Authors
Adrian Valli¹, Juan Jose´ Lopez-Moya², Juan Antonio Garcıa^1
1Centro Nacional de Biotecnologıa, CNB-CSIC, Campus UAM, Madrid, Spain
²Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics CRAG, CSIC-IRTA-UAB, Barcelona, Spain


Abstract
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that need to evade the host defences targeted against them. In plants, activation of ribonucleic acid (RNA) silencing is among the most powerful responses against viruses. To overcome this defence, both deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and RNA plant viruses make use of viral products able to interfere with silencing mechanisms, and known collectively asRNAsilencing suppressors (RSSs). RSSs present an extraordinary diversity in modes of action, and therefore, their study is providing valuable information about the different silencing pathways in plants. This article reviews our knowledge on RSSs, including the experimental systems used to identify them, and the mechanisms by which they act. Finally, the additional effects that they cause in the network of silencing pathways, and hence the need of a tight control of their activity, are also considered.

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