Development of a recombinant baculovirus expressing an insect-selective neurotoxin: potential for pest control

Biotechnology (N Y). 1991 Sep;9(9):848-52. doi: 10.1038/nbt0991-848.

Abstract

Recombinant nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPVs) expressing insect-selective toxins, hormones, or enzymes could enhance their insecticidal properties. We have constructed a recombinant, polyhedrin-positive Autographa californica NPV (AcNPV) that is orally infectious and expresses an insect-selective toxin (AaIT), isolated from the scorpion Androctonus australis, under the control of the p10 promoter. Bioassays with the recombinant baculovirus on 2nd instar larvae of Heliothis virescens demonstrated a significant decrease in the time to kill (LT50 88.0 hours) compared to wild-type AcNPV (LT50 125 hours). Production of AaIT was confirmed by western blot analysis of larval hemolymph from infected H. virescens, and bioassays with larvae of Sarcophaga falculata.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Baculoviridae / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Immunoblotting
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Lepidoptera / drug effects*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurotoxins*
  • Oligonucleotide Probes
  • Pest Control / methods*
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Restriction Mapping
  • Scorpion Venoms / genetics*
  • Scorpion Venoms / isolation & purification
  • Scorpion Venoms / pharmacology
  • Transfection*

Substances

  • Neurotoxins
  • Oligonucleotide Probes
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Scorpion Venoms