Characterization of soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV) proteins: Sequence analysis of field strains and comparison of localization patterns in differing cell types

Soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV) is a persistent, propagative, ambisense single-stranded RNA virus in the genus Orthotospovirus, transmitted by Nehydatothrips variabilis. To understand SVNV in the field, 33 samples exhibiting symptoms of SVNV were collected. The N, NSs, and NSm open reading frames (ORFs) were sequenced, revealing amino acid mutations in each gene. The five open reading frames of the SVNV Tennessee strain (N, NSs, NSm, GN, and GC) were fused in frame to GFP for experimentation in both plant and insect cells. N and NSs localize in plants at the cell periphery and nucleus. NSm induces cell death in plant cells, but not in insect cells, where cytoplasmic localization is observed. G_N and G_C glycoproteins localize to the membranes and display increased cytoplasmic localization in insect cells. The findings of this study contribute to understanding the genes of SVNV and capture sequence changes that have occurred over the past fifteen years.