Integrative time-scale and multi-omics analysis of host responses to viroid infection

Viroids are circular RNAs of minimal complexity compelled to subvert plant-regulatory networks to accomplish their infectious process. Studies focused on the response to viroid-infection have mostly addressed specific regulatory levels and considered specifics infection-times. Thus, much remains to be done to understand the temporal evolution and complex nature of viroid-host interactions. Here we present an integrative analysis of the temporal evolution of the genome-wide alterations in cucumber plants infected with hop stunt viroid (HSVd) by integrating differential host transcriptome, sRNAnome and methylome. Our results support that HSVd promotes the redesign of the cucumber regulatory-pathways predominantly affecting specific regulatory layers at different infection-phases. The initial response was characterised by a reconfiguration of the host-transcriptome by differential exon-usage, followed by a progressive transcriptional downregulation modulated by epigenetic changes. Regarding endogenous small RNAs, the alterations were limited and mainly occurred at the late stage. Significant host-alterations were predominantly related to the downregulation of transcripts involved in plant-defence mechanisms, the restriction of pathogen-movement and the systemic spreading of defence signals. We expect that these data constituting the first comprehensive temporal-map of the plant-regulatory alterations associated with HSVd infection could contribute to elucidate the molecular basis of the yet poorly known host-response to viroid-induced pathogenesis.

Automated summary

This study provides an integrative analysis of the genome-wide alterations in cucumber plants infected with hop stunt viroid (HSVd). The results show that HSVd causes a reconfiguration of the cucumber regulatory pathways, predominantly affecting specific regulatory layers at different infection phases. The initial response involves differential exon usage, followed by transcriptional downregulation modulated by epigenetic changes. The alterations in endogenous small RNAs are limited and mainly occur at the late stage. The significant host alterations are primarily related to the downregulation of plant defense mechanisms and the systemic spreading of defense signals.