A peculiar new virus-spermatozoon association in the bug Raphigaster nebulosa (Poda) (Heteroptera-Insecta)

David Mercati; Romano Dallai

doi:10.1016/j.asd.2016.01.001

A peculiar new virus-spermatozoon association in the bug Raphigaster nebulosa (Poda) (Heteroptera-Insecta)

Arthropod Struct Dev. 2016 Jan;45(1):64-8. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2016.01.001. Epub 2016 Jan 6.

Authors

David Mercati¹, Romano Dallai²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: david.mercati@unisi.it.
² Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: romano.dallai@unisi.it.

PMID: 26772164
DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2016.01.001

Abstract

The sperm of the heteropteran bug Raphigaster nebulosa (Poda) are of two types, differing in length and size of their flagella. The thicker sperm are shorter than the thinner ones and have large mitochondrial derivatives. The presence of virus particles associated with the plasma membrane of thinner sperm is described for the first time; thicker sperm are immune to virus infection. The fact that virus particles are present on thinner sperm only initiates considerations on the transmission of virus.

Keywords: Heteroptera; Insect sperm; Rhabdovirus; Sperm dimorphism; TEM.

MeSH terms

Animals
Female
Heteroptera / ultrastructure
Heteroptera / virology*
Male
Rhabdoviridae / physiology*
Rhabdoviridae / ultrastructure
Spermatozoa / ultrastructure
Spermatozoa / virology