Alphabaculovirus

Alphabaculovirus is a genus of viruses in the family Baculoviridae. The natural hosts of species in this family are invertebrates, among them winged insects (Lepidopterans, Hymenopterans, Dipterans), and decapods. However, species in this genus have been isolated only from the insect order Lepidoptera. There are 56 species in the genus.

Taxonomy
The following species are assigned to the genus:


 * Adoxophyes honmai nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Agrotis ipsilon multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Agrotis segetum nucleopolyhedrovirus A
 * Agrotis segetum nucleopolyhedrovirus B
 * Antheraea pernyi nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Buzura suppressaria nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Catopsilia pomona nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Choristoneura fumiferana DEF multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Choristoneura fumiferana multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Choristoneura murinana nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Choristoneura rosaceana nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Chrysodeixis chalcites nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Chrysodeixis includens nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Clanis bilineata nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Condylorrhiza vestigialis nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Cyclophragma undans nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Ectropis obliqua nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Epiphyas postvittana nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Euproctis pseudoconspersa nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Hemileuca species nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Hyphantria cunea nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Hyposidra talaca nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Lambdina fiscellaria nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Leucania separata nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Lonomia obliqua nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Lymantria xylina nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Mamestra brassicae multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Mamestra configurata nucleopolyhedrovirus A
 * Mamestra configurata nucleopolyhedrovirus B
 * Maruca vitrata nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Mythimna unipuncta nucleopolyhedrovirus A
 * Mythimna unipuncta nucleopolyhedrovirus B
 * Operophtera brumata nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Orgyia leucostigma nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Orgyia pseudotsugata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Oxyplax ochracea nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Peridroma saucia nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Perigonia lusca nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Spodoptera eridania nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Spodoptera exempta nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus A
 * Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus B
 * Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Sucra jujuba nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Thysanoplusia orichalcea nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Trichoplusia ni single nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Urbanus proteus nucleopolyhedrovirus
 * Wiseana signata nucleopolyhedrovirus

Structure
Viruses in Alphabaculovirus are enveloped, with circular genomes around 80–180 kbp in length. The genome codes for 100 to 180 proteins.

Life cycle
Alphabaculovirus replication is nuclear. Entry into the host cell is achieved by attachment of the viral glycoproteins to host receptors, which mediates endocytosis. Replication follows the double-stranded DNA bidirectional replication model. DNA-templated transcription with some alternative splicing mechanism is the method of transcription. Translation takes place by leaky scanning. The virus exits the host cell by nuclear pore export and exists in occlusion bodies after cell death, remaining infectious until finding another host. Winged insects, arthropods, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Decapoda serve as natural hosts. Transmission routes are fecal-oral.