Rhythm of a life within life: role of viral suppressors in hijacking the host cell

Abstract

Virus–host interaction at cellular and intra-cellular level is a constantly evolving process which results either in the host to resist or the virus to break host immunity and to establish the disease. We have put extensive efforts to understand the genomic organization and gene functions of important viral proteins involved in resisting or avoiding host antiviral responses mediated by RNA interference or Ubiquitin–Proteasome Pathway. Nearly two decades of dedicated research on three agriculturally important viruses revealed genetic and epigenetic regulation of host to induce the defense/immunity responses. The microRNA and auxin regulated development of disease symptoms and the role of temperature in optimizing the interactions of viral protein with host small RNAs are intriguing observations. Owing to the complexity of the dynamic interactions between plant and virus, this research field will always be challenging and fascinating.