Abstract
The family Ascoviridae includes viruses with circular dsDNA genomes of 100–200 kbp characterized by oblong enveloped virions of 200–400 nm in length. Ascoviruses mainly infect lepidopteran larvae and are mechanically transmitted by parasitoid wasps in which they may also replicate. Most known members belong to the genus Ascovirus, except one virus, that of the genus Toursvirus, which replicates in both its lepidopteran and parasitoid vector hosts. Ascoviruses cause high mortality among economically important insect pests, thereby controlling insect populations. This is a summary of the current International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Ascoviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/ascoviridae.
Highlights
The family Ascoviridae includes viruses with circular dsDNA genomes of 100–200 kbp characterized by oblong enveloped virions of 200–400 nm in length
The genome consists of a single molecule of circular dsDNA ranging in size from 100 to 200 kbp
While the genome organization of members of the Ascovirus is collinear, that of the member of Toursvirus is quite different. It appears that ascoviruses emerged recently from an invertebrate ancestral iridovirus lineage [2]
Summary
The family Ascoviridae includes viruses with circular dsDNA genomes of 100–200 kbp characterized by oblong enveloped virions of 200–400 nm in length. Virion Genome Replication Translation Host range Taxonomy 130 nm in diameter by 200–400 nm in length, at least 20 polypeptides 100–200 kbp of circular dsDNA with 117–180 genes Nuclear, with cell cleavage into virion-containing vesicles that turn the host haemolymph milky white From transcribed mRNAs Lepidopteran insect larvae, mostly members of the family Noctuidae Two genera Ascovirus and Toursvirus Virions of ascoviruses are bacilliform, ovoidal or allantoid in shape, and depending on the species, have complex symmetry and are large, measuring about 130 nm in diameter by 200–400 nm in length (Table 1, Fig. 1; [1]).
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