Date of Award
8-2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Legacy Department
Plant and Environmental Science
Committee Member
Matthew W Turnbull
Committee Member
Michael S Caterino
Committee Member
Andrew S Mount
Abstract
Some Parasitoid wasps rely on Polydnavirus to determine suitable hosts and complete their parasitization. Ichnoviruses (IV), one subfamily of Polydnavirus, are associated with Ichneumonids, have one highly conserved gene family named vinnexins. It has been demonstrated vinnexins are homologues of insect gap junction genes (innexins). However, their functions to the virus, parasitoid wasp and secondary host are not fully understood.
In my thesis, I have focused on two vinnexins, vnxG and vnxQ2, to investigate their effects on insect cell line and caterpillar using recombinant baculoviruses. I expressed vnxG or vnxQ2 in Sf9 cells and compared their influence on cell physiology. In addition, I expressed vnxG and vnxQ2 in Heliothis virescens caterpillars and focused on their alteration to hemocytes. In the end, I will discuss potential mechanism by vinnexins may function and play a role. Both in vivo and in vitro works will serve as a starting point for future research.
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Peng, "Functional Comparison of Two Virus Innexins" (2018). All Theses. 3243.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/3243