Nuclear polyhedrosis virus
| Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group I (dsDNA) |
| Family: | Baculoviridae |
Nuclear polyhedrosis virus was listed as a subgenus (Nuclear polyhedrosis viruses SNPV subgenus) of then-genus Eubaculovirinae at one time by the ICTV, but now refers to 35 species of Baculoviridae, mostly Alphabaculoviruses, but also one Deltabaculovirus and two Gammabaculoviruses.
The nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) which belongs to the family Baculoviruses is a virus affecting insects, predominantly moths and butterflies. It has been used as a pesticide for crops infested by insects susceptible to contraction. Though commercialization of the viral pesticide is slow as the virus is very species specific, making it effective under certain circumstances.
The polyhedral capsid is an extremely stable protein crystal which protects the virus in the external environment. It dissolves in the alkaline midgut to release the virus particle and infect the larva.
Heliothis sp. is a cosmopolitan insect pest attacking at least 30 food and fibre yielding crop plants. They have been controlled by the application of NPV's Baculovirus heliothis. In 1975, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.A. registered the B.heliothis preparations.
Symptoms are:
The virus enters the nucleus of infected cells, and reproduces until the cell is assimilated by the virus and produces crystals in the fluids of the host. These crystals will transfer the virus from one host to another.
The host will become visibly swollen with fluid containing the virus and will eventually die—turning black with decay.
The virus is unable to affect humans in the way it affects insects: human cells are acid-based, while this virus requires an alkaline-based cell in order to replicate.
It is possible for the virus crystals to enter human cells, but not replicate to the point of illness.
It is transferred from insect to insect through crystals in all of their bodily emissions. As the virus is in the crystal-like capsid, it must be broken down by the alkaline digestive system of the insects to be released.
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Wikipedia