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Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus ORF56 encodes an occlusion-derived virus protein and is not essential for budded

Hai-Jun Xu1, Zhang-Nv Yang1, Jin-Fang Zhao1

  • 1Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, PR China.

The Journal of General Virology
|April 19, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus ORF56 (Bm56) protein is a structural component of nucleocapsids. While not essential for in vitro budded virus production, Bm56 facilitates efficient in vivo virus production and occlusion body formation.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Insect Pathology

Background:

  • Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus ORF56 (Bm56) is a highly conserved baculovirus core gene.
  • Bm56 transcripts and protein are detected post-infection, with the protein being a structural component of the nucleocapsid.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Bm56 in Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus replication.
  • To determine the function of Bm56 in virus production and infectivity.

Main Methods:

  • Construction of a Bm56-knockout Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus bacmid using homologous recombination.
  • Analysis of budded virus production, occlusion body morphogenesis, and larval infectivity through bioassays.
  • Western blot and confocal microscopy were used to characterize Bm56 expression and localization.

Main Results:

  • Bm56 deletion did not affect budded virus production in cultured cells.
  • Occlusion body morphogenesis was impaired in Bm56-knockout viruses.
  • Larval bioassays showed no reduction in infectivity but a significant increase in the 50% lethal time, indicating slower virus production in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • Bm56 plays a crucial role in efficient in vivo virus production and occlusion body formation in Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus.
  • Bm56 is not essential for budded virus production in vitro but facilitates faster viral replication and pathogenesis in vivo.

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