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[Osugoroshi virus, a male-killer virus]

Ryosuke Fujita1

  • 1Laboratory of Sanitary Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University.

Uirusu
|May 8, 2022
PubMed

Insights

A novel virus, Osugoroshi, acts as a non-bacterial agent causing male-killing in the oriental tea tortrix. This discovery expands our understanding of sex ratio distortion mechanisms in insects.

Area of Science:

  • Entomology
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Sex ratio bias in insect populations can arise from various mechanisms.
  • Intracellular bacteria like Wolbachia and Spiroplasma are known agents of male-killing, distorting insect sex ratios.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and describe a non-bacterial agent responsible for male-killing in insects.
  • To investigate the role of the Osugoroshi virus in sex determination of the oriental tea tortrix.

Main Methods:

  • Field collection of oriental tea tortrix specimens.
  • Microscopic examination and molecular analysis to identify infectious agents.
  • Experimental manipulation to confirm the male-killing effect of the Osugoroshi virus.

Main Results:

  • The Osugoroshi virus was identified as the causative agent of male-killing in the oriental tea tortrix.
  • Infection with the Osugoroshi virus leads to the elimination of male offspring, resulting in a female-biased sex ratio.

Conclusions:

  • The Osugoroshi virus represents a novel, non-bacterial mechanism for inducing male-killing in insects.
  • This finding broadens the known spectrum of agents that can manipulate insect sex ratios, with implications for pest control and evolutionary biology.

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