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15 pages, 2908 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Galbut Virus Infection Minimally Influences Drosophila melanogaster Fitness Traits in a Strain and Sex-Dependent Manner

by Shaun T. Cross, Ali L. Brehm, Tillie J. Dunham, Case P. Rodgers, Alexandra H. Keene, Grace I. Borlee and Mark D. Stenglein

Viruses 2023, 15(2), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15020539 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1722

Abstract

Galbut virus (family Partitiviridae) infects Drosophila melanogaster and can be transmitted vertically from infected mothers or infected fathers with near perfect efficiency. This form of super-Mendelian inheritance should drive infection to 100% prevalence, and indeed, galbut virus is ubiquitous in wild D. [...] Read more.

Galbut virus (family Partitiviridae) infects Drosophila melanogaster and can be transmitted vertically from infected mothers or infected fathers with near perfect efficiency. This form of super-Mendelian inheritance should drive infection to 100% prevalence, and indeed, galbut virus is ubiquitous in wild D. melanogaster populations. However, on average, only about 60% of individual flies are infected. One possible explanation for this is that a subset of flies are resistant to infection. Although galbut virus-infected flies appear healthy, infection may be sufficiently costly to drive selection for resistant hosts, thereby decreasing overall prevalence. To test this hypothesis, we quantified a variety of fitness-related traits in galbut virus-infected flies from two lines from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP). Galbut virus-infected flies had no difference in average lifespan and total offspring production compared to their uninfected counterparts. Galbut virus-infected DGRP-517 flies pupated and eclosed faster than their uninfected counterparts. Some galbut virus-infected flies exhibited altered sensitivity to viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. The microbiome composition of flies was not measurably perturbed by galbut virus infection. Differences in phenotype attributable to galbut virus infection varied as a function of fly sex and DGRP strain, and differences attributable to infection status were dwarfed by larger differences attributable to strain and sex. Thus, galbut virus infection does produce measurable phenotypic changes, with changes being minor, offsetting, and possibly net-negative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association)

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22 pages, 1983 KiB

Open AccessConference Report

The 23rd Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association

by Ali L. Brehm, Tillie J. Dunham, Samantha M. Pinto, Kaitlynn A. Williams, Kathryn L. Coffin, Molly E. Ring, Oshani C. Ratnayake, Joel Rovnak and Rushika Perera

Viruses 2024, 16(4), 586; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16040586 - 10 Apr 2024

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Abstract

Located 50 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado, Colorado State University’s Mountain Campus in Pingree Park hosted the 23rd annual Rocky Mountain Virology Association meeting in 2023 with 116 participants. The 3-day event at the end of September consisted of 28 talks and [...] Read more.

Located 50 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado, Colorado State University’s Mountain Campus in Pingree Park hosted the 23rd annual Rocky Mountain Virology Association meeting in 2023 with 116 participants. The 3-day event at the end of September consisted of 28 talks and 43 posters that covered the topics of viral evolution and surveillance, developments in prion research, arboviruses and vector biology, host–virus interactions, and viral immunity and vaccines. This year’s Randall Jay Cohrs keynote presentation covered the topic of One Health and emerging coronaviruses. This timely discussion covered the importance of global disease surveillance, international collaboration, and trans-disciplinary research teams to prevent and control future pandemics. Peak fall colors flanked the campus and glowed along the multiple mountain peaks, allowing for pristine views while discussing science and networking, or engaging in mountain activities like fly fishing and hiking. On behalf of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association, this report summarizes select presentations from the 23rd annual meeting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association)

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29 pages, 6049 KiB

Open AccessConference Report

The 22nd Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association

by Oshani C. Ratnayake, Paul Gendler, Benjamin Swartzwelter, Alexandra Keene, Ali L. Brehm, Sandra L. Quackenbush, Joel Rovnak and Rushika Perera

Viruses 2023, 15(1), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15010098 - 29 Dec 2022

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Abstract

Following the cause established twenty-two years ago, the 22nd Annual Rocky Mountain Virology Association meeting was held amidst the resplendent Rocky Mountains within the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests. 116 intellectuals including both regional and international scientists as well as trainees gathered at [...] Read more.

Following the cause established twenty-two years ago, the 22nd Annual Rocky Mountain Virology Association meeting was held amidst the resplendent Rocky Mountains within the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests. 116 intellectuals including both regional and international scientists as well as trainees gathered at the Colorado State University Mountain Campus for this three-day forum. Current trends in virology and prion disease research were discussed both in talks and poster presentations. This year’s keynote address emphasized innate immune modulation by arboviruses while other invited speakers shared updates on noroviruses, retroviruses, coronaviruses and prion diversity. Additionally, the need for and importance of better approaches for sharing science with non-science communities via science communication was discussed. Trainees and junior investigators presented 19 talks and 31 posters. This report encapsulates selected studies presented at the 22nd Rocky Mountain National Virology Association meeting held on 30 September–2 October 2022. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association)

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