The Big Picture Book of Viruses: Baculoviridae
ICTVdB Data
Comments: a diverse group of tentative viruses are included into the taxon based upon morphological variation of virus structure which requires further delineation into distinct subgroups as more data become available. These are virus particles with similar general structure to baculoviruses isolated from mites, Crustacea and Coleoptera. Putative baculoviruses have been observed in a fungus (Strongwellsea magna), a spider, the European crab (Carcinus maenas), and the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus).
Taxonomic structure of the family.
- Genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus
- Genus Granulovirus
Genome:
Virions contain 8-15 % nucleic acid. Virions contain one molecule of circular (supercoiled) double stranded DNA.
Total genome length is 90000-230000 nt. Guanine + cytosine ratio very variable and ranges from 28-59 %.
Host:
Morphology:
Of two different phenotypes distinct viral structures visible in thin sections of infected tissue. Virions occluded by protein bodies or crystals in thin sections, or not occluded. Virions enveloped; pleomorphic; rod-shaped. Virions contain 1 nucleocapsid(s) per envelope, or 2 nucleocapsid(s) per envelope (or more). Nucleocapsids rod-shaped. Nucleocapsid electron dense. Nucleocapsids 200-450 nm long; 30-100 nm in diameter.
(For more information see the ICTV database below.)
More Information on Baculoviruses:
| Baculoviridae - Baculoviruses |
| Viral Images |
Example Virus Name |
Image Description |
Genus Granulovirus
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N/A
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Cydia pomonella granulovirus |
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Genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus
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Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) |
This high magnification electron micrograph shows a negatively-stained baculovirus virion. Note the asymetric capsid structure and the presence of an envelope with surface projections (peplomers). From the Carstens' Lab at Queen's University, Canada. |
 |
baculovirus AcMNPV |
This electron micrograph shows a thin section of an insect cell infected with the baculovirus AcMNPV. A portion of the cell cytoplasm is seen in the bottom right hand corner. Many enveloped extracellular virions have budded through the cytoplasmic membrane and are visible outside the cell. From the Carstens' Lab at Queen's University, Canada. |
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baculovirus AcMNPV |
This high magnification electron micrograph shows a thin section of an insect cell infected with the baculovirus AcMNPV. A portion of the nucleus containing enveloped virions in the process of being occluded into a developing polyhedron is shown. From the Carstens' Lab at Queen's University, Canada. |
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baculovirus AcMNPV |
This low magnification electron micrograph shows a thin section of an insect cell infected with the baculovirus AcMNPV. The nucleus contains many polyhedra which in turn contain many occluded enveloped virions. Several different types of virus inclusion bodies are also visible in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. From the Carstens' Lab at Queen's University, Canada. |
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