polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV), is symbiotic to an endoparasitoid wasp, C. plutellae, which specifically parasitizes young larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. CpBV contains some genes originated from other insect viruses. CpBV-E94k1 and CpBV-E94k2 are homologous to corresponding baculovirus gene E94k, and may play an important role in host-parasitoid interactions. This study was conducted to confirm the origin and function of CpBV-E94k by analyzing its sequence and functional assays. Our phylogenetic analysis indicates that CpBV acquires these E94k genes from baculoviruses. These two genes were expressed during entire period parasitization period. Expression of these E94ks was also tissue-specific because they were expressed in the hemocyte and fat body, but not in the other tissues. Subsequent analysis of gene function by RNA interference showed that it clearly inhibited host immune and developmental processes

• Rahul P. Hepat(Department of Bioresource Sciences, Andong National University)
• Youggyun Kim(Department of Bioresource Sciences, Andong National University)