Effect of baculovirus on selected vertebrate cells

Risk assessment of viral pesticides is required by federal statute. Subdivision M of the Pesticide Testing Guidelines includes mammalian cell culture studies for viral agents. Using these tests we have demonstrated baculovirus toxicity to human fibroblast and lung cells, as well as monkey kidney cells. However, virus was not toxic to toad cells. Furthermore, toxicity was associated with the virus particle and was not removed by dialysis of the preparation, gradient purification or psoralen inactivation of the virus. However, heat-inactivated virus was not toxic.