Physicochemical characterization of a small RNA virus associated with baculovirus infection in Trichoplusia ni

An RNA virus was isolated from Trichoplusia ni larvae infected with inoculum of the baculovirus of Autographa californica. Physicochemical characterization has revealed a 35-nm virus with a density in CsCl of 1.3 g/cm³ and a sedimentation coefficient of 200S. The virus consisted of 10-15% single-stranded RNA with an apparent molecular weight of 1.9x10⁶ and coat protein with a subunit size of 67,000. The virus is similar to the Nudaurelia capensis β virus and also possesses some interesting similarities to the mammalian caliciviruses. The proposed cryptogram of the virus is R/1:1.9/12:S/S:I/O.