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Title: Structural divergence among genomes of closely related baculoviruses and its implications for baculovirus evolution

Author
item Harrison, Robert - Bob

Submitted to: Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2008
Publication Date: 8/3/2008
Citation: Harrison, R.L. 2008. Structural divergence among genomes of closely related baculoviruses and its implications for baculovirus evolution. 41st Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology. August 3-7, 2009, Conventry, England. p. 110.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Of the 42 baculovirus genomes that have been sequenced to date, some are from closely related viruses that share overall nucleotide sequence identities in excess of 95%. Comparative analysis of genomic sequences from closely related viruses can provide insight into how baculoviruses evolve and adapt to new host species or overcome the defenses of their current hosts. This presentation will focus on the comparative analysis of partial and complete nucleotide sequences from two groups of closely related baculoviruses: (a) multiple nucleopolyhedroviruses (MNPVs) from a cluster including Autographa californica (Ac)MNPV, Rachiplusia ou (Ro)MNPV , and Plutella xylostella (Plxy)MNPV; and (b) granuloviruses (GVs) from a cluster including Xestia c-nigrum (Xecn)GV and Helicoverpa armigera (Hear)GV. Even though the individual viruses in these clusters have diverged from each other relatively recently, a considerable degree of genomic rearrangement (in the form of insertions, deletions, and recombination resulting in allelic replacement) is evident from alignments of their genomes. Implications for the processes shaping baculovirus genomes and the evolution of biological characteristics of the viruses in these groups will be discussed.