Global InformationHelicoverpa zea nudivirus 2 information
| Helicoverpa zea nudivirus 2 | |
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Virus classification 
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| (unranked): | Virus |
| Class: | Naldaviricetes |
| Order: | Lefavirales |
| Family: | Nudiviridae |
| Genus: | Betanudivirus |
| Species: | Heliothis zea nudivirus
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| Virus: | Helicoverpa zea nudivirus 2
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Helicoverpa zea nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2, Hz-2V, gonad specific virus [GSV], or Heliothis zea nudivirus 2) is an enveloped, rod-shaped, nonoccluded, double stranded DNA (dsDNA) sexually transmitted virus whose natural host is the corn earworm moth. At about 440 by 90 nm, it is the causative agent of the only sexually transmitted viral disease of any insect. It was originally identified in a colony of corn earworm moths established and maintained in Stoneville, Mississippi, U.S. and was found to be responsible for the sterility of those infected.[1]
The virus does not always cause sterility, though. Many moths are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. Infected female hosts mate much more than those uninfected. With more mating events, the virus spreads to several males. Fertile female hosts may also pass the virus on through their eggs.[2]
HzNV-2 is closely related to HzNV-1; it is likely that HzNV-1 is a variant of HzNV-2 which exists in a persistent state in infected moths. HzNV-2 was discovered in 1995. Originally, symptomatic hosts were described as being "agonadal". Then, the virus was given the name "gonad specific virus". It was later given the name "Helicoverpa zea nudivirus 2" because of the similar physical properties between it and HzNV-1, which had been described about 20 years prior.[2] It is highly unlikely that the common effects of HzNV-2 on their hosts, malformed reproductive tissues causing infertility, would have been selected for establishing an ovarian cell line. It is more likely that those chosen moths were asymptomatic.[1][3] Their common ancestor is believed to share a common ancestor with baculoviruses,[2] a family of viruses whose natural hosts are decapods, arthropods, hymenoptera, diptera, and lepidoptera.[4]
- ^ a b Burand JP, Kim W, Afonso CL, Tulman ER, Kutish GF, Lu Z, Rock DL (January 2012). "Analysis of the genome of the sexually transmitted insect virus Helicoverpa zea nudivirus 2". Viruses. 4 (1): 28–61. doi:10.3390/v4010028. PMC 3280521. PMID 22355451.
- ^ a b c Burand JP (2013). "Pathology and Replication of the Sexually Transmitted Insect Virus HzNV-2". Virology I: HIV and Related Issues. iConcept Press. ISBN 9781477555040.
- ^ Hink WF, Ignoffo CM (May 1970). "Establishment of a new cell line (IMC-HZ-1) from ovaries of cotton bollworm moths, Heliothis zea (Boddie)". Experimental Cell Research. 60 (2): 307–9. doi:10.1016/0014-4827(70)90521-5. PMID 5463775.
- ^ "Baculoviridae ~ ViralZone page". viralzone.expasy.org. Retrieved 2020-05-10.