
handle: 11365/23829 , 20.500.11769/93909
In a wider context of research on terrestrial isopods recently carried out on Mt. San Giuliano (Erice) in western Sicily, some specimens belonging to four species (Armadillidium decorum Brandt, 1833, Trichoniscus panormidensis n. sp., Philoscia affinis Verhoeff, 1908, and Porcellio siculoccidentalis Viglianisi, Lombardo & Caruso, 1992) have been collected showing a clear blue–purple coloration distributed on the body and the appendages. Scanning electron microscopy of tissues of A. decorum showed the presence of Iridoviridae, very similar to isopod iridescent virus (IIV), already known with other oniscidean species but not yet reported for Italy. The coloration is produced by characteristic paracrystalline arrays of virions inside the cells (patent infection). Viral particles are electron dense, showing a diameter of almost 0.12 μm. Dual-axis tomography performed on specimens of A. decorum confirmed the icosahedral structure showing a pentagonal or hexagonal section for the different levels observed. Molecular analysis on a portion of 254 bp of the MCP (major capsid protein) gene placed the virus as belonging to the IV31 group. BLAST analysis showed 98% of nucleotidic identity and 100% of aminoacidic identity with the MCPs of iridovirus from Armadillidium vulgare and from the beetle Popillia japonica.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
