Diversity, distribution, and mobility of bro gene sequences in Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus.

Genetic differences between strains of a baculovirus are often limited to some restriction sites, short DNA deletions or absence of some nonessential genes. The recently coined bro gene family, represents a new major source of intraspecific variability. A comparison between two bro gene sets of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPV) shows that bro genes are distributed in three regions for the -T3 and -SC7 virus strains. In BmNPV T3, five bro genes are distributed in three genome locations, whereas the BmNPV SC7 strain possess a single bro copy in each region. In addition, each of the BmNPV SC7 bro genes belongs to one of the three subfamilies present in BmNPV T3. Analysis of bro copy sequences and of adjacent sequences suggests an active redistribution of sequences due to intraspecific recombination. The maintenance of one allele of each subfamily suggests that they play different roles in the viral cycle, and that they are essential.

Two key mutations in the host-range specificity domain of the p143 gene of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus are required to kill Bombyx mori larvae.

Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) does not replicate in Bombyx mori cells (Bm5, BmN). We have shown previously that when a short DNA sequence within AcMNPV ORF95, which encodes the viral helicase P143, is replaced with the colinear region of B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), AcMNPV gains the ability to replicate in Bm5 cells. To determine the mutational events in the p143 gene required to allow AcMNPV replication in B. mori cells, AcMNPV recombinants produced in Sf9 cells were screened in vivo in B. mori larvae, which are more permissive to baculovirus infection than B. mori cell lines. Eight combinations of mutations were tested and characterization of viral DNA extracted from dead larvae showed that amino acid changes at position 564 and 577 are required to kill B. mori larvae.

Extension of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus host range by interspecific replacement of a short DNA sequence in the p143 helicase gene.

Recombinant baculoviruses obtained by coinfection of insect cells with Autographa californica and Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (AcNPV and BmNPV, respectively) possess a wider in vitro host range than either parent virus. To localize the DNA sequences responsible for this species specificity, we used a two-step method of production and selection of recombinant viruses with altered specificity. Sf9 cells, which are permissive for AcNPV, were first cotransfected with genomic AcNPV DNA and a complete or incomplete set of BmNPV restriction fragments. AcNPV-BmNPV recombinants from the Sf9 supernatant were then selected on the basis of ability to replicate in B. mori Bm5 cells, which are not permissive for AcNPV. Cotransfection of AcNPV DNA with the 7.6-kbp BmNPV Sma I-C fragment was sufficient to produce recombinants able to infect both Sf9 and Bm5 cells. A series of cotransfections with subclones of this fragment defined a 79-nt sequence within the p143 helicase gene capable of extending AcNPV host range in vitro. In this 79-nt region, BmNPV and AcNPV differ at six positions, corresponding to four amino acid substitutions. The involvement of the 79-nt region in species specificity control was confirmed by cotransfecting AcNPV DNA and gel-purified polymerase chain reaction products derived from the BmNPV p143 gene. Replacement in the AcNPV genome of three AcNPV-specific amino acids by the three corresponding BmNPV-specific amino acids at positions 556, 564, and 577 of the p143 protein extends AcNPV host range to B. mori larvae.