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Inactivation of the ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase (egt) gene of Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) improves its virulence towards its insect host
- Source :
-
Biological Control . Jul2003, Vol. 27 Issue 3, p336. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- Some baculovirus have been genetically modified for the inactivation of their ecdysteroid glucosyltransferase (egt) gene, and these viruses were shown to kill infected larvae more rapidly when compared to wild-type virus infections. We have previously identified, cloned, and sequenced the egt gene of Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV). Here we present data regarding the construction of an egt minus (egt−) AgMNPV and its virulence towards its insect host. We have inserted an hsp70-lacZ (3.7 kb) gene cassette into the egt gene open reading frame (ORF) and purified a recombinant AgMNPV (vAgEGTΔ-lacZ). Bioassays with third-instar A. gemmatalis larvae showed that viral occlusion body (OB) production were consistently lower from infections with vAgEGTΔ-lacZ compared to the wild-type virus. A mean of <f>20.4×108</f> OBs/g/larva and <f>40.7×108</f> OBs/g/larva was produced from vAgEGTΔ-lacZ and AgMNPV infections, respectively. The mean lethal concentration which killed 50% of insects in a treatment group (<f>LC50</f>) for the 10th day after virus treatment (DAT) was 3.9-fold higher for the wild-type virus compared to vAgEGTΔ-lacZ. The recombinant virus killed A. gemmatalis larvae significantly faster (ca. 1–2.8 days), than the wild-type AgMNPV. Therefore, the vAgEGTΔ-lacZ was more efficacious for the control of A. gemmatalis larvae (in bioassays) compared to wild-type AgMNPV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Subjects :
- *BACULOVIRUSES
*VELVET-bean caterpillar
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10499644
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Biological Control
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9808541
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/S1049-9644(03)00026-4