Polydnavirus

Patent Pending The Polydnaviruses /pɒˈlɪdnəvaɪərəs/, (PDV) are a family of insect viruses that contain two genera: Ichnoviruses (IV) and Bracoviruses (BV). The ichnoviruses occur in ichneumonid wasps species and bracoviruses in braconid wasps. The genome of the virus is composed of multiple segments of double-stranded, superhelical DNA packaged in capsid proteins and a double layer (IV) or single layer (BV) envelope. Little or no sequence homology exists between BV and IV, suggesting that the two genera evolved independently.