Nudivirus Nexus – Synthesis of diversity, evolution and pathology within the family Nudiviridae

Summary

Nudiviruses infect insects and crustaceans, and cause diseases of varying severity in those hosts. Their wide host range makes them significant, posing threats to insect and crustacean rearing, while also offering potential as biological pesticides. Despite their importance, nudiviruses have been studied far less than their relatives, such as the baculoviruses. This thesis aimed to address this knowledge gap.
The studies conducted in this thesis discovered new nudiviruses, improving understanding of their scientific classification and evolutionary relationships. Microscopic, molecular biological, and bioinformatic techniques were used to investigate how nudiviruses infect, replicate, and interact with insect host cells. Additionally, the replication mechanisms of symbiotic bracoviruses – viruses evolved from nudiviruses and domesticated by parasitoid wasps – were examined. Those findings are discussed to highlight the role of nudiviruses in insect and crustacean evolution, their ecological significance, and their potential as biological threats and as allies in pest management against agricultural and ectoparasitic pests.