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... In some countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, about 80 % of the population uses traditional medicine for primary health care (WHO,2003). TMV is reported to be present and stable in smoked tobacco (Bothwell, 1960;Wahyuni et.al, 2008;Wetter, 1975;Chyle et.al, 1971), resistant to the manufacturing process, and was further detected in smokers' silva (Balique et.al, 2012). Similarly, the ingested plant viruses can be detected in human cells and excreta (Zhang et.al, 2006). ...
In recent decades infectivity of viruses across the kingdoms of living beings viz. animals to humans, birds to humans, and plants to humans has raised questions on the host specificity of the viral pathogen within their kingdom. A plant virus particularly Pepper-mild mottle virus (PMMov) causes fever, abdominal pain, and pruritus in patients ingesting pepper infected with PMMoV. Certain plant viruses-infected fruits, vegetables, and food products that are ingested by humans, in the absence of the proper knowledge of plant viral infection, such plant viruses are detected in human cells and excretion. Not all such plant viral ingestion are researched for their effect on human health and for clinical symptoms. A Potyvirus (PRSV-P) infecting Papaya and Cucurbitaceae family plants and exhibiting typical symptoms of ring spots and blisters on the infected fruits are consumed and ingested by humans, however; their ingestion effect has not yet been studied and reported. The present case study was therefore undertaken to assess the effect of ingestion of PRSV-infected fruits on human health. It is observed that PRSV-P-infected papaya and bottle gourd were safe for human consumption without having any clinical symptoms on human health.
... This observation may not be the infection of human cells by the virus itself, but rather viral RNA interfering with the function of human RNA. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is often present in smoked tobacco and, therefore, it is resistant to manufacturing processes (Smith, 1957;Wetter, 1975;Wahyuni et al., 2008). A study found that TMV was viable in 53% of the cigarettes of six different brands (Balique et al., 2012). ...
In today's global market, some organic farmers must meet regulatory requirements to demonstrate that their plants and feedstocks are genetically modified organism (GMO)-free. Many GM plants are engineered to contain a promoter from the plant virus, Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), in order to facilitate expression of an engineered target gene. The relative ubiquity of this CaMV 35S promoter (P35S) in GM constructs means that assays designed to detect GM plants often target the P35S DNA sequence, but these detection assays can yield false-positives from plants that are infected by naturally-occurring CaMV or its relatives within the Caulimoviridae. This review places CaMV infection and these ambiguous GM plant detection assays in context, serving as a resource for industry professionals, regulatory bodies, and researchers at the nexus of organic farming and global commerce. We first briefly introduce GM plants from a regulatory perspective, and then we describe CaMV biology, transmission, and management practices, highlighting the relatively widespread nature of CaMV infection in both GM and non-GM crops within the Brassicaceae and Solanaceae families. Finally, we discuss current knowledge of public food safety related to the consumption of CaMV-infected produce.
... TMV and other plant viruses are wide-spread in nature; TMV in particular has been detected in agricultural products (e.g. vegetables) [42,43] and tobacco [44]. Antibodies against TMV, therefore, may be prevalent in the human population. ...
Nanoparticles with high aspect ratios have favorable attributes for drug delivery and bio-imaging applications based on their enhanced tissue penetration and tumor homing properties. Here, we investigated a novel filamentous viral nanoparticle (VNP) based on Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), a relative of the established platform Potato virus X (PVX). We studied the chemical reactivity of PepMV, produced fluorescent versions of PepMV and PVX, and then evaluated their biodistribution in mouse tumor models. We found that PepMV can be conjugated to various small chemical modifiers including fluorescent probes via the amine groups of surface-exposed lysine residues, yielding VNPs carrying payloads of up to 1600 modifiers per particle. Although PepMV and PVX share similarities in particle size and shape, PepMV achieved enhanced tumor homing and less non-specific tissue distribution compared to PVX in mouse models of triple negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer. In conclusion, PepMV provides a novel tool for nanomedical research but more research is needed to fully exploit the potential of plant VNPs for health applications.
... Viral vectors are primarily eliminated from the body through antibody clearance, and TMV-specific antibodies have been previously found in blood collected from both smokers and non-smokers, presumably due to the prevalence of the virus in crops and tobacco cigarettes. [35][36][37][38] Repeat administration of TMV-based therapeutics would also lead to development of TMV-specific antibodies, so it is critical to test the ability of stealth-coated particles to prevent immune recognition. Immuno dot blots with anti-TMV antibodies and fluorescent TMV particles were performed to test the shielding properties of the SA-TMV particles ( Fig. 1D and 1E). ...
Nanoparticles offer great potential in drug delivery and imaging, but shielding strategies are necessary to increase circulation time and performance. Structure-function studies are required to define the design rules to achieve effective shielding. With several formulations reaching clinical testing and approval, the ability to assess and detail nanoparticle formulations at the single particle level is becoming increasingly important. To address this need, we use cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to investigate stealth-coated nanoparticles. As a model system, we studied the soft matter nanotubes formed by tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coated with human serum albumin (SA) stealth proteins. Cryo-ET and subtomogram averaging allow for visualization of individual SA molecules and determination of their orientations relative to the TMV surface, and also for measurement of the surface coverage provided by added stealth proteins. This information fills a critical gap in the understanding of the structural morphology of stealth-coated nanoparticles, and therefore cryo-ET may play an important role in guiding the development of future nanoparticle-based therapeutics.
... It is known that TMV virions are highly stable and thermotolerant. These properties allow TMV to survive in plant residues, including tobacco cigars and cigarettes [25][26][27]. Usage of cigarette extract as an infectious inoculum when infecting plants resulted in the appearance of TMV symptoms on tobacco leaves [28]. ...
Currently, virions and virus-like particles (VLPs) of plant viruses are considered as the basis for the development of new biotechnologies for human and veterinary medicine, including production of modern and safe vaccines, targeted delivery systems, and novel diagnostic preparations, as well as for production of therapeutic proteins in plants. Despite the fact that plant viruses cannot replicate in vertebrates, there are data that they are able to reproduce one or another phase of the infectious cycle in mammalian cells. Moreover, it was shown that plant viruses can be permanently present in a human and animal organism and can use it as a vector. In the review, the results of biocompatibility, toxicity, teratogenicity, and distribution of plant viruses are presented. Based on recent data, it can be affirmed that plant viruses are safe for humans and animals. It was shown that the virions are biodegradable and are easily eliminated from an organism of laboratory animals. Furthermore the virions and VLPs of plant viruses are highly immunogenic and presentation of antigenic determinant of human and animal pathogens on their surface allow to simulate a safe viral particle that is able to replace live attenuated vaccines.
... TMV and other plant viruses are wide-spread in nature; TMV in particular has been detected in agricultural products (e.g. vegetables) [42,43] and tobacco [44]. Antibodies against TMV, therefore, may be prevalent in the human population. ...
Plant virus-based nanoparticles (VNPs) are a novel class of nanocarriers with unique potential for biomedical applications. VNPs have many advantageous properties such as ease of manufacture and high degree of quality control. Their biocompatibility and biodegradability make them an attractive alternative to synthetic nanoparticles (NPs). Nevertheless, as with synthetic NPs, to be successful in drug delivery or imaging, the carriers need to overcome several biological barriers including innate immune recognition. Plasma opsonization can tag (V)NPs for clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), resulting in shortened circulation half lives and non-specific sequestration in non-targeted organs. PEG coatings have been traditionally used to ‘shield’ nanocarriers from immune surveillance. However, due to broad use of PEG in cosmetics and other industries, the prevalence of anti-PEG antibodies has been reported, which may limit the utility of PEGylation in nanomedicine. Alternative strategies are needed to tailor the in vivo properties of (plant virus-based) nanocarriers. We demonstrate the use of serum albumin (SA) as a viable alternative. We demonstrate that SA conjugation to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based nanocarriers results in a ‘camouflage’ effect more effective than PEG coatings. SA-‘camouflaged’ TMV particles exhibit decreased antibody recognition, as well as enhanced pharmacokinetics in a Balb/C mouse model. Therefore, SA-coatings may provide an alternative and improved coating technique to yield (plant virus-based) NPs with improved in vivo properties enhancing drug delivery and molecular imaging.
... In some countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of the population uses traditional medicine for primary health care, with herbal treatment being the most used traditional medicine [63]. Smoking is another risk factor for exposure to plant viruses, TMV being present and stable in the smoked tobacco [64][65][66][67] and resistant to manufacturing processes [68]. Mean TMV RNA titer was found to be 9.5 log10RNA copies/cigarette and 3.8 log10RNA copies/mL of smokers' saliva [69]. ...
Phytoviruses are highly prevalent in plants worldwide, including vegetables and fruits. Humans, and more generally animals, are exposed daily to these viruses, among which several are extremely stable. It is currently accepted that a strict separation exists between plant and vertebrate viruses regarding their host range and pathogenicity, and plant viruses are believed to infect only plants. Accordingly, plant viruses are not considered to present potential pathogenicity to humans and other vertebrates. Notwithstanding these beliefs, there are many examples where phytoviruses circulate and propagate in insect vectors. Several issues are raised here that question if plant viruses might further cross the kingdom barrier to cause diseases in humans. Indeed, there is close relatedness between some plant and animal viruses, and almost identical gene repertoires. Moreover, plant viruses can be detected in non-human mammals and humans samples, and there are evidence of immune responses to plant viruses in invertebrates, non-human vertebrates and humans, and of the entry of plant viruses or their genomes into non-human mammal cells and bodies after experimental exposure. Overall, the question raised here is unresolved, and several data prompt the additional extensive study of the interactions between phytoviruses and non-human mammals and humans, and the potential of these viruses to cause diseases in humans.
This review describes the development of the bioassay as a means of quantifying plant viruses, with particular attention to tobamovirus. It delves into various models used to establish a correlation between virus particle concentration and the number of induced local lesions (the infectivity dilution curve), including the Poisson, Furumoto and Mickey, Kleczkowski, Growth curve, and modified Poisson models. The parameters of each model are described, and their application or performance in the context of the tobacco mosaic virus is explored. This overview highlights the enduring value of the infectivity dilution curve in tobamovirus quantification, providing valuable insights for researchers or practitioners of bioassays and theoreticians of modeling.
Biomolecules are vitally important elements in nanoscale science and also in future nanotechnology. Their shape and their chemical and physical functionality can give them a big advantage over inorganic and organic substances. While this becomes most obvious in proteins and peptides, with their complicated, but easily controlled chemistry, other biomolecular substances such as DNA, lipids and carbohydrates can also be important. In this review, the emphasis is on one-dimensional molecules and on molecules that self-assemble into linear structures, and on their potential applications. An important aspect is that biomolecules can act as templates, i.e. their shape and chemical properties can be employed to arrange inorganic substances - such as metals or metal compounds - on the nanometre scale. In particular, rod- and tube-like nanostructures can show physical properties that are different from those of the bulk material, and thus these structures are likely to be a basis for new technology.
Plant viruses are generally considered incapable of infecting vertebrates. Accordingly, they are not considered harmful for humans. However, a few studies questioned the certainty of this paradigm. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) RNA has been detected in human samples and TMV RNA translation has been described in animal cells. We sought to determine if TMV is detectable, persists, and remains viable in the lung tissues of mice following intratracheal inoculation, and we attempted to inoculate mouse macrophages with TMV. In the animal model, mice were intratracheally inoculated with 10(11) viral particles and were sacrificed at different time points. The virus was detected in the mouse lungs using immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, real-time RT-PCR and sequencing, and its viability was studied with an infectivity assay on plants. In the cellular model, the culture medium of murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) was inoculated with different concentrations of TMV, and the virus was detected with real-time RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. In addition, anti-TMV antibodies were detected in mouse sera with ELISA. We showed that infectious TMV could enter and persist in mouse lungs via the intratracheal route. Over 14 days, the TMV RNA level decreased by 5 log(10) copies/ml in the mouse lungs and by 3.5 log(10) in macrophages recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage. TMV was localized to lung tissue, and its infectivity was observed on plants until 3 days after inoculation. In addition, anti-TMV antibody seroconversions were observed in the sera from mice 7 days after inoculation. In the cellular model, we observed that TMV persisted over 15 days after inoculation and it was visualized in the cytoplasm of the BMDM. This work shows that a plant virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, could persist and enter in cells in mammals, which raises questions about the potential interactions between TMV and human hosts.
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) has been described as viable in cigarettes or cigar tobacco. It has been cultured about 50 years ago from sputa and thoracentesis fluids of cigarette smokers with a history of pulmonary disease and from lung cancerous matter. In addition, TMV RNA has been recovered recently from human stools while tobacco DNA was recovered from smokers' bronchoalveolar lavages.
We assessed the prevalence, titers, and infectivity of TMV in tobacco cigarettes and in the saliva of smokers and non smokers.
Tobacco cigarettes from 10 packs of different brands were purchased. Saliva was collected from 12 smokers and 15 non-smokers. Cigarettes and saliva samples were tested for the presence of TMV RNA using a home-made quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay. TMV RNA quantification was enabled by using dilutions of purified TMV. TMV viability was tested by inoculating leaves of Nicotiana tabacum Xanthi (NtX).
All 47 smoking cigarettes of six brands were TMV RNA-positive (mean titer, 9.5log(10)copies/cigarette); TMV was found viable in 53% of them. In addition, 20/44 (45%) saliva from 12 smokers compared to 0/16 saliva from 15 non-smokers tested positive for TMV RNA (mean titer, 3.8log(10)copies/ml) (p=0.001).
Our results indicate that the TMV genome may get access to the human body by direct exposure through smoking. Although plant viruses are considered not pathogenic for animals, these data prompt to study if TMV RNA is present and induces a modification of the transcriptional program in lung cells of cigarette smokers.
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