The development of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of the South African strain(s) of grapevine fanleaf nepovirus

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dc.contributor.advisorBurger, J. T.en_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorFreeborough, M.-J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLiebenberg, Annerieen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Genetics.
dc.date.accessioned2008-11-24T10:04:28Zen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2010-06-01T08:50:52Z
dc.date.available2008-11-24T10:04:28Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2010-06-01T08:50:52Z
dc.date.issued2008-12en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MSc (Genetics))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
dc.description.abstractSouth Africa is one of the top ten wine producing countries in the world. The South African wine industry contributes approximately R16.3 billion to South Africa’s annual gross domestic product with 42.8% of wine being exported. To compete with the top wine producing countries and to ensure a viable export market, South Africa needs to ensure that healthy, virus free propagation material is produced and sold. One of the viruses that need to be tested for is Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV). Grapevine fanleaf virus causes degeneration and malformation of berries, leaves and canes and is responsible for significant economic losses by reducing crop yields by as much as 80%, reducing the longevity of the vines and affecting fruit quality. It is widespread in the Breede River Valley of the Western Cape where the nematode vector, Xiphinema index, is prevalent. The Breede River Valley contributes approximately 30% of the total production of the local wine industry, and severe losses in this region could threaten the viticulture. The Plant Improvement Act states that all propagation material sold must be tested for GFLV by a reputable scientific technique. The technique commonly used in South Africa is the Double Antibody Sandwich - Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS-ELISA) and the kits are imported from Europe at a significant cost to the South African viticulture industry. The objective of this study was to produce a reliable and sensitive diagnostic assay specific for the South African strains of GFLV. This project aimed to develop and optimize a DAS-ELISA, by using recombinant DNA technology to produce antibodies against bacterially expressed viral coat protein. Total RNA was extracted from GFLV infected grapevine material and the viral coat protein (CP) amplified. The CP was cloned into the pGex-6P-2 expression vector, fusing a Glutathione STransferase (GST) partner to the viral coat protein enhancing solubility and protein purification. Insufficient amounts of the soluble protein were expressed and purified, preventing the production of antibodies and thus the development of the DAS-ELISA. An alternative diagnostic rapid-direct-one-tube-RT-PCR assay was developed. This rapid-directone- tube-RT-PCR assay was compared to commercially available DAS-ELISA and ImmunoStrip tests (Agdia) to assess the reliability, sensitivity and specificity of the rapid-direct-one-tube-RTPCR assay. Twelve GFLV isolates from South Africa were sequenced to investigate the variability between the isolates as well as the variability between the South African isolates and GFLV sequences available in Genbank. Sequence identities between clones from different GFLV isolates from South Africa were between 86-99% and 94-99% at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the coat protein gene sequences showed that the South African isolates form two distinct clades or sub-populations. No significant correlation was found between geographical origin and symptoms, nor between geographical origin and sequence variability or between grapevine cultivar and symptom expression. Of the 23 samples tested with all three tests, 21 tested positive with rapid-direct-one-tube-RT-PCR, 19 with the ImmunoStrips and 17 with an imported DAS-ELISA kit (Agdia). Rapid-direct-one-tube-RT-PCR was found to be the most reliable technique for GFLV detection. Although the establishment of a DAS-ELISA directed to the South African strain(s) of GFLV was not successful, an alternative PCR based diagnostic system was developed, and proved to be sensitive and reliable. RT-PCR based diagnostic assays are generally accepted to be more sensitive than DAS-ELISA, but the latter is still used as the diagnostic assay of choice for routine testing due to ease of use. This rapid-direct-one-tube-RT-PCR assay is a rapid, sensitive and reliable diagnostic test, reducing the prevalence of false negatives, contributing to a virus free viticulture industry. The rapid-direct-one-tube-RT-PCR assay is as easy to use as DAS-ELISA, faster and can be performed by semi skilled workers, thus providing all the advantages associated with DAS-ELISA.en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2511
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subjectGFLVen_ZA
dc.subjectDAS-ELISAen_ZA
dc.subjectGrapevine fanleaf virusen_ZA
dc.subjectDouble antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayen_ZA
dc.subjectVirus diseases of grapesen_ZA
dc.subjectDissertations -- Geneticsen
dc.subjectTheses -- Geneticsen
dc.subjectGrapes -- Diseases and pests -- South Africaen
dc.subjectVirus diseases of plants -- South Africaen
dc.titleThe development of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of the South African strain(s) of grapevine fanleaf nepovirusen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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