Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
5-8-2024 11:00 AM
End Date
5-8-2024 1:00 PM
Subjects
Viruses, RNA viruses
Advisor
Leah Tuor
Student Level
Undergraduate
Abstract
Cruciviruses are DNA viruses that contain a capsid protein that shares striking similarities to capsid proteins from RNA viruses. Formerly known as “RNA-DNA hybrid viruses”, this novel type of viruses suggest gene exchange between unrelated RNA and DNA viruses. However, the hosts of cruciviruses remain unknown. To investigate this groundbreaking virus genome further, utilization of the predicted viral host recognition domain (P-domain) fused to a thermal green protein and a histidine tag, allows investigation of crucivirus hosts in environments where these viruses have been discovered. Using cruciviruses that have been found in soil samples on the PSU campus, along with crucivirus genomes found in the protist Carpediemonas membranifera, we may solve the mystery of how a virus is able to present with an RNA-like capsid while containing DNA genetic material. The capsid proteins of PSU crucivirus genomes node-34 and node 209, and the well-characterized tomato bushy stunt virus related to cruciviruses werefused to the green fluorescent protein gene using molecular cloning techniques , expressed and purified recombinantly in E.coli. Fluorescence microscopy will be used to determine the binding of these crucivirus capsid P-domains to Carpediemonas and PSU soil microorganisms in order to identify potential crucivirus host organisms.
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Included in
Hide & Cru-Seq: Investigating Potential Crucivirus Hosts with Fluorescently Labeled Protein
Cruciviruses are DNA viruses that contain a capsid protein that shares striking similarities to capsid proteins from RNA viruses. Formerly known as “RNA-DNA hybrid viruses”, this novel type of viruses suggest gene exchange between unrelated RNA and DNA viruses. However, the hosts of cruciviruses remain unknown. To investigate this groundbreaking virus genome further, utilization of the predicted viral host recognition domain (P-domain) fused to a thermal green protein and a histidine tag, allows investigation of crucivirus hosts in environments where these viruses have been discovered. Using cruciviruses that have been found in soil samples on the PSU campus, along with crucivirus genomes found in the protist Carpediemonas membranifera, we may solve the mystery of how a virus is able to present with an RNA-like capsid while containing DNA genetic material. The capsid proteins of PSU crucivirus genomes node-34 and node 209, and the well-characterized tomato bushy stunt virus related to cruciviruses werefused to the green fluorescent protein gene using molecular cloning techniques , expressed and purified recombinantly in E.coli. Fluorescence microscopy will be used to determine the binding of these crucivirus capsid P-domains to Carpediemonas and PSU soil microorganisms in order to identify potential crucivirus host organisms.