Reaching the melting point: Degradative enzymes and protease inhibitors involved in baculovirus infection and dissemination.
Baculovirus infection of a host insect involves several steps, beginning with initiation of virus infection in the midgut, followed by dissemination of infection from the midgut to other tissues in the insect, and finally culminating in "melting" or liquefaction of the host, which allows for horizontal spread of infection to other insects. While all of the viral gene products are involved in ultimately reaching this dramatic infection endpoint, this review focuses on two particular types of baculovirus-encoded proteins: degradative enzymes and protease inhibitors. Neither of these types of proteins is commonly found in other virus families, but they both play important roles in baculovirus infection. The types of degradative enzymes and protease inhibitors encoded by baculoviruses are discussed, as are the roles of these proteins in the infection process.
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-4901, United States.
Egide
E
Ishimwe
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-4901, United States.
Jeffrey J
JJ
Hodgson
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-4901, United States. Electronic address: rclem@ksu.edu.
Rollie J
RJ
Clem
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-4901, United States. Electronic address: lpassar@ksu.edu.
A Lorena
AL
Passarelli
D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002688:Chitinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007313:Insecta / Q000821:virology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D002688:Chitinases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
Baculovirus; Cathepsin; Chitinase; Matrix metalloprotease; ODV-E66; P35; P49; Serpin