Structural Transformation of Blowfly Mitochondria by a Putative Virus: Similarities with Virus-induced Changes in Plant Mitochondria

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Abstract
In tissues of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, which contain a previously undescribed virus-like particle (VLP) the mitochondria are invariably transformed into vesicle-containing bodies. The relationship between the presence of VLP and transformed mitochondria is confirmed by the production of similar vesiculated mitochondria in a Drosophila cell line inoculated with the VLP. The vesicles appear to be invaginations of the outer mitochondrial membrane and contain fibrillar material. The transformed mitochondria have many similarities with those described in virus-infected plant cells.