Type Species

Cydia pomonella granulovirus

(CpGV)

Distinguishing Features

Two virion phenotypes (BV and ODV) may be characteristic of a virus species. One (ODV) is occluded within an ovicylindrical occlusion body composed mainly of a single crystallized protein (granulin). Each occlusion body measures approximately 0.13 0.50 µm in size and characteristically contains one virion. Each ODV virion typically contains a single nucleocapsid within a single envelope. Occluded virions may mature among nuclear-cytoplasmic cellular contents after rupture of the nuclear membrane of infected cells. Nucleocapsids are rod-shaped (30-60 nm 250-300 nm) and contain a single molecule of circular supercoiled dsDNA approximately 80-180 kbp in size. Uncoating is thought to occur by a mechanism in which viral DNA is extruded into the nucleus through the nuclear pore while the capsid remains in the cytoplasm. Species of this genus have been isolated only from the insect Order, Lepidoptera.

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

Artogeia rapae granulovirus

(ArGV)

Pieris brassicae granulovirus

(PbGV, ArGV-1)

Cydia pomonella granulovirus

(CpGV)

Plodia interpunctella granulovirus

(PiGV)

Trichoplusia ni granulovirus

(TnGV)

Xestia c-nigrum granulovirus

(XecnGV)

Tentative Species in the Genus

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

List of Unassigned Species in the Family

None.

Phylogenetic Relationships within the Family

Not available.

Similarity with Other Taxa

None reported.

Derivation of Names

Baculo: from “baculum,” meaning “stick”, which refers to the morphology of the nucleocapsid.

Granulo: from “granule” which refers to the relatively small size and granular appearance of GV occlusion bodies in infected cells.

Polyhedro: from “polyhedron”, which refers to the shape of occlusion bodies.


Artogeia rapae granulovirus	(ArGV)
Pieris brassicae granulovirus	(PbGV, ArGV-1)
Cydia pomonella granulovirus	(CpGV)
Plodia interpunctella granulovirus	(PiGV)
Trichoplusia ni granulovirus	(TnGV)
Xestia c-nigrum granulovirus	(XecnGV)