The Baculovirus Uses a Captured Host Phosphatase to Induce Enhanced Locomotory Activity in Host Caterpillars

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002644
• Publication Date: 2012-04-05T20:53:41Z
• Authors: Susumu Katsuma; Yasue Koyano; WonKyung Kang; Ryuhei Kokusho; Shizuo George Kamita; Toru Shimada
• Keywords: Infectivity

The baculovirus is a classic example of parasite that alters the behavior or physiology its host so progeny transmission maximized. Baculoviruses do this by inducing enhanced locomotory activity (ELA) causes caterpillars to climb upper foliage plants. We previously reported not induced in silkworms are infected with mutant lacking protein tyrosine phosphatase (ptp) gene, gene likely captured from an ancestral host. Here we show product ptp PTP, associates ORF1629 as virion structural protein, but surprisingly associated PTP was required for induction ELA. Interestingly, knockout showed significantly reduced infectivity larval brain tissues. Collectively, modern uses host-derived establish adequate infection ELA virion-associated rather than enzyme.