Journal of General Virology (1993) 74, 1805-1810

T.N. Hanzlik, S.J. Dorrian, K.H. Gordon and P.D. Christian (1993)
A novel small RNA virus isolated from the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera
Journal of General Virology 74 (9), 1805-1810
Abstract: A small RNA virus with novel characteristics has been isolated from laboratory-bred larvae of Helicoverpa armigera. Infection by the H. armigera stunt virus causes severe retardation of larval development and subsequent death. Its particles are isometric, 38 nm in diameter, and have a buoyant density of 1.296 g/ml in caesium chloride. The viral capsid has two major non-glycosylated protein components with M(r)s of 65,000 and 6000, and contains a genome composed of two non- polyadenylated single-stranded RNA molecules with lengths of 2.4 kb and 5.5 kb. The 5' termini of these RNAs are capped; their 3' termini are unblocked. In vitro translations of the viral RNAs showed synthesis of large proteins of sizes near the maximum coding capacity of each strand along with synthesis of numerous smaller proteins; no evidence for processing of precursors was seen. The physicochemical properties of the virus are most similar to those of the Nudaurelia omega virus, a provisional member of the Tetraviridae, although no antigenic relationship was observed between the two viruses. The bipartite genome and distinct capsid structure of these two viruses indicate the existence of a previously unrecognized virus group.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Karl H.J. Gordon

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
molecular biology - genes

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Helicoverpa armigera
Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (entomopathogen)