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Insect virology
BOOK REVIEW Insect Virology. KENNETH M. SMITH. Published by Academic Press, Inc., New York and London. 1967. xii + 256 pp. Price: $11.50.
ters (45 pages) deal comparatively with modes of replication and of transmission, as well as with latent infections (it might have been preferable to avoid the term “latent,” in favor of “attenuated,” since the relationships between insect and virus have not yet been exactly defined in cases of inapparent infection). Wisely, Smith devotes 24 pages (Chapter 9 and part of Chapter 10) to aspects of insect virus propagation, mainly insect tissue culture and mass rearing of insects on “artificial” or “semisynthetic” diets. Although these two techniques are commonplace to some insect pathologists, the use of in vitro virus-host systems and of mass-rearing procedures are not yet extensively utilized. Their description in this book may stimulate the advanced student to try his hand at these relatively novel methods. The remaining part of Chapter 10 deals with mixed infections, immunity, serology, and some aspects of viral genetics. Not quite unexpectedly, in a book authored by Kenneth Smith, the reader will find a section on the relationships between insect vectors and plant viruses. These relationships are described somewhat concisely, but clearly, in Chapter 11 (36 pages). A useful and thought-provoking rccapitulation appears at the end of this chapter. Nine pages (Chapter 12) are devoted to the use of viruses in biological control of insect pests. The short appendix contains a description of two virus diseases of spider mites and of a third pathologic condition in a mite, possibly caused h! a virus. Perhaps there is something to be desired in thr arrangement of the subjects within the book and within each of the chapters; however, this is not a major blemish, in view of the relatively small six<, of the treatise. The reader will find his way quickly in this volume, whereas such is not the case in many of the multi-authored books which have become so popular today. Most illustrations are outstanding; however, Fig. 1 and Fig. 26 arc an exception. Those certainly could have heel! replaced with better electron micrographs (highresolution pictures of similar preparations haVt* been published previously). This book is very readable and clear and it ic adequately indexed. It will make an excellent standard reference for insect pathologists, for microbiologists, and for all those who are struggling to keep up with the expanding field of insect virology.
There are very few comprehensive accounts of the insect viruses in the English language. The first to assemble and evaluate the widely scattered information on this group of viruses was Edward A. Steinhaus in his “Principles of Insect Pathology,” published in 1949. In 1958, after an interval during which the study of the insect diseases (particularly those caused by viruses) had gained considerable momentum, a monographic treatment, “Viruses of Insects,” by Gernot H. Bergold appeared as part of the “Handbuch der Virusforschung” series. Since 1958, a surprisingly vast amount of information on the viruses of insects has been acquired. In his admirable new treatise, Kenneth M. Smith gives an account of the most recent studies on the insect viruses. Although the emphasis is on the work of the past decade, Smith builds an elegant bridge between the old and the new, between the wonderment and occasional groping of the early insect pathologists and the more efficient and sober approach of molecular biology today. Kenneth M. Smith has influenced to a great extent the thinking of his colleagues in a period during which there has been an exponential proliferation of studies in insect virology. A man of remarkable energies and vivid imagination, he now presents the reader with a rigorous examination of the status of research in insect virology, as well as with a concise synopsis of his own work and ideas. In these two tasks he has succeeded. The introductory chapter reviews briefly the main historical landmarks of insect virology, intended broadly as the study of all kinds of viruses associated with insects (thus, not only those causing disease in insects, but also the viruses causing diseases in other animals and in plants, for which the insect plays the essential role of vector). The types of viruses pathogenic for insects are described in Chapters 2 to 5 ( 102 pages). The arrangement of the virus groups in these four chapters follows the traditional subdivision into viruses occluded in protein crystals ( polyhedrosis and granulosis viruses) and those occurring freely in the cells (causative agents of the so-called “noninclusion” diseases ), The information on each virus group is generally subdivided into sections on symptomatology, histopathology, isolation procedures, morphology of the virus particles, and chemical composition of the virus. The description of the crystalline inclusions is also arranged systematically (morphology, physicochemical properties, and chemical composition). The next three chap-
E. MARTICNONI Forestry Sciences Lahorator~ Coruallis, Oregon 97331
MAURO
449
ters (45 pages) deal comparatively with modes of replication and of transmission, as well as with latent infections (it might have been preferable to avoid the term “latent,” in favor of “attenuated,” since the relationships between insect and virus have not yet been exactly defined in cases of inapparent infection). Wisely, Smith devotes 24 pages (Chapter 9 and part of Chapter 10) to aspects of insect virus propagation, mainly insect tissue culture and mass rearing of insects on “artificial” or “semisynthetic” diets. Although these two techniques are commonplace to some insect pathologists, the use of in vitro virus-host systems and of mass-rearing procedures are not yet extensively utilized. Their description in this book may stimulate the advanced student to try his hand at these relatively novel methods. The remaining part of Chapter 10 deals with mixed infections, immunity, serology, and some aspects of viral genetics. Not quite unexpectedly, in a book authored by Kenneth Smith, the reader will find a section on the relationships between insect vectors and plant viruses. These relationships are described somewhat concisely, but clearly, in Chapter 11 (36 pages). A useful and thought-provoking rccapitulation appears at the end of this chapter. Nine pages (Chapter 12) are devoted to the use of viruses in biological control of insect pests. The short appendix contains a description of two virus diseases of spider mites and of a third pathologic condition in a mite, possibly caused h! a virus. Perhaps there is something to be desired in thr arrangement of the subjects within the book and within each of the chapters; however, this is not a major blemish, in view of the relatively small six<, of the treatise. The reader will find his way quickly in this volume, whereas such is not the case in many of the multi-authored books which have become so popular today. Most illustrations are outstanding; however, Fig. 1 and Fig. 26 arc an exception. Those certainly could have heel! replaced with better electron micrographs (highresolution pictures of similar preparations haVt* been published previously). This book is very readable and clear and it ic adequately indexed. It will make an excellent standard reference for insect pathologists, for microbiologists, and for all those who are struggling to keep up with the expanding field of insect virology.
There are very few comprehensive accounts of the insect viruses in the English language. The first to assemble and evaluate the widely scattered information on this group of viruses was Edward A. Steinhaus in his “Principles of Insect Pathology,” published in 1949. In 1958, after an interval during which the study of the insect diseases (particularly those caused by viruses) had gained considerable momentum, a monographic treatment, “Viruses of Insects,” by Gernot H. Bergold appeared as part of the “Handbuch der Virusforschung” series. Since 1958, a surprisingly vast amount of information on the viruses of insects has been acquired. In his admirable new treatise, Kenneth M. Smith gives an account of the most recent studies on the insect viruses. Although the emphasis is on the work of the past decade, Smith builds an elegant bridge between the old and the new, between the wonderment and occasional groping of the early insect pathologists and the more efficient and sober approach of molecular biology today. Kenneth M. Smith has influenced to a great extent the thinking of his colleagues in a period during which there has been an exponential proliferation of studies in insect virology. A man of remarkable energies and vivid imagination, he now presents the reader with a rigorous examination of the status of research in insect virology, as well as with a concise synopsis of his own work and ideas. In these two tasks he has succeeded. The introductory chapter reviews briefly the main historical landmarks of insect virology, intended broadly as the study of all kinds of viruses associated with insects (thus, not only those causing disease in insects, but also the viruses causing diseases in other animals and in plants, for which the insect plays the essential role of vector). The types of viruses pathogenic for insects are described in Chapters 2 to 5 ( 102 pages). The arrangement of the virus groups in these four chapters follows the traditional subdivision into viruses occluded in protein crystals ( polyhedrosis and granulosis viruses) and those occurring freely in the cells (causative agents of the so-called “noninclusion” diseases ), The information on each virus group is generally subdivided into sections on symptomatology, histopathology, isolation procedures, morphology of the virus particles, and chemical composition of the virus. The description of the crystalline inclusions is also arranged systematically (morphology, physicochemical properties, and chemical composition). The next three chap-
E. MARTICNONI Forestry Sciences Lahorator~ Coruallis, Oregon 97331
MAURO
449