Analysis of immunosuppressive genes from Microplitis demolitor bracovirus

Insects rely upon a well-coordinated innate immune system for protection against foreign invaders. Not surprisingly, pathogens and parasites have evolved a diversity of counterstrategies for suppressing host insect defenses. Among the most important natural enemies of insects are thousands of parasitoid wasp species that carry polydnaviruses (PDVs). Physiological studies further indicate that PDVs are essential for survival of parasitoids, because of their ability to immunosuppress the defense responses of hosts attacked by associated wasps. In this presentation I will discuss progress in our functional analysis of immunosuppressive genes encoded by Microplitis demolitor bracovirus involved in disruption of host cellular and humoral defense responses.