Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Insect Viruses”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Sequence and analysis of the capsid protein of Nudaurelia capensis omega virus, an insect virus with T = 4 icosahedral symmetry.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the RNA2 segment of the Nudaurelia capensis omega virus genome. It was found to consist of 2448 nucleotides and contained one long open reading frame (ORF) encoding the 644 residue capsid protein. The deduced amino acid sequence of this protein reveals a positively charged amino terminus, a characteristic exhibited by several other viral capsid proteins, that is thought to be important for interactions between the capsid and the genomic RNA. There are 366 and 150 bases of untranslated sequence on the 5' and 3' ends, respectively. The ORF encoding the capsid protein initiates at the second AUG from the 5' end. The 5' proximal AUG specifies a short ORF (30 codons) which terminates 1 base before the initiation codon for the coat protein. Our analysis also revealed the presence of a second, previously unidentified polypeptide associated with Nudaurelia capensis omega virus particles. The amino terminal sequence of this protein corresponds to a portion of the long ORF beginning at codon 571. The lack of an initiation codon near this sequence indicates that the small polypeptide is most likely produced as a carboxy terminal cleavage product from a 70-kDa capsid protein precursor, yielding the previously identified 62-kDa protein and the 8-kDa protein that we have observed. The putative cleavage site would be at an Asn/Phe pair, somewhat resembling known cleavage sites (Asn/Ala) in the T = 3 Nodaviridae. In addition, we have found that there is also a second polypeptide similar in size to that from Nudaurelia capensis omega virus associated with particles of Nudaurelia capensis beta virus, the type member of Tetraviridae.

Amino Acid Sequence

Expression of envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus by an insect virus vector.

The envelope gene of human immunodeficiency virus was inserted into the genome of an insect virus vector (Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus). Upon infection of tissue culture cells, this recombinant virus produced immunoreactive polypeptides related to the envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus. Serological survey indicates such polypeptides would be of value as antigens in diagnostics for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Animals

The process of virus assembly in insect virus mixed infections.

Interference occurred upon infection of the cabbage moth caterpillars (Mamestra brassicae L.) with a mixture of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) and cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV), resulting in the impairment of virus assembly, and formation of abnormal nucleocapsids. At the same time protein supercapsids were produced normally, but contained no infectious virions. When insects were infected with related viruses, the virions developed as usual, but the protein supercapsids revealed abnormal forms.

Animals

The three-dimensional structure of frozen-hydrated Nudaurelia capensis beta virus, a T = 4 insect virus.

The three-dimensional structure of Nudaurelia capensis beta virus (N beta V) was reconstructed to 3.2-nm resolution from images of frozen-hydrated virions. The distinctly icosahedral capsid (approximately 40-nm diameter) contains 240 copies of a single 61-kDa protein subunit arranged with T = 4 lattice symmetry. The outer surface of unstained virions compares remarkably well with that previously observed in negatively stained specimens. Inspection of the density map, volume estimates, and model building experiments indicate that each subunit consists of two distinct domains. The large domain (approximately 40 kDa) has a cylindrical shape, approximately 4-nm diameter by approximately 4-nm high, and associates with two large domains of neighboring subunits to form a Y-shaped trimeric aggregate in the outer capsid surface. Four trimers make up each of the 20 planar faces of the capsid. Small domains (approximately 21 kDa) presumably associate at lower radii (approximately 13-16.5 nm) to form a contiguous, non-spherical shell. A T = 4 model, constructed from 80 trimers of the common beta-barrel core motif (approximately 20 kDa) found in many of the smaller T = 3 and pseudo T = 3 viruses, fits the dimensions and features seen in the N beta V reconstruction, suggesting that the contiguous shell of N beta V may be formed by intersubunit contacts between small domains having that motif. The small (approximately 1800 kDa), ssRNA genome is loosely packed inside the capsid with a low average density.

Animals

Occurrence of antibodies against insect virus proteins in mammals: simple model to differentiate between passive exposure and active virus growth.

Antibodies against an "enterovirus-like" virus of insects, cricket paralysis virus, occur in the sera of domestic animals. When these antibodies were used in combination with the immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled virus proteins from infected Drosophila cells in culture, it could be demonstrated that the animals were exposed to preformed virus.

Animals

Structure of an insect virus at 3.0 A resolution.

We report the first atomic resolution structure of an insect virus determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Black beetle virus has a bipartite RNA genome encapsulated in a single particle. The capsid contains 180 protomers arranged on a T = 3 surface lattice. The quaternary organization of the protomers is similar to that observed in the T = 3 plant virus structures. The protomers consist of a basic, crystallographically disordered amino terminus (64 residues), a beta-barrel as seen in other animal and plant virus subunits, an outer protrusion composed predominantly of beta-sheet and formed by three large insertions between strands of the barrel, and a carboxy terminal domain composed of two distorted helices lying inside the shell. The outer surfaces of quasi-threefold related protomers form trigonal pyramidyl protrusions. A cleavage site, located 44 residues from the carboxy terminus, lies within the central cavity of the protein shell. The structural motif observed in BBV (a shell composed of 180 eight-stranded antiparallel beta-barrels) is common to all nonsatellite spherical viruses whose structures have so far been solved. This highly conserved shell architecture suggests a common origin for the coat protein of spherical viruses, while the primitive genome structure of BBV suggests that this insect virus represents an early stage in the evolution of spherical viruses from cellular genes.

Biological Evolution

Genomic RNA of an insect virus directs synthesis of infectious virions in plants.

Newly synthesized virions of flock house virus (FHV), an insect nodavirus, were detected in plant cells inoculated with FHV RNA. FHV was found in whole plants of barley (Hordeum vulgare), cowpea (Vigna sinensis), chenopodium (Chenopodium hybridum), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), and Nicotiana benthamiana and in protoplasts derived from barley leaves. Virions produced in plants contained newly synthesized RNA as well as newly synthesized capsid protein. These results show that the intracellular environment in these plants is suitable for synthesis of a virus normally indigenous only to insects. Such synthesis involves, minimally, translation of viral RNA, RNA replication, and virion assembly. Inoculation of barley protoplasts with FHV virions resulted in synthesis of small amounts of progeny virions, suggesting that FHV virions are capable of releasing their RNA in plant cells. In N. benthamiana, virions resulting from inoculation with RNA were detected not only in inoculated leaves but also in other leaves of inoculated plants, suggesting that virions could move in this plant species. Such movement probably occurs by a passive transport through the vascular system rather than by an active transport involving mechanisms that have evolved for plant viruses.

Animals

Cell-free expression of the coxsackievirus 3C protease using the translational initiation signal of an insect virus RNA and its characterization.

We have expressed the 3C protease of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) in a cell-free system. This expression system employs the translational initiation signal of an insect virus RNA, black beetle virus (BBV) RNA 1, to direct CVB3-specific protein synthesis. Using this expression system, we demonstrate that a biologically active 3C protease is synthesized which possesses both cis and trans processing capabilities. This in vitro-synthesized 3C protease is analogous to the native 3C, which was obtained from cytoplasmic extracts of CVB3-infected HeLa cells, in all biological parameters that were evaluated. In addition, antibody prepared against the 3C protease purified from extracts of CVB3-infected HeLa cells cross-reacts with the 3C protease produced in this cell-free system. Using the translational initiation signal from BBV RNA 1, we also have expressed the CVB3 capsid precursor and part of the P2 region in vitro, and have shown that the capsid precursor is cleaved between 1C (VP3) and 1D (VP1) by the proteolytic activity of in vitro-synthesized 3C in trans. Evidence also is presented to implicate the 2A protein of CVB3 as having proteolytic function.

3C Viral Proteases

Microcarriers as a culturing system of insect cells and insect viruses.

There is an increasing interest in culturing of insect cells, which are host for arthropod-born (Arbo) viruses. The potential applications of Arbo viruses are in the following two main fields: 1. Medical applications (e.g. preparation of viral vaccines and viral antigens for diagnostic purposes). 2. As bioinsecticides in pest control in horticulture, agriculture and forestry. One of the potential cell substrates for these applications is an anchorage-dependent-mosquito cell line established from embryonic tissues of Aedes aegypti (AA). The following areas were investigated in the reported research with the AA cell line: The AA cells were successfully propagated in microcarrier (MC)-culturing-systems. Of the tested MC's the cellulose-based microgranular MC (DE-53 of Whatman, having an exchange capacity of 2 meq/g) was found to be the best MC. Cells grew in MCs-cells aggregates in submerged spinner culture. The AA-MC's culture was successfully scaled-up to 8 litre culture volume. "Trypsinization" of the AA cells from the MC surface is successfully done by RDB, a dispersion agent from a plant origin (produced and marketed at the author's Institute). Other known dispersion agents (trypsin, collagenase, pronase) failed to disperse the AA cells from the MC. A serum-free medium was developed for culturing the AA cells on the DE-53 MC's. Bovine serum albumin was the main serum substituant in the developed medium. Arboviruses, from the Toga group, were grown in the AA-MC culture. Sindbis virus (from alpha-group) and West Nile virus (from the Flavi group), chronically infected the AA cells, which continuously produce and liberate these two viruses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aedes