Antigenicity of insect virus membranes

Abstract

This chapter reviews the serological characterization of insect pathogenic viruses from the following five pathogenic and morphologic groups: (1) nucleopolyhedrosis viruses (NPV), (2) granulosis viruses, (3) cytoplasmic polyhedrosis viruses (CPV), (4) poxlike viruses now called “Entomopoxviruses,” and (5) the nonoccluded group that includes the iridescent viruses. Possible serologic relationships or interactions between insect pathologic viruses and other groups of viruses exist largely because of morphologic similarities or genetic interactions. A viral disease of insects characterized by the formation of polyhedral inclusion bodies (polyhedra) in the cytoplasm. Most of the standard techniques of serology have been employed successfully in insect virology, including complement-fixation, agar gel diffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, and immunofluorescence. Serological studies suggest that the relationship of polyhedral inclusion bodies is not necessarily associated with the type of inclusion body formed by the virus—the nuclear polyhedron or granulosis type—but is more closely associated with the host species in which the inclusion bodies were developed. Serological relationships between inclusion bodies and inclusion body proteins, and nucleopolyhedral and capsule proteins are also discussed in the chapter.