley DW, Bonning BC. 2020. Viruses 12(2):236. doi: 10.3390/v12020236

Transcriptomic responses to diet quality and viral infection in Apis mellifera. Rutter L, Carrillo-Tripp J, Bonning BC, Cook D, Toth AL, Dolezal AG. BMC Genomics. 2019 May 22;20(1):412. doi: 10.1186/s12864-019-5767-1.

Interacting stressors matter: diet quality and virus infection in honeybee health. Dolezal AG, Carrillo-Tripp J, Judd TM, Allen Miller W, Bonning BC, Toth AL. R Soc Open Sci. 2019 Feb 6;6(2):181803. doi: 10.1098/rsos.181803. eCollection 2019 Feb.

Editorial overview: Parasites/parasitoids/biological control: Bee health in the modern age: a major concern. Genersch E, Jensen AB, Bonning BC. Curr Opin Insect Sci. 2018 Apr;26:ix-xi. doi: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.03.002.

Intensively Cultivated Landscape and Varroa Mite Infestation Are Associated with Reduced Honey Bee Nutritional State. Dolezal AG, Carrillo-Tripp J, Miller WA, Bonning BC, Toth AL. PLoS One. 2016 Apr 12;11(4):e0153531. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153531. eCollection 2016.

In vivo and in vitro infection dynamics of honey bee viruses. Carrillo-Tripp J, Dolezal AG, Goblirsch MJ, Miller WA, Toth AL, Bonning BC. Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 29;6:22265. doi: 10.1038/srep22265.

Pollen Contaminated With Field-Relevant Levels of Cyhalothrin Affects Honey Bee Survival, Nutritional Physiology, and Pollen Consumption Behavior. Dolezal AG, Carrillo-Tripp J, Miller WA, Bonning BC, Toth AL. J Econ Entomol. 2016 Feb;109(1):41-8.