Wound tumor virus

'Wound tumor virus is an invertebrate and plant virus found in the United States of America belonging to the genus Phytoreoviridae and the family Reoviridae. The virus is a Type III virus under the Baltimore classification system; that is it has a double-stranded RNA genome. This genome is 4131 bases long and organised into twelve segments. All the virual replication occurs in the cytoplasm. The virus is 22% genome by weight, the other 78% being structural proteins.

Structurally, the virus is constructed from 7 different structural proteins. The capsid has icosahedral symmetry, is non-enveloped and around 70nm in diameter. There is an inner-shell with a diameter of around 50nm.

More than 50 species of plants are potential hosts for Wound tumor virus. It was first reported in Melilotus officinalis. The virus causes tumors to form on the plant at the stem and roots – with the root tumors being more severe.

The virus is spread by an insect vector – the Leaf hopper family, notabily 'Agallia constrict'. Since viral replication occurs relatively independently of cellular processes, the virus also replicates in the insect vector.