Route of Nora virus transmission in Drosophila melanogaster. Justin L. Buchanan, Brad L. Ericson, Darby J. Carlson, Kimberly A. Carlson. Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE.

   Nora virus was recently discovered in four species of Drosophila and one species of Nasonia. This virus is classified in the Picornaviridae, which includes human pathogenic viruses such as Hepatitis C virus, Poliovirus, and Rhinoviruses. The mode for transmission of Nora virus has yet to be conclusively shown. The proposed modes of transmission in D. melanogaster are fecal-oral and vertical (gamete transmission). To examine the mode of transmission and site of replication, we used infected female D. melanogaster, removed their digestive tracts and ovaries, and tested each separately for the presence of Nora virus. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with Nora virus specific primers, and Western blot analysis were used to detect the virus. The results showed that Nora virus was primarily localized to the gut (trace amounts were found associated with the ovaries). Nora virus associated with the ovaries was able to be washed away, suggesting that the virus was a surface contaminant. Therefore, the mode of transmission appears not to be vertical. Previous work using dechorionated eggs from infected flies showed that flies could be cured of the virus via this method. These observations are all consistent with a fecal-oral route of transmission and not a vertical transmission rout e for Nora virus. This work was made possible by Grant Number P20GM103427 from the National Institute for General Medical Science, a component of the National Institutes of Health.