Cannabaceae

Bidensovirus
Virus classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Virus
Realm: Monodnaviria
Kingdom: Shotokuvirae
Phylum: Cossaviricota
Class: Mouviricetes
Order: Polivirales
Family: Bidnaviridae
Genus: Bidensovirus
Species

Bombyx mori bidensovirus

Bidensovirus is a genus of single stranded DNA viruses that infect invertebrates. The species in this genus were originally classified in the family Parvoviridae (subfamily Densovirinae) but were moved to a new genus because of significant differences in the genomes.[1]

Taxonomy[edit]

There is one species in this genus currently recognised: Bombyx mori bidensovirus.

Host[edit]

As the name suggests this virus infects Bombyx mori, the silkworm.[2]

Virology[edit]

The virions are icosahedral, non enveloped and ~25 nanometers in diameter. They contain two structural proteins.

Genome map of genus Bidensovirus

The genome is bipartite, unique among ssDNA viruses, with two linear segments of ~6 and 6.5 kilobases (kb). These segments and the complementary strands are that are packaged separately giving rise to 4 different types of full particles.

Both segments have an ambisense organization, coding for a structural protein in one sense and the non-structural proteins on the complementary strand.

  • DNA1 (also known as VD1) — the larger segment of 6.5 kb — encodes the capsid protein VP1 (128 kDa — kilodaltons) on one strand and three non-structural proteins — NS1 of 14 kDa, NS2 of 37 kDa and NS3 of 55 kDa — on the complementary strand.
  • DNA2 (also known as VD2) — the smaller segment of 6 kb — encodes the capsid protein VP2 (133 kDa) on one strand and the non-structural protein NS4 (27 kDa) on the complementary strand.

The open reading frame 4 (VD1-ORF4) is 3318 nucleotides (bases) in length and encodes a predicted (3318/3 − 1 =) 1105 amino acid protein which has a conserved DNA polymerase motif. It appears to encode at least 2 other proteins including one of ~53 kDa that forms part of the virion.[3]

Evolution[edit]

Comprehensive analysis of bidnavirus genes has shown that these viruses have evolved from a parvovirus ancestor from which they inherit a jelly-roll capsid protein and a superfamily 3 helicase.[4] It has been further suggested that the key event that led to the separation of the bidnaviruses from parvoviruses was the acquisition of the PolB gene. A likely scenario has been proposed under which the ancestral parvovirus genome was integrated into a large virus-derived DNA transposon of the Polinton/Maverick family (polintoviruses) [5] resulting in the acquisition of the polintovirus PolB gene along with terminal inverted repeats. Bidnavirus genes for a minor structural protein (putative receptor-binding protein) and a potential novel antiviral defense modulator were derived from dsRNA viruses (Reoviridae) and dsDNA viruses (Baculoviridae), respectively.[4]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

One thought on “Cannabaceae

  1. Well, that’s interesting to know that Psilotum nudum are known as whisk ferns. Psilotum nudum is the commoner species of the two. While the P. flaccidum is a rare species and is found in the tropical islands. Both the species are usually epiphytic in habit and grow upon tree ferns. These species may also be terrestrial and grow in humus or in the crevices of the rocks.
    View the detailed Guide of Psilotum nudum: Detailed Study Of Psilotum Nudum (Whisk Fern), Classification, Anatomy, Reproduction

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