Broad bean wilt virus 2 encoded VP53, VP37 and large capsid protein orchestrate suppression of RNA silencing in plant

•VP53, VP37 and LCP of BBWV-2 suppress both local and systemic RNA silencing through blocking systemic spread of the RNA silencing signal in plants.•BBWV-2 VP53 binds 24 nt ssRNA and enhances the pathogenicity of Potato virus X (PVX) in Nicotiana benthamiana.•The first report of RNA silencing suppressors encoded by a virus in the genus Fabavirus.

Viruses encode RNA silencing suppressors to counteract host RNA silencing-mediated defense responses. In this study, we demonstrate that VP53, VP37 and LCP encoded by RNA2 of broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV-2), a member of the genus Fabavirus, are strong suppressors of RNA silencing triggered by single-stranded sense RNA. They, however, had no effect on suppression of RNA silencing induced by double-stranded RNA. We provide evidence that these three suppressors can significantly limit the accumulation of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in tissues where the GFP gene has been silenced, and prevent the long distance spread of the induced silencing signal. Gel mobility shift assays showed that all three suppressors could bind ssRNA in a size-specific manner. Interestingly, VP37 and LCP, but not VP53, could reverse the silencing of a GFP gene in leaf tissue. Furthermore, these three proteins are capable of enhancing pathogenicity of potato virus X. Collectively, our findings indicate that viruses employ a more sophisticated strategy to overcome the host defense response mediated through suppression of RNA silencing during virus infection. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of RNA silencing suppressors encoded by a virus in the genus Fabavirus.