Polydnavirus of Campoletis chlorideae: characterization and temporal effect on host Helicoverpa armigera cellular...

Polydnavirus was isolated from oviduct calyx in the parasitoid wasp Campoletis chlorideae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), and termed CcIV. The virus particles consist of fusiform nucleocapsids surrounded by two unit membrane envelopes. The DNAs purified from these viruses were found diversified in molecular weight and existed in nonequimolar concentrations. At least 20 different-sized bands were present after electrophoresis, and they ranged from approximately 3 to 26 kb. Persistence and gene expression of CcIV were examined in parasitized and virus-injected Helicoverpa armigera larvae. Viral DNA could be detected in the hemocyte of H. armigera at 30 min post-parasitization (p.p.), and persisted for 6 days. While no viral DNA increase was found, CcIV transcripts were first detected in host hemocytes at day 1 p.p. and continued for 5 days. Similar transcripts were observed in hemocytes from larvae that had been injected with calyx fluid or CcIV 24 h earlier. CcIV viral DNAs hybridized only with certain first-strand cDNAs from hemocytes, suggesting that only part of the CcIV genome was expressed in H. armigera. The pattern of CcIV gene expression was consistent with that of the inhibition of encapsulation for Sephadex G-10 and parasitoid eggs by host larvae. The recovery of host immune response at day 4 p.p. indicated that CcIV exhibited a partial and temporal effect on the host immune system and the developing parasitoid appeared to avoid encapsulation via different mechanisms.