Transient expression of a viral histone H4 inhibits expression of cellular and humoral immune-associated genes in Tribolium castaneum

► CpBV-H4 is a viral variant of histone H4 that has an extended N-terminal tail. ► CpBV-H4 suppressed 12 inducible AMP genes, but truncated CpBV-H4 did not. ► Its extended N-terminal tail possessed an epigenetic activity.