Family Iridoviridae: Molecular and Ecological Studies of a Family Infecting Invertebrates and Ectothermic Vertebrates

Dear Colleagues,

Iridovirids, a generic term describing viruses within the family Iridoviridae, comprise a diverse array of large, icosahedral, double-stranded DNA viruses that infect insects, other invertebrates, and three classes of ectothermic vertebrates (bony fish, reptiles, and amphibians). Iridovirid infections trigger considerable morbidity and have been linked to die-offs among ecologically- and commercially-important fish, reptiles, and amphibians. In this Special Issue of Viruses we will provide a representative sample of current research focused on cellular, molecular and ecological aspects of iridovirid biology. Although clinical disease linked to iridovirid infection, i.e., lymphocystis disease, has been known since the turn of the 20th century, concerted study of iridovirid biology did not begin until Allan Granoff’s identification of frog virus 3 (FV3) in the mid-1960s. Through his efforts and those of others, FV3 became the best characterized member of the family. These studies focused mainly on replicative events in FV3-infected cells and defined the essential elements of virus replication. Although early work was centered primarily on molecular aspects of FV3, research efforts during the last 30 years have expanded to include numerous studies on the ecology of iridovirid infections, replicative events among other species within the genus Ranavirus, as well as other genera within the family, and immune responses to iridovirid infections. Recently, genomic sequence analysis of over 40 members of the family generated a phylogenetically robust basis for our understanding of viral taxonomy and provided a facile way to identify and classify newly identified viruses. In addition, sequence information has provided the basis for numerous studies of viral gene function using siRNA- and antisense morpholino oligonucleotide-mediated knock down, knock out and conditionally-lethal mutants, and ectopic expression studies. Using these approaches, the functions of several viral replicative and immune-modulating proteins have been determined. Moreover, study of virus-encoded immune evasion proteins combined with ongoing research into host anti-viral immunity has provided insights into the evolutionary origins of the vertebrate immune system and may further the development of protective vaccines. The world of iridovirid research has expanded greatly in the last 30 years and we look forward to providing a venue highlighting different facets of research focused on the family Iridoviridae.

Prof. Dr. Gregory Chinchar
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amanda Duffus
Guest Editors

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