Drosophila C virus

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Drosophila C virus is of the genus Cripavirus and was previously thought to be a member of the virus family Picornaviridae; it has since been classified as belonging to an unknown virus family.^[1] It is a single stranded positive sense RNA virus of approximately 9300 nucleotides and it contains two open reading frames.^[1] The virus particles are 30 nm in diameter and are made up of approximately 30% of RNA and 70% protein.^[2] The virus capsid is composed of three major polypeptides and two minor polypeptides.^[2] Drosophila C virus infects Drosophila melanogaster and was first discovered in the early 1970s in a French strain of drosophila.^[1] The virus is transmitted by feeding so is almost non-pathogenic. However experimental evidence has shown that when injected into adult flies the virus is incredibly pathogenic as it causes the adult flies to die within 3-4 days following injection.^[1] Drosophila that are infected with Drosophila C virus develop more quickly, the females are heavier and produce more eggs therefore more offspring in comparison to drosophila not infected with the virus.^[1] Infection with drosophila C virus can also increase mortality rate within a drosophila population.^[3]