Identifying bracovirus and ichnovirus genes involved in virion morphogenesis

Donna Huber on November 25, 2021

Flowchart depicting RNAi assays, EM studies of calyx cells, and phenotype analysis to identify bracovirus and IV genes involved in virion morphogenesis and trafficking in insects.

Flowchart depicting RNAi assays, EM studies of calyx cells, and phenotype analysis to identify bracovirus and IV genes involved in virion morphogenesis and trafficking in insects.

Bracoviruses (BVs) and ichnoviruses (IVs) evolved from different endogenized viruses but through convergence have been coopted by parasitoids in the families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae for similar functions in parasitizing hosts. Experimentally studying the role of endogenized viral genes in virion morphogenesis remains a key challenge in the study of BVs and IVs. Here we summarize how multiomics, electron microscopy, and RNA interference (RNAi) methods have provided new insights about BV and IV gene function.

Ange Lorenzi, Michael R Strand, Gaelen R Burke, Anne-Nathalie Volkoff. Curr Opin Insect Sci. 2021 Nov 25;S2214-5745(21)00127-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.11.006.

Leave a Reply