 Pannexins are similar to innexins and are usually considered a sub-group, but they do not participate in the formation of gap junctions and the channels have seven subunits.Vinnexins, viral homologues of innexins, were identified in polydnaviruses that occur in obligate symbiotic associations with parasitoid wasps.It was suggested that vinnexins may function to alter gap junction proteins in infected host cells, possibly modifying cell-cell communication during encapsulation responses in parasitized insects.