ARS | Publication request: MORPHOLOGICAL, MOLECUALR, AND GENOMIC CHARACTERIZATION OF TWO MOSQUITO CYPOVIRUSES

Submitted to: Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 11, 2005
Publication Date: April 11, 2005
Citation: Green, T.B., Shapiro, A.M., White, S.E., Rao, S., Mertens, P.P., Carner, G., Becnel, J.J. 2005. Morphological, molecualr, and genomic characterization of two mosquito cypoviruses. Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting.

Technical Abstract: The morphological, genomic, and molecular characteristics of two cypoviruses (cyptoplasmic polyhedrosis virus, CPV) from the mosquitoes Culex restuans (CrCPV) and Uranotaenia sapphirina (UsCPV) are examined in this report. CrCPV is characterized by large, irregularly shaped inclusion bodies that are multiply embedded. This differs from UsCPV (Uranotaenia sapphirina cypovirus), which typically has a single virion per inclusion body and a regular cuboidal or spherical shaped inclusion body. The transmission rate for both Cypoviruses was enhanced by the presence of magnesium ions but was inhibited by calcium ions. Transmission studies have also shown that each of these Cypoviruses infect multiple mosquito species. CrCPV and UsCPV are the only two Cypoviruses from mosquitoes that have been confirmed by using molecular analysis. Both Cypoviruses have a 10 segmented genome that is quite different from the lepidopteran cypoviruses TnCPV-15 (Trichoplusia ni) and BmCPV-1 (Bombyx mori). In addition, nucleotide and amino acid analysis of segment 10 (polyhedrin) suggest that both cypoviruses are closely related to one another but unrelated to the sixteen remaining CPVs from lepidopterian hosts.