Ichnovirus


Ichnovirus is a genus of viruses, in the family Polydnaviridae. Parasitoid wasps serve as hosts, but these wasps are themselves parasites of lepidoptera. There are currently 21 species in this genus including the type species Campoletis sonorensis ichnovirus.

Taxonomy

Group: dsDNA

Structure

Viruses in Ichnovirus are enveloped, with prolate ellipsoid and Cylindrical geometries. Genomes are circular and segmented, around 6.0-20kb in length.
GenusStructureSymmetryCapsidGenomic arrangementGenomic segmentation
IchnovirusProlate ellipsoidEnvelopedCircularSegmented

Life cycle

Viral replication is nuclear. DNA-templated transcription is the method of transcription. The virus exits the host cell by nuclear pore export.
Parasitoid wasps in the subfamilies Banchinae and Campopleginae serve as hosts, but these wasps are themselves parasites of lepidoptera. The wasp injects one or more eggs into its host along with a quantity of virus. The virus and wasp are in a symbiotic relationship: expression of viral genes prevents the wasp's host's immune system from killing the wasp's injected egg and causes other physiological alterations that ultimately cause the parasitized host to die. Transmission routes are parental.
GenusHost detailsTissue tropismEntry detailsRelease detailsReplication siteAssembly siteTransmission
IchnovirusParasitoid wasps Hemocytes; fat bodiesUnknownLysis; buddingNucleusNucleusUnknown