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Published on: February 22, 2018
The impact of host developmental status on baculovirus replication
1Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2BB, United Kingdom.
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
|October 24, 1998
Summary
Infection timing and dose significantly impact baculovirus progeny yield. High doses early in the insect
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Baculovirus progeny occlusion body yield is crucial for viral spread.
- Blocking host development is a proposed mechanism influencing viral yield.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) yield, infection dose, and host developmental stage.
- To determine optimal infection parameters for maximizing progeny virus production.
Main Methods:
- Infecting final instar Heliothis virescens larvae with AcMNPV at varying times post-ecdysis and doses.
- Measuring occlusion body yield and analyzing host developmental arrest.
- Quantifying ecdysteroid titers in infected larvae.
Main Results:
- Occlusion body yield is inversely dependent on the time of infection within the instar; earlier infections yield more virus.
- High infection doses increase the likelihood of host developmental arrest and higher viral yields.
- Insects with completely arrested development show low ecdysteroid levels, while partially arrested insects have high levels.
Conclusions:
- Optimal baculovirus progeny yield is achieved through high-dose infections early in the host's final instar.
- The baculovirus ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase gene likely functions to delay host development, thereby increasing viral yield.
- Host developmental status is a key determinant of baculovirus replication efficiency.
