Ascoviridae (entomopathogens)
Authors: Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Source: ViralZone
Ascoviridae (entomopathogens)
This family includes several insect pathogenic viruses which have a large, double-stranded DNA genome. The DNA is circular with a size of around 150-190 kb and encodes up to 180 open reading frames. The enveloped virions are between 200 and 400 nm long and about 130 nm wide. They may be bacilliform, oval or slightly curved. The family is phylogenetically related to the Iridoviridae.
The viruses from the genus Ascovirus infect mainly caterpillars from the family Noctuidae. For example, the Heliothis virescens ascoviruses (see Ascovirus tnav2a) infect Chloridea virescens (= Heliothis virescens), but also Spodoptera species. Infected larvae have a reduced growth and a whitish hemolymph, caused by a large number of vesicles budding off from infected cells. They are filled with virions and disperse the virus throughout the host. The genus and family names refer to the Greek word askos (ἀσκός - a bag), describing these vesicles.
The following viruses are currently entered in the system:
