Abstract
BackgroundBaculovirus comprise the largest group of insect viruses most studied worldwide, mainly because they efficiently kill agricutural insect pests. In this study, two recombinant baculoviruses containing the ScathL gene from Sarcophaga peregrina (vSynScathL), and the Keratinase gene from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus (vSynKerat), were constructed. and their insecticidal properties analysed against Spodoptera frugiperda larvae.ResultsBioassays of third-instar and neonate S. frugiperda larvae with vSynScathL and vSynKerat showed a decrease in the time needed to kill the infected insects when compared to the wild type virus. We have also shown that both recombinants were able to increase phenoloxidase activity in the hemolymph of S. frugiperda larvae. The expression of proteases in infected larvae resulted in destruction of internal tissues late in infection, which could be the reason for the increased viral speed of kill.ConclusionsBaculoviruses and their recombinant forms constitute viable alternatives to chemical insecticides. Recombinant baculoviruses containing protease genes can be added to the list of engineered baculoviruses with great potential to be used in integrated pest management programs.
Highlights
Baculovirus comprise the largest group of insect viruses most studied worldwide, mainly because they efficiently kill agricutural insect pests
Baculoviruses have enveloped rod-shaped virions and two distinct phenotypes in a single cycle of infection: the budded virus (BV), which is responsible for transmitting the virus from cell to cell and the occlusion-derived virus (ODV), which is occluded in a proteinaceus occlusion
The recombinant viruses were constructed by separetely co-tranfecting insect cells with the pSynScathL and pSynKerat DNA and DNA from the recombinant vSynVI-gal in BTI-Tn5B1-4 cells
Summary
Baculovirus comprise the largest group of insect viruses most studied worldwide, mainly because they efficiently kill agricutural insect pests. Baculovirus comprise the largest group of insect viruses most studied worldwide, mainly because they efficiently kill agricultural insect pests They are specific to one or a few related insect species [1], and have infectious particles protected in protein crystals which allows the formulation of biopesticides with easy application technology. Some of the most effective recombinant baculoviruses are the ones containing insect-specific neurotoxins genes [7,8,9] In susceptible hosts, these neurotoxins, expressed during virus infection, reduce damage to crops and decrease the time required to kill the insects from 25 to 50% when compared to larvae infected with the wild type virus [10,11,12,13,14]
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