Studies on Wiseana iridescent virus : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the University of Canterbury [Lincoln College]

Abstract

In the 80 years since the discovery of viruses as a causative agent of disease in plants, they have continued to be associated with infection of all major taxonomic groups. At present several thousand viruses have been identified, including in man alone. The vast majority of the known viruses infect either plants, vertebrates or bacteria. The first two groups of viruses have been extensively studied because of their economic and medical importance to man. The viruses infecting bacteria have been used extensively in fundamental research in both virology and molecular biology. Comparatively few viruses, at present, are recognised us infecting insects. This is probably due to the neglect of insect pathology in general, rather than to any lack of viruses infecting insects per se. In practice it is not always possible to make a clear-cut distinction between those viruses infecting insects and those viruses infecting plant or vertebrates as some viruses are capable of infecting both.