Four nudivirus core genes present in the genome of <i>Venturia canescens</i> are required for virus-like particle formation and prevention of encapsulation of parasitoid wasp eggs

Understanding how <i>V. canescens</i> coopted an alphanudivirus to produce VcVLPs is of interest to the study of virus evolution. Our results show that three nudivirus core genes have essential functions in VcVLP formation, while one is essential for the novel function of binding to wasp eggs and protection from encapsulation, which is the most important immune defense of insects against parasitoids.