Characterization of flacherie virus of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Abstract

Flacherie viruses of the silkworm, Bombyx mori were purified, and following results were obtained. 1) Nucleic acid of flacherie virus (FV) of the silkworm was single-stranded RNA, which had a molecular weight (MW) of 2. 4 x 106 daltons, and the RNA content in the virion was 28. 5 %. 2) Four structural proteins, VP1 (MW : 31,000 —32,000), VP2 (41,000 — 42,000), VP3 (49,000) and VP4 (68,000—69,000), were found in the virion, and the VP1 was major capsid protein accounting for 70% of the total virion proteins. 3) These data suggest that FV belongs to picornavirus group, and the cryptogram of FV was determined to be [R/l : 2.4/29 : S/S : I/O). © 1980, The Japanese Society of Sericultural Science. All rights reserved.