Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Identifying Caspases and their Motifs that Cleave Proteins During Influenza A Virus Infection
Published on: July 21, 2022
A viral caspase contributes to modified apoptosis for virus transmission
Dennis K Bideshi1, Yeping Tan, Yves Bigot
1Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA.
Abstract:
The Spodoptera frugiperda ascovirus, a DNA virus that attacks lepidopterans, codes for an executioner caspase synthesized by 9 h after infection of Sf21 cells. This caspase alone induces apoptosis in insect cells and, during viral replication in vivo, contributes to a novel cell cleavage process in which developing apoptotic bodies are rescued by the virus and differentiate to form large vesicles in which virions assemble. These viral vesicles disseminate to the blood, where they are acquired during egg-laying by parasitic wasps that transmit the virus. No other viruses encode caspases or form such modified apoptotic bodies, suggesting this caspase plays a direct role in cell partitioning that facilitates viral reproduction and transmission.
Related Concept Videos
Caspases
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR
Viral Mutations
Leaky Scanning
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...

