The Biology and Ecology of Strains of an Insect Small RNA Virus Complex

Inapparent Virus Infections and their Interactions in Pupae of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) in Australia

“…It was originally isolated from Australian crickets (Reinganum et al, 1970) but has since been reported to cause natural infections in several other insect species (Scotti et al, 1981) and has a wide experimental host range (Plus et al, 1978). However, even though CrPV has previously been isolated from a bee colony in Australia (Plus & Scotti, 1984), and may readily replicate in bees in the laboratory (Scotti et al, 1981), it is not known to cause natural infections in bee colonies. In our studies inapparent CrPV infections were detected only infrequently in bee colonies suggesting that perhaps the virus does not persist in bees, but may cause temporary short-term infections.…”

“…Many insect species have been found to be inapparently infected with viruses (Bailey & Gibbs, 1964;Brun & Plus, 1980;Evans & Harrap, 1982;Podgwaite & Mazzone, 1986;Scotti et al, 1981). These infections differ from acute infections in that they may persist in their hosts for many generations causing little or no harm or recognizable symptoms, yet in certain circumstances they may be stimulated or activated to yield greater numbers of particles and initiate acute infections.…”

General Characteristics, Gene Organization and Expression of Small RNA Viruses of Insects

“…J~ The molecular weights of the Drosophila C virus proteins are from Jousset et al (1977) but they vary with different isolates (see Plus et al, 1978;Scotti et al, 1981; buoyant density preclude Drosophila A and P viruses from inclusion, Drosophila C virus (DCV) appears more typical of picornaviruses. DCV has four major capsid proteins (VP1, 2, 3 and 4) and one minor capsid protein (VP0) that are similar in tool.…”

The novel genome organization of the insect picorna-like virus Drosophila C virus suggests this virus belongs to a previously undescribed virus family.

“…Both DCV and a serologically related insect virus, cricket paralysis virus (CrPV), have a number of picornavirus-like characteristics including their size, sedimentary coefficient, buoyant density, the number and size of their structural proteins and polyadenylated genomic RNA with a small protein (VPg) attached to the 5h end (King & Moore, 1988 ; for review see Scotti et al, 1981).…”