Polyhedrin gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis of a nucleopolyhedrovirus isolated fromOrgyia ericaeGermar

Molecular characterization of a nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) isolated from the diseased larva of Orgyia ericae Germar was firstly analyzed. The genomic size of O. ericae NPV was estimated to be 134.6 kb by restriction endonuclease analysis. The gene encoding the major structural protein, polyhedrin, was cloned and sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses using polyhedrin sequences revealed that O. ericae NPV (OeNPV) was a member of the Group II NPVs and was closely related to the BusuSNPV and OpSNPV cluster. Electron microscopic observations confirmed that OeNPV was a single nucleocapsid type virus (SNPV).