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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Biological Control of Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151823
Title: DEMONSTRATION OF THE PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF FLUORESCENT PROTEINS IN BACULOVIRUSES EXPOSED TO ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT INACTIVATION

Author
item McIntosh, Arthur
item Grasela, James
item LUA, LINDA - UNIV OF QUEENSLAND
item BRAUNAGEL, SHARON - TEXAS A&M UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/2004
Publication Date: 10/5/2004
Citation: Mcintosh, A.H., Grasela, J.J., Lua, L., Braunagel, S.C. 2004. Demonstration of the protective effects of fluorescent proteins in baculoviruses exposed to ultraviolet light inactivation. Journal of Insect Science 4:31.

Interpretive Summary: Microbial agents such as insect viruses, fungi and bacteria can be used as biological control agents for the control of agriculturally important insect pests. However, they all suffer from a major limitation, that is, they are readily inactivated on the plant surfaces by ultraviolet light. In the present study, we were able to genetically modify an insect virus so that it can resist ultraviolet light inactivation. This achievement is significant because it will allow for increased persistence of the virus in the field and thus better control of the target insect pests. This information will be of value to farmers for better control of agricultural insect pests because of increased persistence of the virus in the field and the fusion methodology will be of importance to research scientists.

Technical Abstract: AcMNPV recombinants, namely AcRFP produced by fusion of the red fluorescent protein (RFP) gene and the polyhedrin gene, and a recombinant (pAcUW21-23GFP) carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) in its viral envelope were evaluated for their resistance to inactivation by ultraviolet light (UV-B). AcRFP recombinants produced incomplete polyhedra with low infectivity for Trichoplusia ni larvae, whereas AcuW21-23GFP produced normal polyhedra with high infectivity. Electron microscopy of AcRFP CL14 showed the incorporation of very few viral particles into polyhedrin matrix protein material. The LC50 for AcuW21-23GFP was 0.10 OB/mm**2, whereas the LC50 values for several AcRFP recombinants ranged from 20 OB/mm**2 to 329 OB/mm**2. When both the RFP and GFP recombinants were exposed to UV-B light results obtained support the conclusion that these fluorescent proteins afford some protection against the damaging effects of UV-B.