Symbiotic polydnavirus and venom reveal parasitoid to its hyperparasitoids [Ecology]

Symbiotic relationships may provide organisms with key innovations that aid in the establishment of new niches. For example, during oviposition, some species of parasitoid wasps, whose larvae develop inside the bodies of other insects, inject polydnaviruses into their hosts. These symbiotic viruses disrupt host immune responses, allowing the parasitoid’s progeny...

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - May 15, 2018 Category: Science Authors: Feng Zhu, Antonino Cusumano, Janneke Bloem, Berhane T. Weldegergis, Alexandre Villela, Nina E. Fatouros, Joop J. A. van Loon, Marcel Dicke, Jeffrey A. Harvey, Heiko Vogel, Erik H. Poelman Tags: Biological Sciences Source Type: research