Mycoviruses and their role in fungal pathogenesis

Nowadays, the focus of mycovirology research has expanded from plant pathogenic fungi and mycovirus mediated hypovirulence to include insect and human pathogenic fungi together with a range of mycovirus mediated phenotypes, such as hypervirulence, control of endophytic traits, regulation of metabolite production and drug resistance. In fungus- mycovirus-environmental interactions, the environment and both abiotic and biotic factors play crucial roles in whether and how mycovirus mediated phenotypes are manifest. Mycovirus infections result in alterations in the host transcriptome profile, via protein-protein interactions and triggering of antiviral RNA silencing in the fungus. These alterations, in combination with the environmental factors, may result in desirable phenotypic traits for the host, for us and in some cases for both.

Automated summary

The research focus in mycovirology has expanded to include not only plant pathogenic fungi and hypovirulence mediated by mycovirus, but also insect and human pathogenic fungi and a variety of mycovirus mediated phenotypes such as hypervirulence, control of endophytic traits, regulation of metabolite production and drug resistance. In interactions involving fungus, mycovirus and the environment, environmental factors and both abiotic and biotic factors are crucial in determining whether and how mycovirus mediated phenotypes manifest. Mycovirus infections can lead to changes in the host transcriptome profile through protein-protein interactions and the initiation of antiviral RNA silencing in the fungus, potentially resulting in desirable phenotypic traits for the host, humans, and sometimes both.