Choristoneura murinana Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus: Comparative Biochemical and Biological Examination of Replication in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

SUMMARYAn in vitro replication system for the Choristoneura murinana nuclear polyhedrosis virus (CmMNPV) was established and used (i) to characterize this baculovirus biochemically; (ii) to study the cytoplasmic spindle-shaped inclusions (CSIs) associated with CmMNPV replication; and (iii) to compare the cytopathic changes during CmMNPV replication in vivo and in vitro as well as the properties of virions, polyhedra and CSIs from both systems. It was shown that the processes occurring during, and the products of, CmMNPV replication in vitro closely resemble those in vivo, i.e. in larval hosts. Genome analysis by restriction endonucleases, as well as infectivity studies with polyhedra from both sources did not reveal major differences between virus produced in vivo and that produced in vitro. The CSIs were found exclusively in the cytoplasm of infected cells and were shown to consist of a single protein of Mr 50000. Although the biological significance of these spindles, which are produced in large quantities, is not known, they do not seem to be of importance for the infectivity of this baculovirus in vivo.

Genome Sequence of an Alphabaculovirus Isolated from Choristoneura murinana

“…The European fir budworm Choristoneura murinana (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) is infected by a nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) (ChmuNPV) ( 1 ). ChmuNPV has a relatively wide host range and infects several additional tortricids, including the codling moth, Cydia pomonella , and at least one noctuid, Mamestra brassicae .…”

“…ChmuNPV has a relatively wide host range and infects several additional tortricids, including the codling moth, Cydia pomonella , and at least one noctuid, Mamestra brassicae . During infection, it produces spindle-shaped cytoplasmic occlusions ( 1 ), possibly derived from gp37 (ac64) ( 2 ). It was characterized by restriction endonuclease digestion and shown to be distinct from the NPVs of Choristoneura occidentalis (ChocNPV) and Choristoneura fumiferana (CfMNPV) (western and eastern spruce budworms, respectively) ( 3 ).…”

Cryptophlebia peltastica Nucleopolyhedrovirus Is Highly Infectious to Codling Moth Larvae and Cells

“…Recently, a novel baculovirus, the Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV) (genus Alphabaculovirus), was isolated from larvae of Cryptophlebia peltastica (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae, Meyrick 1921), an agricultural pest of litchis and macadamias in South Africa (20). The only other tortricid alphabaculovirus reported to be infectious to C. pomonella larvae, Choristoneura murinana nucleopolyhedrovirus (ChmuNPV) (21), has much lower virulence than CpGV (23).…”

Physical mapping of buzura suppressaria nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome

“…Liu etal. genome was extracted from virions released by alkali from polyhedral inclusion bodies using the method of Naser et al [11]. The purified DNA was hydrolysed with Barn HI, Bgl I, Bgl II, Hin dlII, Kpn I, and Pst I (Promega).…”