• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.279-283
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• 2010

Polydnavirus genome is segmented and dispersed on host wasp chromosome. After replication, the segments form double- stranded circular DNAs and embedded in viral coat proteins. These viral particles are delivered into a parasitized host along with parasitoid eggs. A serine-rich protein (SRP) is predicted in a polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV), genome in its segment no. 33 (CpBV-S33), creating CpBV-SRP1. This study explored its expression and physiological function in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, larvae parasitized by C. plutellae. CpBV-SRP1 encodes 122 amino acids with 26 serines and several predicted phosphorylation sites. It is persistently expressed in all tested tissues of parasitized P. xylostella including hemocyte, fat body, and gut. Its physiological function was analyzed by injecting CpBV-S33 and inducing its expression in nonparasitized P. xylostella by a technique called SERI (segment expression and RNA interference). The expression of CpBV-SRP1 significantly impaired the spreading behavior and total cell count of hemocytes of treated larvae. Subsequent RNA interference of CpBV-SRP1 rescued the immunosuppressive response. This study reports the persistent expression of CpBV-SRP1 in a parasitized host and its parasitic role in suppressing the host immune response by altering hemocyte behavior and survival.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.45 no.3 s.144
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• pp.241-259
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• 2006

Polydnavirus is a mutualistic DNA virus found in some braconid and ichneumonid wasps. Its genome is integrated into host chromosome as a provirus. Its replication occurs at ovarian calyx epithelium during host pupal stage to form episomal viral particles. The viral particles are delivered into hemocoel of the parasitized insect along with eggs during wasp oviposition. Several polydnaviral genomes, which are isolated from the episomal virus particles, have been sequenced and exhibit some gene families with speculative physiological functions. This review presents the viral characteristics in terms of Its parasitic physiology. For developing new insect pest control tactics, it also discusses several application strategies exploiting the viral genome to manipulate insect physiology.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.610-615
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• 2009

As a provirus, polydnavirus has a segmented DNA genome on chromosome(s) of host wasp. It contains several genes in each segment that presumably play critical roles in regulating physiological processes of target insect parasitized by the wasp. A cysteine-rich protein 1 (CRP1) is present in the polydnavirus Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) genome, but its expression and physiological function in Plutella xylostella parasitized by the viral host C. plutellae is not known. This CpBV-CRP1 encoding 189 amino acids with a putative signal peptide (20 residues) was persistently expressed in parasitized P. xylostella with gradual decrease at the late parasitization period. Expression of CpBV-CRP1 was tissue-specific in the fat body/epidermis and hemocyte, but not in the gut. Its physiological function was analyzed by inducing transient expression of a CpBV segment containing CpBV-CRP1 and its promoter, which caused significant reduction in hemocyte -spreading and delayed larval development. When the treated larvae were co-injected with double-stranded RNA of CpBV-CRP1, the expression of CpBV-CRP1 disappeared, whereas other genes encoded in the CpBV segment was expressed. These co-injected larvae significantly recovered the hemocyte-spreading capacity and larval development rate. This study reports that CpBV-CRP1 is expressed in P. xylostella parasitized by C. plutellae and its physiological function is to alter the host immune and developmental processes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.587-592
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• 2008

Cotesia vestalis is an endoparasitoid of Plutella xylostella larvae and injects a polydnavirus (CvBV) into its host during oviposition. In this report we characterize the gene, CvBV3307, and its products. CvBV3307 is located on segment S33 of the CvBV genome, is 517 bp, and encodes a putative protein of 122 amino acids, including a serine-rich region. The expression pattern of CvBV3307 in parasitized larvae and the subcellular localization of CvBV3307 only in granulocytes indicated that it might be involved in early protection of parasitoid eggs from host cellular encapsulation and in manipulating the hormone titer and developmental rhythm of host larvae. Western blot analysis showed that the size of the immunoreactive protein (about 55 kDa) in parasitized hosts at 48 hours post parasitization (h p.p.) is much larger than the predicted molecular weight of 13.6 kDa, which suggests that CvBV3307 undergoes extensive post-translational modification in hosts.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.43 no.3 s.136
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• pp.225-231
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• 2004

An endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, has been used for a biological control agent against the diamondback moth, Plutellae xylostella. It has a symbiotic polydnavirus in their reproductive tract, which is required for its successful parasitization. Here, we measured a specific replication time of the polydnavirus during female development of C. plutellae. We, also, analyzed the reproductive potentials of female C. plutellae under mating or different host conditions. At $25^{\circ}C$, pupal C. plutellae began to develop adult tissues such as compound eyes and wings since day 2. At day 5, all adult tissues including antennae were developed and were ready to emerge. With polyclonal antibody raised against C. plutellae polydnavirus, an immunobloting could confirm virus replication at day 4 during pupal stage. Virus particles could be visualized by transmission electron microscope in the oviduct lumen of day 5 pupae. After adult eclosion, venom gland and ovarian calyx increased in size, though ovarioles did not. Mated females layed large number of eggs (over $60\%$) at first 4 days during their mean longevity of ca. 8 days at $25^{\circ}C$. Unmated females showed less active ovipositional behavior, where all the eggs developed into males. C. Plutellae parasitized both P. xylostella and fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea. However, C. Plutellae developed faster and showed higher successful paarasitization in P. xylostella than in H. cunea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.48-48
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• 2002

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.47-47
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• 2003

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.175-175
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.36-37
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.198-198
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• 2005