Abstract
The complete genome of the Orgyia leucostigma nucleopolyhedrovirus (OrleNPV) isolated from the whitemarked tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma, Lymantridae: Lepidoptera) was sequenced, analyzed, and compared to other baculovirus genomes. The size of the OrleNPV genome was 156,179 base pairs (bp) and had a G+C content of 39%. The genome encoded 135 putative open reading frames (ORFs), which occupied 79% of the entire genome sequence. Three inhibitor of apoptosis (ORFs 16, 43 and 63), and five baculovirus repeated ORFs (bro-a through bro-e) were interspersed in the OrleNPV genome. In addition to six direct repeat (drs), a common feature shared among most baculoviruses, OrleNPV genome contained three homologous regions (hrs) that are located in the latter half of the genome. The presence of an F-protein homologue and the results from phylogenetic analyses placed OrleNPV in the genus Alphabaculovirus, group II. Overall, OrleNPV appears to be most closely related to group II alphabaculoviruses Ectropis obliqua (EcobNPV), Apocheima cinerarium (ApciNPV), Euproctis pseudoconspersa (EupsNPV), and Clanis bilineata (ClbiNPV).
Highlights
The family Baculoviridae consists of rod-shaped, enveloped, and occluded viruses mainly pathogenic to insects in the orders Lepidoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera [1]
The circular Orgyia leucostigma nucleopolyhedrovirus (OrleNPV) genome was 156,179 bp in size, making it the eighth largest baculovirus genome sequenced to date, with others ranging from 81,755 bp for Neodiprion lecontei NPV
The OrleNPV genome was compared to Autographa californica MNPV (AcMNPV), Chrysodeixis chalcites NPV (ChchNPV), Ectropis obliqua NPV (EcobNPV), and Orgyia pseudotsugata MNPV
Summary
The family Baculoviridae consists of rod-shaped, enveloped, and occluded viruses mainly pathogenic to insects in the orders Lepidoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera [1]. There has been continued interest in baculovirus genome studies mainly due to their application as biopesticides of major insect pests in forests and agriculture [2,3,4], and as vectors for protein expression and gene therapy [5,6]. Baculoviruses are classified into four genera based on host specificities and phylogenetic analysis; Alphabaculovirus (lepidopteran-specific nucleopolyhedroviruses or NPVs), Betabaculovirus (lepidopteran-specific granuloviruses or GVs), Gammabaculovirus (hymenopteran-specific NPVs), and Deltabaculovirus (dipteran-specific NPVs) [7]. The ODV phenotypes for granuloviruses (GV) (Betabaculovirus) are embedded in a small granulin protein matrix unlike those of nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPV) that are contained in a large polyhedrin matrix. To better understand the molecular basis of OrleNPV pathogenicity, viral DNA from a Nova Scotia isolate was purified, sequenced and compared with other baculoviruses using various phylogenetic tools.
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