COMPLEX VIRAL SYMBIOSIS. “The wasps use their onboard viruses, called bracoviruses, to control the development and immunity of the caterpillars they parasitize. The wasps use the viral genes to make virus-like particles containing genes for a toxin, which they insert into their caterpillar prey when they lay their eggs. The infected caterpillar then acts as an incubator for the wasp eggs. Meanwhile, the toxin is made by the caterpillar and poisons its immune system, causes paralysis and stops the caterpillar from pupating.”
https://lnkd.in/d-szGeg
linkedin post 2022-06-29 05:12:48
Nigel Fleming
September 21, 2022