What specialized mechanism have several lineages of endoparasitoid wasps co-opted to ensure the successful development of their progeny within a host?
Answer
Polydnaviruses (PDVs)
Some endoparasitoid wasp lineages have achieved an extreme level of evolutionary specialization through the 'domesticating' or co-opting of viruses, specifically the Polydnaviruses (PDVs). These viruses are delivered into the host arthropod alongside the wasp egg. The crucial function of these delivered viruses is to carry virulence factors that actively suppress the host's immune system. This suppression prevents the host from rejecting or encapsulating the developing wasp larva, allowing the wasp progeny to develop successfully inside the living host.
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