Generation of Recombinant Baculovirus DNA in E.coli Using a Baculovirus Shuttle Vector

Baculovirus vectors are now widely used to direct the expression of heterologous genes in cultured insect cells and insect larvae. In most cases, heterologous genes placed under transcriptional control of the polyhedrm promoter of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) are abundantly expressed during the late stages of infection. The recombinant proteins are usually soluble and functionally similar to their authentic counterparts (l-7). In the following sections, recent advances in the development of baculovtrus vectors, particularly the baculovn-us shuttle vector system, will be described.