Structural basis for the enhancement of virulence by viral spindles and their in vivo crystallization.

ABSTRACT: The great benefits that chemical pesticides have brought to agriculture are partly offset by widespread environmental damage to nontarget species and threats to human health. Microbial bioinsecticides are considered safe and highly specific alternatives but generally lack potency. Spindles produced by insect poxviruses are crystals of the fusolin protein that considerably boost not only the virulence of these viruses but also, in cofeeding experiments, the insecticidal activity of unrelated pathogens. However, the mechanisms by which spindles assemble into ultra-stable crystals and enhance virulence are unknown. Here we describe the structure of viral spindles determined by X-ray microcrystallography from in vivo crystals purified from infected insects. We found that a C-terminal molecular

SUBMITTER: Chiu E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4386404 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature