Viroid Pathogenicity: One Process, Many Faces

doi:10.3390/v1020298

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Viruses 2009, 1(2), 298-316; doi:10.3390/v1020298

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Viroid Pathogenicity: One Process, Many Faces

Robert A. Owens* and Rosemarie W. Hammond

Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, USDA/ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 14 July 2009; in revised form: 31 August 2009 / Accepted: 1 September 2009 / Published: 10 September 2009

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Subviral RNAs)

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Abstract: Despite the non-coding nature of their small RNA genomes, the visible symptoms of viroid infection resemble those associated with many plant virus diseases. Recent evidence indicates that viroid-derived small RNAs acting through host RNA silencing pathways play a key role in viroid pathogenicity. Host responses to viroid infection are complex, involving signaling cascades containing host-encoded protein kinases and crosstalk between hormonal and defense-signaling pathways. Studies of viroid-host interaction in the context of entire biochemical or developmental pathways are just beginning, and many working hypotheses have yet to be critically tested.

Keywords: viroid pathogenicity; RNA silencing; disease induction

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MDPI and ACS Style

Owens, R.A.; Hammond, R.W. Viroid Pathogenicity: One Process, Many Faces. Viruses 2009, 1, 298-316.

AMA Style

Owens R.A., Hammond R.W. Viroid Pathogenicity: One Process, Many Faces. Viruses. 2009; 1(2):298-316.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Owens, Robert A.; Hammond, Rosemarie W. 2009. "Viroid Pathogenicity: One Process, Many Faces." Viruses 1, no. 2: 298-316.

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