Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

682
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
682
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

77.4K
Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...
77.4K
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

813
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
813
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

818
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
818
What are Viruses?00:50

What are Viruses?

127.6K
Overview
127.6K
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

14.6K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
14.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Four nudivirus core genes present in the genome of <i>Venturia canescens</i> are required for virus-like particle formation and prevention of encapsulation of parasitoid wasp eggs.

Journal of virology·2025
Same author

The Genome Sequence of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand 1924.

Genome biology and evolution·2025
Same author

Insulin-like peptides activate egg formation in the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi.

Parasites & vectors·2025
Same author

Recent insights in the development and functions of insect hemocytes.

Current opinion in insect science·2025
Same author

Protocol for detecting peptide hormones in mosquito tissues.

STAR protocols·2025
Same author

A symbiotic gene stimulates aggressive behavior favoring the survival of parasitized caterpillars.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 15, 2026

An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response
13:04

An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response

Published on: May 7, 2012

19.1K

Large DNA Viruses That Parasitoid Wasps Transmit to Hosts.

Michael R Strand1, Kelsey A Coffman2, Gaelen R Burke1

  • 1Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA;

Annual Review of Entomology
|October 7, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Parasitoid wasps transmit various viruses to hosts, with some viruses acting as beneficial symbionts or reproductive parasites. These interactions, particularly involving large double-stranded DNA viruses, are diverse and likely underestimated.

Keywords:
endogenizedhostparasitoidtransmissionvectorvirus

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Efficient Venom Extraction Method from Trichogramma Parasitoid Wasps
03:53

Author Spotlight: Efficient Venom Extraction Method from Trichogramma Parasitoid Wasps

Published on: October 6, 2023

2.1K
Pupal and Adult Injections for RNAi and CRISPR Gene Editing in Nasonia vitripennis
08:41

Pupal and Adult Injections for RNAi and CRISPR Gene Editing in Nasonia vitripennis

Published on: December 4, 2020

5.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026

An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response
13:04

An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response

Published on: May 7, 2012

19.1K
Author Spotlight: Efficient Venom Extraction Method from Trichogramma Parasitoid Wasps
03:53

Author Spotlight: Efficient Venom Extraction Method from Trichogramma Parasitoid Wasps

Published on: October 6, 2023

2.1K
Pupal and Adult Injections for RNAi and CRISPR Gene Editing in Nasonia vitripennis
08:41

Pupal and Adult Injections for RNAi and CRISPR Gene Editing in Nasonia vitripennis

Published on: December 4, 2020

5.9K

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Entomology
  • Insect-Virus Interactions

Background:

  • Parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) are known to harbor and transmit numerous viruses.
  • Virus transmission often occurs via the female wasp's ovipositor during egg-laying into a host.
  • Many known parasitoid-transmitted viruses possess large double-stranded DNA genomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the spectrum of interactions between parasitoid wasps and the viruses they transmit.
  • To highlight the diverse roles viruses play in parasitoid wasp biology and host manipulation.
  • To discuss the implications for understanding undiscovered viral diversity in Hymenoptera.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on parasitoid-virus interactions.
  • Categorization of virus transmission mechanisms and their effects on wasp offspring fitness.
  • Analysis of viral genome types and their co-option into wasp reproductive strategies.

Main Results:

  • Parasitoid wasps transmit viruses through mechanical means or as integrated symbionts.
  • Viruses can be detrimental, beneficial (symbionts), or reproductive parasites to the wasp.
  • Some viruses are endogenized, vertically transmitted, and utilized by wasps for host parasitization.

Conclusions:

  • Parasitoid wasps engage in complex evolutionary relationships with viruses, ranging from detrimental to mutualistic.
  • Large double-stranded DNA viruses are frequently involved and can be domesticated by wasps.
  • A significant number of viruses transmitted by parasitoid wasps remain undiscovered, warranting further research.