The Biology and Genomics of Polydnaviruses

A supracellular system of actin-lined canals controls biogenesis and release of virulence factors in parasitoid venom glands

“…Furthermore, whereas PDVs are synthesized and assembled in the nuclei of calyx cells, VLPs are detected in the lumen of the venom gland and reservoir (Webb and Strand, 2005;Morales et al, 2005;Chiu et al, 2006).…”

Exogenous JH and ecdysteroid applications alter initiation of polydnaviral replication in an endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae (Braconidae: Hymenoptera)

“…These two PDV taxa are also characterized by viral morphology and serological independence or DNA hybridization analyses, suggesting their independent origin (3). IV virions are relatively uniform in size and contain biconvex nucleocapsids surrounded by two unit membranes, whereas BVs are highly variable in length and have cylindrical nucleocapsids surrounded by a single envelope (4). The outer membranes of IVs are acquired by budding off from calyx cells.…”

Interactions Between Nucleopolyhedroviruses and Polydnaviruses in Larval Lepidoptera

“…Most of the known polydnaviruses are carried by wasps that parasitize larval Lepidoptera, in subfamilies of the Ichneumonidae (these polydnaviruses are termed ichnoviruses) and Braconidae (the bracoviruses) (Stoltz & Vinson, 1977;Fleming & Summers, 1991;Stoltz & Whitfield, 1992;Webb & Strand, 2005). At this time, known polydnavirus carrier wasps occur only in the braconid subfamilies Cardiochilinae, Cheloninae, Mendesellinae, Khoikhoiinae, Miricinae and Microgastrinae, and ichneumonid subfamilies Campopleginae and Banchinae (Table 1) LaPointe et al, 2007;Whitfield & O'Connor, 2012).…”