Involvement of spindles of an entomopoxvirus (EPV) in infectivity of the EPVs to their host insect.
The biological function of entomopoxvirus (EPV) spindles (inclusion bodies that lack virions), has not been elucidated. We characterized the function of EPV spindles in the cupreous chafer, Anomala cuprea (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Spheroids or spheroids mixed with spindles of Anomala cuprea EPV were administered per os to the A. cuprea larvae. A significant increase in infectivity was induced by the addition of spindles to the spheroids, strongly suggesting that the spindles play an important role in the infection of the host insect.
Mitsuhashi
W
W
National Institute of Sericultural and Entomological Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Sato
M
M
Hirai
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000821:virology*; D017996:Entomopoxvirinae / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007181:Inclusion Bodies, Viral / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014774:Virulence