Differential gene deregulations between Myzus persicae fed on plants infected with turnip yellows virus and aphids fed on an artificial medium containing purified virus particles.

Background:Poleroviruses, such as the turnip yellows virus (TuYV), are plant viruses strictly transmitted by aphids in a persistent and circulative manner. Acquisition of virus particles or plant material altered by virus infection are expected to induce gene deregulation in aphids which may ultimately alter aphid behavior.Results: By conducting an RNA-Seq analysis on viruliferous aphids fed on TuYV-infected plants or from an artificial medium containing purified virus particles, we identified several hundreds of genes deregulated in Myzus persicae. Only a few genes linked to receptor activities and/or vesicular transport were common between the two modes of acquisition with however a low level of deregulation. Behavioral studies on viruliferous aphids showed that M. persicae behavior was affected by feeding on TuYV-infected plants but not on the artificial medium containing the purified virus particles. Interestingly genes potentially involved in aphid behavior were deregulated in aphids fed on infected plants but not on the artificial medium.Conclusions: Altogether, these data showed that TuYV particles acquisition is responsible of a moderate deregulation of a few genes although the highest gene deregulation is due to aphid acquisition of plant material produced in infected plants. Our data are also in favor of a major role of these infection by-products on aphid behavior.