Ml. Ferber et al., INFECTION OF THE GONADS OF THE SIMES STRAIN OF DROSOPHILA-SIMULANS BYTHE HEREDITARY REOVIRUS DSV, Journal of invertebrate pathology, 70(2), 1997, pp. 143-149
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.