Kakugo virus
| Kakugo virus | |
|---|---|
Virus classification 
| |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Riboviria |
| Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
| Phylum: | Pisuviricota |
| Class: | Pisoniviricetes |
| Order: | Picornavirales |
| Family: | Iflaviridae |
| Genus: | Iflavirus |
| Species: | |
| Virus: | Kakugo virus
|
Kakugo virus is a picorna-like virus most commonly found in the brains of worker bees. It is a subtype of the Deformed wing virus.[1] The Kakugo (Japanese for 'ready to attack') virus, when resident in a bee's brain, can contribute to aggressive behaviors similar to those preeminent during a bee's guard phase in their life cycle. Kakugo virus is the first virus to be discovered that has been claimed to cause aggressive behavior.
Analysis
[edit]Kakugo RNA encodes a protein of 2,893 amino acid residues that shares structural features and sequence similarities with various picorna-like virus polyproteins, especially those from sacbrood virus, which infects honeybees. The Kakugo protein contains several domains that correspond to the virion protein, helicase, protease, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domains of various picorna-like virus polyproteins.
Aggression
[edit]The increased aggression of infected Apis mellifera in Japan forces the bees to transmit, likely via Varroa. A. mellifera is sometimes known to show increased defence against Vespa mandarinia attacks and it has been suggested that this is due to Kakugo. However, a case was later found in which Kakugo virus infection spread throughout the nest, so it has been criticized that Kakugo virus infection does not influence the aggression of A. mellifera.
References
[edit]- ^ "Iflaviridae - Positive Sense RNA Viruses". International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- Holzman, David (March 2004). "Novel Virus May Contribute to Aggressive Behaviors of Bees". Microbe Magazine.
- Fujiyuki, Tomoko; Takeuchi, Hideaki; Ono, Masato; Ohka, Seii; Sasaki, Tetsuhiko; Nomoto, Akio; Kubo, Takeo (February 2004). "Novel insect picorna-like virus identified in the brains of aggressive worker honeybees". Journal of Virology. 78 (3): 1093–100. doi:10.1128/jvi.78.3.1093-1100.2004. PMC 321398. PMID 14722264.
External links
[edit]- from The IUSSI 2006 Congress Archived 2021-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
- Complete Genome