A study of genomic variation in and the development of detection techniques for potato virus Y in South Africa
| dc.contributor.advisor | Bellstedt, D. U. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Visser, Johan Christiaan | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Biochemistry. | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2012-07-27T13:36:58Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2012-07-27T13:36:58Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2008-03 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Potato virus Y (PVY) is responsible for considerable yield losses in the South African potato industry. The incidence of this virus has greatly increased over the past few years. Even more worrying is the variation of symptoms observed during PVY infection and the recent appearance of the more virulent PVYNTN strain in local fields. This project aimed to investigate the possible genetic variation within the viral genome and to establish the origin of strains. The project also aimed to establish a dependable, area specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to replace the currently used ELISAs. Currently seed potato certification is done using ELISA kits imported from Europe. These kits were developed for the detection of overseas variants of PVY and the use thereof in South Africa has in the past lead to false negatives. Finally, this project set out to develop, optimize and establish a sensitive and reliable real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) detection protocol for PVY. In the first part of the study the coat protein (CP) gene of PVY isolates from plant material obtained from various parts of South Africa was amplified using RT-PCR. The resulting cDNA was then sequenced directly or cloned into a vector and then sequenced. The resulting sequences were aligned in a data matrix with international reference sequences, analyzed and grouped according to strain. Examination of the CP gene within this matrix as well as phylogenetic analysis revealed six main groups of PVY. These six groups included the traditional PVYN and PVYO groups and a recombinant group. Furthermore it also revealed variants of PVYN and PVYO. These mutants and recombinants pose a threat as they may lead to South African strains of PVY expressing coat proteins which vary from those found overseas. This may render the currently used European ELISA method of detection less effective and subsequently result in an increase in viral prevalence. This reinforced the need for a detection method based on local viral strains. Phylogenetic and Simplot analysis also confirmed that a recombinant strain between PVYN and PVYO had evolved and that PVYNTN was such a recombinant. The second part of the study aimed to develop and establish detection methods based on local variants of PVY. This included the development of ELISA and qRT-PCR detection methods of PVY. Previously amplified cDNA of the PVY CP gene was cloned into an expression vector and successfully expressed. Antibodies produced against the recombinant protein, when used in ELISA, however, failed to achieve the required levels of sensitivity. This prompted the development of qRT-PCR detection methods for PVY. Primer combinations for PVY were designed using the previously established CP gene data matrix. A reliable and sensitive SYBR® Green I based qRT-PCR assay was developed for the detection of PVY. The assay effectively detected all known South African variants of PVY. Furthermore, a Taqman® assay was developed for the detection of all variants of PVY. The Taqman® assay was 10 fold less sensitive and does not allow for amplicon verification through melting curve analysis, but it does add more specificity due to the addition of the probe. Although these qRT-PCR detection methods are still too expensive to replace the routine diagnostics done with ELISA, they do offer the opportunity to screen valuable mother material and confirm borderline cases in seed certification. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aartappel virus Y (PVY) is verantwoordelik vir aansienlike opbrengsverliese in die Suid-Afrikaanse aartappelindustrie. Die insidensie van infeksie deur die virus het drasties toegeneem oor die afgelope jare. Wat egter meer kommerwekkend is, is die groter variasie in simptome van PVY infeksie en die onlangse voorkoms ‘n meer virulente ras, PVYNTN. Hierdie projek poog om moontlike genetiese variasie van PVY te ondersoek en om die oorsprong van rasse op te spoor. Die projek het ook gepoog ook om ‘n bruikbare, betroubare en area spesifieke “enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay” (ELISA) toets te ontwikkel om die huidige ingevoerde ELISA te vervang. Hierdie toetse is ontwikkel om oorsese variante van PVY op te spoor en die gebruik daarvan het in die verlede gelei tot vals negatiewes. Verder is daar ook ondersoek ingestel na die ontwikkeling van ‘n sensitiewe en betroubare “real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction” (qRT-PCR) protokol vir die opsporing van PVY. In die eerste deel van die studie is die mantelproteïen geen van PVY isolate vanuit plant materiaal geamplifiseer deur die gebruik van RT-PCR. Hierdie materiaal is vanaf verskeie streke in Suid-Afrika ontvang. ‘n Volgordebepalingsreaksie is uitgevoer op gekloneerde of ongekloneerde cDNA verkry uit die RT-PCR. DNA volgordes is in ‘n data matriks geplaas en vergelyk met internationale volgordes om die plaaslike isolate te analiseer en te groepeer. Deur vergelyking en filogenetiese ontleding kon ses hoofgroepe van PVY geïdentifiseer word, wat tradisionele PVYN en PVYO, sowel as ‘n rekombinante ras en variante binne die tradisionele PVYN en PVYO groepe ingesluit het. Rekombinante en mutante kan veroorsaak dat Suid-Afrikanse rasse van PVY mantelproteïene uitdruk wat afwyk van die oorsese rasse wat tot gevolg mag hê dat die ELISAs van oorsee minder effektief kan wees en kan lei tot verhoogde virus voorkoms. Die realiteit en gevaar versterk die gedagte dat ‘n deteksie metode gebaseer op plaaslike virusse absoluut krities is. Filogenetiese sowel as Simplot analise het bevestig dat ’n mutante ras tussen PVYN en PVYO ontstaan het en dat PVYNTN ’n rekombinante ras is. Die tweede deel van die studie was daarop gemik om deteksie metodes te ontwikkel wat gebaseer was op plaaslike variante van PVY. Dit sluit die ontwikkeling van ELISA sowel as qRT-PCR deteksie van PVY in. Voorheen geamplifiseerde cDNA is in ‘n ekspressievektor gekloneer en suksesvol uitgedruk. Teenliggaampies teen die rekombinante proteïen, indien in ELISA aangewend, kon egter nie die nodige sensitiwiteit oplewer nie. Dit het aanleiding gegee tot ontwikkeling van qRT-PCR deteksie metodes. Inleier kombinasies vir PVY was ontwikkel deur die gebruik van die bestaande mantelproteïen geen data matrikse. ‘n Betroubare en sensitiewe SYBR® Green I qRT-PCR deteksie protokol was ontwikkel vir die effektiewe deteksie van alle bekende Suid-Afrikanse rasse van PVY. Verder is ‘n sogenaamde “Taqman®” protokol ook ontwikkel vir deteksie van alle rasse. Die “Taqman®” protokol was 10 voudiglik minder gevoelig and laat nie bevestiging deur smeltkurwe analise toe nie, maar verleen meer spesifisiteit deur die toevoeging van die “Taqman® probe”. Hierdie qRT-PCR deteksie metodes is tans te duur om as roetine diagnostiese toetse te gebruik en kan dus nie ELISA vervang nie, maar hulle bied wel die geleentheid om waardevolle moeder materiaal te toets en grensgevalle in aartappelsaad sertifisering te bevestig. | af |
| dc.format.extent | 78 leaves : ill. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/21878 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Potato virus Y | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Potatoes -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Virus diseases of plants -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Theses -- Biochemistry | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Dissertations -- Biochemistry | en_ZA |
| dc.title | A study of genomic variation in and the development of detection techniques for potato virus Y in South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |