An aegerolysin-like protein from Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h) shows immune suppression and antibacterial activity.

ABSTRACT: Aegerolysins are lipid-binding proteins associated with multiple functions, including membrane pore-formation, insecticidal toxicity and defence against predators. Whilst distributed over the kingdoms of the Tree of Life, ascoviruses are the only representative viruses that encode an aegerolysin-like protein. Ascoviruses are entomopathogenic and possess a large dsDNA genome. The present study aimed to functionally characterize the aegerolysin-like protein of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h), encoded by ORF85, and to explore its potential roles in the interaction between the ascovirus and its host. Our results demonstrate the importance of this species-specific protein to HvAV-3h replication in host cells. In vivo, silencing of this gene for 12-72 h significantly increased

SUBMITTER: Zaghloul HAH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12163727 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature