8TA7

Zophobas morio black wasting virus strain OR-molitor empty capsid structure

Summary for 8TA7

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb8ta7/pdb
• EMDB information: 41131
• Descriptor: Major capsid protein (1 entity in total)
• Functional Keywords: capsid, virion, parvovirus, densovirus, invertebrate, insect, pathogen, ssdna, virus
• Biological source: Tenebrio molitor
• Total number of polymer chains: 1
• Total formula weight: 65596.36

Authors

Penzes, J.J.,Kaelber, J.T. (deposition date: 2023-06-26, release date: 2023-08-02, Last modification date: 2025-07-30)

Primary citation

Penzes, J.J.,Holm, M.,Yost, S.A.,Kaelber, J.T.
Cryo-EM-based discovery of a pathogenic parvovirus causing epidemic mortality by black wasting disease in farmed beetles.
Cell, 187:5604-5619.e14, 2024

PubMed Abstract: We use cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) as a sequence- and culture-independent diagnostic tool to identify the etiological agent of an agricultural pandemic. For the past 4 years, American insect-rearing facilities have experienced a distinctive larval pathology and colony collapse of farmed Zophobas morio (superworm). By means of cryo-EM, we discovered the causative agent: a densovirus that we named Zophobas morio black wasting virus (ZmBWV). We confirmed the etiology of disease by fulfilling Koch's postulates and characterizing strains from across the United States. ZmBWV is a member of the family Parvoviridae with a 5,542 nt genome, and we describe intersubunit interactions explaining its expanded internal volume relative to human parvoviruses. Cryo-EM structures at resolutions up to 2.1 Å revealed single-strand DNA (ssDNA) ordering at the capsid inner surface pinned by base-binding pockets in the capsid inner surface. Also, we demonstrated the prophylactic potential of non-pathogenic strains to provide cross-protection in vivo.

PubMed: 39208798
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.053

Experimental method

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (2.7 Å)