Ascovirus is a family of virions consisting of an envelope, a core, and an internal lipid membrane associated with the inner particle. The virus capsid is enveloped and measures 130 nm in diameter, and 200-240 nm in length. Virions are bacilliform, ovoid, and allantoid.

The genome is not segmented and contains a single molecule of circular double-stranded DNA. The genome has a guanine + cytosine content of 42-60%.

Ascovirus infects primarily invertebrates.^[1]

These viruses infect immature stages of the order Lepidoptera, in which they cause a chronic, fatal disease.^[2] They are transmissed by endoparasitic wasps and the host develops a unique cytopathology that resembles apoptosis. ell infection induces apoptosis and in some species is associated with synthesis of a virus-encoded executioner caspase and several lipid-metabolizing enzymes. Rather than leading directly to cell death, synthesis of viral proteins results in the rescue of developing apoptotic bodies that are converted into large vesicles in which virions accumulate and continue to assemble. In infected larvae, millions of these virion-containing vesicles begin to disperse from infected tissues 48-72 hours after infection into the blood, making it milky white, a characteristic of this disease. The circulation of virions and vesicles in the blood facilitates mechanical transmission by parasitic wasps.

Six species in this genus are currently known. The type species is Spodoptera frugiperda ascovirus 1a which infects the army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Other species include Spodoptera frugiperda ascovirus-1d.^[3]

Wikiquote has quotations related to Ascovirus.

Wikinews has related news:

• Ascovirus

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ascovirus.

• Ascoviridae at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• ICTVdb
• Viralzone: Ascoviridae/