Structure of the nucleocapsid of a filamentous virus of the honey bee ( Apis mellifera)

Abstract

Filamentous virus-like particles were isolated from bees showing the signs and symptoms of bee rickettsiosis. The structure of the nucleocapsid of these particles was studied at the electron microscopic level. The axes of the virus-like particle measured 450 × 170 nm and the dimensions of the single coiled nucleocapsid were 3150 × 40 nm. The nucleocapsids, in their normal arrangement, reveal the appearance of a figure 8. It is proposed, based on the dimensions of both the particle and the nucleocapsid as well as on the ellipsoidal shape of the particle, that the nucleocapsid, in order to fit into the envelope, has to form three 8's.