Potential New Fungal Pathogen Destroyer - The Myco-Virus

Identification of Diverse Mycoviruses through Metatranscriptomics Characterization of the Viromes of Five Major Fungal Plant Pathogens.
Journal of Virology, 2016
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        Fungal pathogens reduce total yields by an average of 10% annually, therefore new and effective ways of control are always of interest.  A group of researchers from the Univeristy of Illinois evaluated the myco-viruses present in 5 common fungal plant pathogens. Myco-Viruses are simply viruses that infect fungi.  The researchers were able to extract DNA and RNA from the fungal pathogens (which would have viral residual DNA/RNA fingerprints) and then compared what they found against a database of known viruses.  They found DNA that matched a number of known viruses.  Some of the viruses were encapsidated, meaning their DNA/RNA was packaged in a protein shell, allowing them to be transmitted outside the fungus.  Because of their inherent hardiness, encapsidated myco-viruses have future potential for use as a fungicide.  At this time, the researchers were not interested in their effectiveness in controlling fungal pathogens, rather they just wanted to identify the relations between known viruses and the newly found myco-viruses.  Understanding lineage is the first step in developing a myco-virus for use in fighting fungal disease.     

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