Interactions of an Entomopoxvirus, its Parasitic Wasp Symbiont and their Insect Host: Viral Morphogenesis and Gene Expression

加勒比果蝇Anastrepha suspensa，像它的地中海果蝇（Ceratitis capitata）亲戚一样，是一种农业害虫。寄生蜂Diachasmimorpha longicaudata （Dl）在世界范围内被用作对这些果蝇的生物防治剂。劳伦斯博士发现，雌性黄蜂将一种虫痘病毒（EPV）连同它们的卵注射到果蝇幼虫宿主体内，这两种病毒的结合会导致宿主死亡。由于epv被用作害虫的微生物防治剂，因此DlEPV本身可能是一种抗果蝇剂。然而，它还没有被表征，也没有被理解与其他epv的关系。本研究的目的是：（1A）。对DlEPV基因组中发现的四种推测蛋白（DNA连接酶和聚合酶、RNA聚合酶和refampicin抗性蛋白，它们在病毒复制和发育中起重要作用）的基因进行测序，并将其与已知痘病毒（pv）和epv的基因进行比较；(1 b)。确定已知pv和epv编码病毒感染和成熟所必需的蛋白质的基因在DlEPV基因组中是否有同源物（2A）。确定某些DlEPV基因是否只在黄蜂体内表达，而其他基因是否只在果蝇中表达；和(2 b)。序列选择的基因在宿主和黄蜂中差异表达。研究结果将为这种罕见的EPV（首次从寄生蜂中报道）的基因组组成提供基本的分子数据，并建立其与其他EPV的关系。控制感染性的基因的存在，以及那些在宿主和黄蜂中差异表达的基因，将为病毒对黄蜂无致病性，但对果实具有传染性和致病性的能力提供见解。这些数据还将为可能使用DlEPV作为载体将致死基因引入果蝇基因组奠定基础

The Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa, like its Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) relative, is an agricultural pest. The parasitic wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Dl) is used worldwide as a biological control agent against these fruit flies. Dr. Lawrence discovered that female wasps inject an entomopoxvirus (EPV) into fruit fly larval hosts with their eggs, the combination of which causes host mortality. Since EPVs are utilized as microbial control agents against insect pests, DlEPV itself is a likely anti-fruit fly agent. However, it has not been characterized or is its relationship to other EPVs understood. The objectives of this research are to: (1A). sequence the gene of four putative proteins (DNA ligase and polymerase, RNA polymerase and refampicin resistant proteins which are important in virus replication and development) found in the DlEPV genome and compare them with those of known poxviruses (PVs) and EPVs; (1B). determine whether genes of known PVs and EPVs which encode proteins essential for viral infection and maturation have homologs in the DlEPV genome, (2A). determine whether certain DlEPV genes are expressed only within the wasp and others only in the fruit fly; and (2B). sequence selected genes that are differentially expressed in host versus wasp. The results will provide fundamental molecular data on the genome components of this unusual EPV, the first reported from a parasitic wasp, and establish its relationship to other EPVs. The presence of genes governing infectivity and those differentially expressed in host versus wasp would provide insights into the virus' ability to be non-pathogenic to wasps but infective and pathogenic to fruit files. The data will also lay the groundwork for the possible use of DlEPV as a vector to introduce lethal genes into fruit fly genomes