Group Group IV ((+)ssRNA) Family Iflaviridae Species Deformed wing virus | Order Picornavirales Genus Iflavirus Variety Kakugo virus | |
Similar Deformed wing virus, Israeli acute paralysis, Picornavirales, Nosema ceranae, Varroa jacobsoni | ||
Kakugo virus is a picorna-like virus most commonly found in the brains of worker bees. It is a subtype of the Deformed wing virus. The Kakugo (Japanese for 'ready to attack') virus, when resident in a bee's brain, can contribute to aggressive behaviors such as are preeminent during a bee's guard phase in their life cycle. Kakugo is the first virus to have been found to cause aggressive behavior, although because the virus was only recently discovered to have such effects, research into the matter is limited.
Analysis
Kakugo RNA encodes a protein of 2,893 amino acid residues that shares structural features and sequence similarities with various picorna-like virus polyproteins, especially those from sacbrood virus, which infects honeybees. The Kakugo protein contains several domains that correspond to the virion protein, helicase, protease, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domains of various picorna-like virus polyproteins.