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Exposure of ichnovirus particles to digitonin leads to enhanced infectivity and induces fusion from without in an in vitro model system

Renée Lapointe^2,

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada
² Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Quebec City, QC G1V 4C7, Canada

Correspondence
Don Stoltz
dstoltz{at}dal.ca

Unlike most viruses, the mature ichnovirus particle possesses two unit membrane envelopes. Following loss of the outer membrane in vivo, nucleocapsids are believed to gain entry into the cytosol via a membrane fusion event involving the inner membrane and the plasma membrane of susceptible host cells; accordingly, experimentally induced damage to the outer membrane might be expected to increase infectivity. Here, in an attempt to develop an in vitro model system for studying ichnovirus infection, we show that digitonin-induced disruption of the virion outer membrane not only increases infectivity, but also uncovers an activity not previously associated with any polydnavirus: fusion from without.

Present address: Atlantic Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5P7, Canada.