Genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Type Species	Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus	(AcMNPV)

Distinguishing Features

Two virion phenotypes may be characteristic of a virus species. Virions of the ODV phenotype are embedded within an occlusion body composed of a crystalline matrix of a single viral protein (polyhedrin). Each occlusion body measures 0.15 to 15  µm in size, matures within nuclei of infected cells and characteristically contains many enveloped virions. The occluded virions are packaged with either single (S) or multiple (M) nucleocapsids within a single viral envelope. Factors that regulate nucleocapsid packaging are unknown and for some species, packaging may be variable. S and M designations in common usage have been retained for species where variability has not been reported and for distinct viruses that would otherwise have identical designations under the current nomenclature. Nucleocapsids are rod-shaped (30-60  nm 250-300  nm) and contain a single molecule of circular supercoiled dsDNA of approximately 80-180  kbp in size. Nucleocapsid length appears to be proportional to genome size. Nucleocapsids are thought to be transported through the nuclear membrane and into the nucleus, where uncoating and viral replication occur. Hosts include at least three orders of insects and an order of Crustacea.

List of Species Demarcation Criteria in the Genus

Because detailed comparative data are lacking in most cases, species parameters are not well defined. However, species distinctions indicated here are broadly based on host range and specificity, DNA restriction profiles, DNA sequences from various regions of the genome, and predicted protein sequence similarities.

List of Species in the Genus

Official virus species names are in italics. Tentative virus species names, alternative names ( ), strains or serotypes are not italicized. Virus names and assigned abbreviations ( ) are:

Species in the Genus

Anticarsia gemmatalis MNPV	(AgMNPV)
Autographa californica MNPV	(AcMNPV)
Anagrapha falcifera NPV	(AnfaMNPV)
Galleria mellonella MNPV	(GmMNPV)
Rachiplusia ou MNPV	(RoMNPV)
Spodoptera exempta MNPV	(SpexMNPV)
Trichoplusia ni MNPV	(TnMNPV)
Bombyx mori NPV	(BmNPV)
Choristoneura fumiferana MNPV	(CfMNPV)
Helicoverpa zea SNPV	(HzSNPV)
Lymantria dispar MNPV	(LdMNPV)
Mamestra brassicae MNPV	(MbMNPV)
Neodiprion sertifer NPV	(NeseNPV)
Orgyia pseudotsugata MNPV	(OpMNPV)
Spodoptera exigua MNPV	(SeMNPV)
Spodoptera frugiperda MNPV	(SfMNPV)
Trichoplusia ni SNPV	(TnSNPV)

Tentative Species in the Genus

Aedes sollicitans NPV	(AesoNPV)
Orgyia pseudotsugata SNPV	(OpSNPV)
Penaeus monodon NPV	(PemoNPV)
Panolis flammea NPV	(PaflNPV)
Spodoptera littoralis NPV	(SpliNPV)
Spodoptera litura NPV	(SpltNPV)
Tipula paludosa NPV	(TipaNPV)

The VIth ICTV Report listed numerous other NPVs whose taxonomic status is not known since no isolates were obtained or characterized.