INFECTION OF THE GONADS OF THE SIMES STRAIN OF DROSOPHILA-SIMULANS BYTHE HEREDITARY REOVIRUS DSV

The S character of Drosophila simulans SimES-st strain undergoes a non -mendelian transmission. It has been postulated that a virus, Drosophi la S virus (DSV), could be the causative agent. Electron microscopy an alysis of gonads of flies showing a strong S phenotype revealed the pr esence of virus in or near the germ cells. The S character transmissio n rate is greater in females than that in males. Similarly, the level of infection by DSV is higher in ovaries than that in testes. Flies tr eated at a nonpermissive temperature do not present the S phenotype an d appear to be cured from the virus. This information, taken together with previous work, makes the hypothesis that DSV is the causative age nt of the S phenotype more than likely. (C) 1997 Academic Press.