Genomic sequence analysis of the Illinois strain of the Agrotis ipsilon multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus

The Agrotis ipsilon multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgipMNPV) is a group II nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) from the black cutworm, A. ipsilon, with potential as a biopesticide to control infestations of cutworm larvae. The genome of the Illinois strain of AgipMNPV was completely sequenced. The AgipMNPV genome was 155,122 nt in size and contained 163 open reading frames (ORFs), including 61 ORFs found among all lepidopteran baculoviruses sequenced to date. Phylogenetic inference placed AgipMNPV in a clade with group II NPVs isolated from larvae of Agrotis and Spodoptera species. Though closely related to the Agrotis segetum NPV (AgseNPV), AgipMNPV was found to be missing 15 ORFs present in the AgseNPV genome sequence, including two of the three AgseNPV enhancin genes. Remarkably few polymorphisms were identified in the AgipMNPV sequence even though an uncloned field isolate of this virus was sequenced. A genotype characterized by a 128-bp deletion in the ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase gene (egt) was identified in the AgipMNPV field isolate and among clonal isolates of AgipMNPV. The deletion in egt was not associated with differences in budded virus or occluded virus production among AgipMNPV clones in cell culture.