Field trial of a genetically improved baculovirus insecticide

Abstract

IMPROVEMENT of biological pesticides through genetic modification has enormous potential and the insect baculoviruses are particularly amenable to this approach1,2. A key aim of genetic engineering is to increase their speed of kill, primarily by the incorporation of genes which encode arthropod or bacterially derived insect-selective toxins3–11, insect hormones12,13 or enzymes14,15. We report here the first, to our knowledge, field trial of a genetically improved nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the alfalfa looper, Autogmpha californica (AcNPV) that expresses an insectselective toxin gene (AaHIT) derived from the venom of the scorpion Androclonus australisl6–18. Previous laboratory assays with the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, demonstrated a 25% reduction in time to death compared to the wild-type virus, but unaltered pathogenicity6 and host range19. In the field, the modified baculovirus killed faster, resulting in reduced crop damage and it appeared to reduce the secondary cycle of infection compared to the wild-type v

Induction of Antitumor Acquired Immunity by Baculovirus Autographa californica Multiple Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Infection in Mice

“…The ability of AcMNPV to infect insect cells has led to its use in multiple protein expression systems (5,16) and as plant insecticides (8,21). AcMNPV also infects a variety of mammalian cell types, with the exception of certain hematopoietic cell lines, although its genome does not replicate or integrate into mammalian chromosomes (9,11,13,17,23).…”

A tumor lysate is an effective vaccine antigen for the stimulation of CD4+T-cell function and subsequent induction of antitumor immunity mediated by CD8+T cells

“…This virus does not replicate in mammalian cells and has been widely used as a biopesticide; 36,37 thus, it is expected to be safe for humans. Moreover, unlike synthetic CpG oligonucleotides, mass production of the virus is easily achieved in an insect cell line, thereby ensuring cost effectiveness of such a vaccine.…”

Baculoviruses: Members of Integrated Pest Management Strategies

“…A recombinant virus containing this gene showed to be 40% faster in killing larvae than the wild type and a reduction of host feeding by 60% (Cory et al, 1994;Inceoglu et al, 2001). The site of action of this neurotoxic polypeptide is one insect sodium channel.…”