Occluded and nonoccluded nuclear polyhedrosis virus grown in Trichoplusia ni: comparative neutralization comparative infectivity, and in vitro growth studies.

Nuclear polyhedrosis virus infections of lepidopteran cells often result in the production of both occluded and nonoccluded virus. The characterization of these two different forms has been the subject of several papers. We have divided the nonoccluded virus (NOV) category further into plasma membrane-budded non-occluded virus (PMB-NOV), intracellular NOV, and hemolymph-derived NOV, and have done additional studies investigating the differences between these nonoccluded forms and the alkali-liberated forms from occlusions of the nuclear polyhedrosis viruses of Autographa californica and Rachiplusa ou. The methods used to discern differences and similarities among the forms were serological, biochemical, and visual, all related to their biological acitivity. Neutralization studies revealed that alkali-liberated virus and PMB-NOV had both similar and different antigens. Antisera raised against alkali-liberated virus from occlusions neutralized the alkali-liberated form of the virus, but did not neutralize the intracellular or extracellular nonoccluded forms. Antisera raised against the TN-368-13 PMB-NOV, however, neutralized the alkali-liberated forms as well as all forms of the NOV. Adsorption of this antisera with alkali-liberated virus did not diminish the neutralization titer against the nonoccluded forms, thus confirming the antigenic differences between the alkali-liberated and nonoccluded forms of the virus. Physical-infectious particle ratio calculations indicated that the PMB-NOV of Autographa californica are about 1,900-fold more infectious than the single-nucleocapsid-per-envelope alkali-liberated particles and about 1,700-fold more infectious than the multiple-nucleocapsid-per-envelope particles, as assayed in vitro. In addition, a study of viral growth kinetics monitored concurrently with the appearance of polyhedra showed that PMB-NOV production is shut down with the onset of polyhedron formation.     

Replication of a Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus in a Continuous Cell Culture of Spodoptera frugiperda: Purification, Assay of Infectivity, and Growth Characteristics of the Virus

Nonoccluded virus, polyhedra, and occluded virus were purified from a continuous cell culture of Spodopera frugiperda infected with nuclear polyhedrosis virus. The optimal temperature for the replication and lateral transmission of infectivity for the nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPV) in cell culture was 27 C. End-point dilution and plaque assay procedures for the measurement of infectivity are described and compared. Dose-response data demonstrated that a single particle could initiate an infection, and the validity of the relationship of 0.7 PFU per mean tissue culture infective dose (TCID(5 0)) further substantiated the accuracy of these infectivity assays. Particle-infectious unit calculations gave a ratio of 62 to 310 nonoccluded virus particles TCID(5 0). Growth cycle and lateral transmission experiments indicated that infectious material was released from cells 12 h postinfection (p.i.) and approached a maximal titer 4 days p.i. The number of polyhedra, nonoccluded virions, and TCID(5 0) produced per cell was also presented. Typical yields of NPV produced per liter flask suggested that insect cell culture systems represent a feasible means by which the replication of these viruses could be investigated.     

Characterization of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus DNAs

The nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNAs characterized and compared in this study consist of the singly-enveloped nucleocapsids (SNPV) of Trichoplusia ni and the bundles of nucleocapsids common to a single envelope (MNPV) from Spodoptera frugiperda and Rachiplusia ou. The SNPV and MNPV DNAs are very similar in hydrodynamic properties and molecular weights. In addition, the NPV DNAs are similar in size to those extracted from the granulosis viruses that infect T. ni and S. frugiperda. As isolated from purified virus or directly from occluded virus, the nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNAs consist of a mixture of about 20 to 30% double-stranded covalently closed molecules and approximately 60% relaxed circles, with less than 10% in linear duplex form. The molecular weights of all nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNAs as compared in this study are slightly smaller than those of T4 bacteriophage DNA and perhaps slightly smaller than those of the granulosis virus DNAs. The best estimates of these molecular weights by neutral sucrose sedimentation for the nuclear polyhedrosis viruses range from 90 to 100 x 10(6) relative to a size of 108 x 10(6) for T4 DNA. The base compositions of the nuclear polyhedrosis viruses that infect T. ni and S. frugiperda are compared with the respective insect host DNAs.     

Immunoradiometric assay for baculovirus enveloped nucleocapsids and polyhedrin

A solid-phase microtiter immunoradiometric assay was developed for Autographa californica enveloped nucleocapsids purified from polyhedra, nonoccluded virus from cell culture, and purified polyhedrin. Comparative studies with antigens and antisera from each source demonstrate that micro-solid-phase immunoradiometric assay was specific within the range of 10–200 ng for the enveloped nucleocapsids and from 200 pg to 200 ng for polyhedrin. A preliminary study also demonstrated the ability to use this assay to detect specific antiviral antibodies.     

Characterization of an extremely basic protein derived from granulosis virus nucleocapsids

Nucleocapsids were isolated from purified enveloped nucleocapsids of Plodia interpunctella granulosis virus by treatment with Nonidet P-40. When analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, the nucleocapsids consisted of eight polypeptides. One of these, a major component with a molecular weight of 12,500 (VP12), was selectively extracted from the nucleocapsids with 0.25 M sulfuric acid. Its electrophoretic mobility on acetic acid-urea gels was intermediate to that of cellular histones and protamine. Amino acid analysis showed that 39% of the amino acid residues of VP12 were basic: 27% were arginine and 12% were histidine. The remaining residues consisted primarily of serine, valine, and isoleucine. Proteins of similar arginine content also were extracted from the granulosis virus of Pieris rapae and from the nuclear polyhedrosis viruses of Spodoptera frugiperda and Autographa californica. The basic polypeptide appeared to be virus specific because it was found in nucleocapsids and virus-infected cells but not in uninfected cells. VP12 was not present in polypeptide profiles of granulosis virus capsids, indicating that it was an internal or core protein of the nucleocapsids. Electron microscopic observations suggested that the basic protein was associated with the viral DNA in the form of a DNA-protein complex.     

Effect of aluminum chloride and zinc sulfate on Autographa california nuclear polyhedrosis virus (ACNPV) replication in cell culture

When IPL-SF-21AE III continuous insect cell line was grown and maintained in IPL-41 insect cell culture medium supplemented with 16 microM of AlCl3 or 0.24 microM of ZnSO4 . 7H2O, or both metallic salts, and then infected with Autographa california nuclear polyhedrosis virus, virus replication was increased significantly. The yield of polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB) was enhanced up to 121%. Synthesis of cell-free nonoccluded virus was increased to 365% when infectivity was assayed by the plaque method. Newly applied electron microscopic quantitation and stereological techniques also revealed a significant increase in virus particles (VP) and in amount and size of PIB as well as number of VP per PIB.     

A nuclear polyhedrosis virus ofHyphantria cunea replicatesin vitro

Summary A nuclear polyhedrosis virus ofHyphantria cunea replicated successfully in theTrichoplusia ni cell line. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the viral DNA obtained from infected cell culture showed the same general homogeneity as that from virus isolated from diseased host larvae. Electron microscopic observations showed that the occluded virus from cell culture consists of rod-like nucleocapsids (31×320 nm) enveloped in aggregates and embedded in polyhedral inclusion bodies from 0.6 to 2.5 m in diameter.     

Virus particle packaging in baculovirus and cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus inclusion bodies

The structure of the inclusion bodies (IBs) of three multiply enveloped nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (MNPVs), one singly enveloped NPV (SNPV), two granulosis viruses (GVs) and one cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV) were compared. A method was devised to calculate the numbers of virus particles and nucleocapsids in IBs using data from light microscopy and thin sections. The three MNPVs, from Agrotis segetum (English and Polish virus isolates) and Mamestra brassicae had similar concentrations of virus particles ranging from 17.3 to 19.6 per μm³ of IB. Plusia gamma SNPV had a higher density of 59.6 virus particles per μm³ of IB, which partly compensated for its having smaller IBs (mean volume 0.65 μm³) than the MNPVs (2.60–9.71 μm³). The English A. segetum MNPV isolate had the most nucleocapsids in each virus particle (mean, 4.04) and the largest IBs (mean volume, 9.71 μm³), giving 674 nucleocapsids per IB on average. The GVs, from A. segetum and Pieris brassicae, mainly contained one nucleocapsid per IB. P. gamma CPV IBs had a much higher density of virus particles than the baculoviruses (260 per μm³ compared with 17–60 per μm³). These data are discussed in relation to the biological properties of these viruses, and possible adaptational advantages of alternative IB designs are considered.     

Quantification of two viruses in technical preparations of Orgyia pseudotsugata baculovirus by means of buoyant density centrifugation of viral deoxyribonucleic acid.

A reliable method was developed for the quantitative determination of two nuclear polyhcdrosis viruses present in commercially prepared viral insecticides used against Orgyia pseudotsugata. Deoxyribonucleic acids, from nuclear polyhedrosis bundle virus and nuclear polyhedrosis single-rod virus, were separated on CsCl gradients according to their respective buoyant densities, 1.715 and 1.704 g/ml. The proportions of the two viruses were quantified by measuring the relative absorbance at 254 nm of their deoxyribonucleic acid peaks.     

Quantification of two viruses in technical preparations of Orgyia pseudotsugata baculovirus by means of buoyant density centrifugation of viral deoxyribonucleic acid.

A reliable method was developed for the quantitative determination of two nuclear polyhcdrosis viruses present in commercially prepared viral insecticides used against Orgyia pseudotsugata. Deoxyribonucleic acids, from nuclear polyhedrosis bundle virus and nuclear polyhedrosis single-rod virus, were separated on CsCl gradients according to their respective buoyant densities, 1.715 and 1.704 g/ml. The proportions of the two viruses were quantified by measuring the relative absorbance at 254 nm of their deoxyribonucleic acid peaks.     

Purification and properties of the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus liberated from polyhedra by dissolution with silkworm gut juice

Occluded virions of the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus were efficiently liberated from polyhedra by dissolution with the silkworm gut juice. The liberated virions were purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and the bands of enveloped virions were observed in the gradients. There was no functional difference between the gut juice-liberated and the carbonate-liberated virions. Disruption of enveloped virions by the gut juice was observed, but the formation of nucleocapsids from the degradation of the occluded virions was not detected. High yields of the enveloped virions from the polyhedra dissolved by the gut juice was obtained by separating the virions through sucrose density gradient centrifugation immediately after the dissolution of the polyhedra. Many factors, e.g., rearing seasons, silkworm strains, and rearing conditions, affect the polyhedra-dissolving property of the larval gut juice.     

The movement and invasion of an insect baculovirus in tracheal cells of the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta

The hypertrophy nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta, causes a unique gradient of infected cells to form on the trachea. The movement and invasion of the virus apparently were not through adjacent intercellular membranes. The enveloped viruses emerged from the initially infected cell into an area between the cell plasma membrane and basal lamina, and then entered the uninfected tracheal cell either by lateral attachment and fusion of the viral envelope and the plasma membrane or by viropexis. The two methods of viral invasion into the cell suggest the presence of at least two phenotypically different enveloped viruses. Viropexis was initiated with an alignment of the peplomer spikes with regularly spaced, short radial striations on the inner coat of the plasma membrane. At a late state in viropexis, the viral envelope fused with the vacuole membrane, and an opening developed below the site of membrane fusion through which the nucleocapsid might enter the cytoplasm. Some nucleocapsids in membrane-lined vesicles resulting from viropexis appeared to be in a state of dissolution. Naked nucleocapsids were found along the nuclear envelope and within the nucleoplasm. No uncoating of the nucleocapsids was observed at the nucleopores, but uncoating seemed to occur in the nucleoplasm. Nucleocapsids were also found in the cytoplasm of nonsusceptible fat body cells, in which virus replication was not observed.     

Strain selection during serial passage of Trichoplusia in nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

Two strains of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of Trichoplusia ni were isolated on the basis of plaque morphology. They are designated as MP (having greater than 30 polyhedra per nucleus) and FP (having fewer than 10 polyhedra per nucleus). Serial, undiluted passage of plaque, purified MP nonoccluded. Virus (NOV) in tissue culture led to the production of the FP phenotype detectable at passage 9. With continued serial, undiluted passage, FP became the predominant strain. Comparative growth curves showed that FP NOV are released faster than MP NOV. MP morphology was not observed after 14 serial, undiluted passages of plaque-purified FP. By the plaque neutralization assay, NOV from both strains of virus was neutralized by the homologus and heterologous antisera. The FP phenotype was observed when FP virus was grown in culture at 17, 22, and 27 C. Hence, the FP phenotype was not considered to be the result of temperature-inhibited crystallization of polyhedrin under standard tissue culture conditions. The NOV of both strains killed insects when injected directly into the hemocoele of T. ni larvae. Only MP inclusion bodies were virulent per os. The FP inclusion bodies fed to cabbage looper larvae did not kill, and no infectious agent could be detected in the hemolymph. Electron micrographs of MP polyhedra showed bundles of nucleocapsids of normal length within the polyhedra, whereas FP polyhedra contained heterogeneous, electron-dense material, which could account for their lack of pathogenicity.     

Virus envelope acquisition of nuclear polyhedrosis virus in vitro.

There have been several reports concerned with the replication and morphogenesis of insect baculoviruses during the past decade [1--7]. While there is general agreement as to the assembly of the virus on the basis of electron microscopic studies, there are still questions regarding the details of the replicative mechanisms, such as the acquisition of the virus envelope. Three possible ways have been proposed to describe envelope formation of nuclear polyhedrosis virus: (i) acquisition of budding through the nuclear membrane; (ii) acquisition of budding through the plasma membrane, and (iii) de novo formation within the nucleus. This paper briefly describes the observations made on the acquisition of a virus envelope by the cotton bollworm virus (Heliothis armigera), a nuclear polyhedrosis virus, in primary hemocyte cultures. Swirling hair-like clusters, hitherto unreported, were observed in association with virogenic stroma and nucleocapsids in the nuclei of infected cells. It is postulated that the formation of the hair-like structure may be involved in the process of envelopment of the virus.     

Development of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus in midgut cells and penetration of the virus into the hemocoel of the armyworm,Pseudaletia unipuncta

The development of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) in larval midgut cells of the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta, is similar to that of other NPV. In the nucleus, the envelopes around the nucleocapsids seem to be derived de novo or from the inner layer of the nuclear envelope wich forms cisternae, blebs, or infoldings. The nucleocapsids are also enveloped by synhymenosis during passage through the nuclear membrane, the cell membrane, or the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Both enveloped and unenveloped nucleocapsids may enter the cytoplasm through the nuclear pore or budding through the nuclear membrane. From the cytoplasm the virions may enter the hemocoel through the basal cell and basement membranes or through the endoplasmic reticulum, intercellular space, and the basement membrane.     

Infectivity and mode of action of Baculoviruses

The genus Baculovirus contains three subgroups of viral types: (1) nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPVs), (2) granulosis viruses (GVs), and (3) nonoccluded baculoviruses. While little information is available for viruses from the third subgroup, several aspects of the infectivity and mode of action of NPVs and GVs have been studied. The most common route of entry of a virus into an insect host is per os, and both virus types enter midgut cells (primary site of infection) by membrane fusion. However, two distinct mechanisms of virus uncoating occur among the baculoviruses: NPVs uncoat within the nucleus, whereas GVs uncoat at the nuclear pore complex. Baculoviruses of subgroup 3 appear to uncoat by either mechanism. In addition to replicating within the nucleus, NPV inoculum virus may pass through the intestinal epithelium immediately after ingestion, thereby establishing a systemic infection of the hemocoel prior to virus replication in midgut cells. The GVs do not appear to pass through midgut cells as rapidly as NPVs and in general, the developmental cycle of GVs is longer than that of NPVs. NPVs have been grown in cell culture while GVs have not.     

Characterization of a Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Isolated from Diseased Gonometa podocarpi (Lepidoptera:Lasiocampidae)

Gonometa podocarpi is an important pest of several species of pine in East Africa, and large numbers of trees in plantations in Kenya were partially or completely defoliated by the larval stage of this insect. After the infestation in the Mt. Elgon region, large numbers of dead and moribund larvae were found on the ground. Examination of extracts of these larvae demonstrated the presence of an occluded virus. Electron microscopy of purified sectioned polyhedra demonstrated the presence of virus particles containing from 1 to 12 nucleocapsids. Purification of virus particles from polyhedra was accomplished by using alkali solubilization and sucrose gradient centrifugation. Virus particles contained 15 proteins as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Detergent solubilization of the virus particles released polyhedra containing one major structural protein. Electron microscopy of purified virus particles and nucleocapsids demonstrated them to be similar in structure to previously recorded nuclear polyhedrosis viruses. The viral deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted and spread for electron microscopy and was determined to have a size of approximately 80 × 10⁶ daltons.     

Production of polyhedrin monoclonal antibodies for distinguishing two Orgyia pseudotsugata baculoviruses.

Monoclonal antibodies were produced to polyhedrins from Orgyia pseudotsugata multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) and single-capsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpSNPV). Although the polyhedrins are closely related, antibodies were selected which allowed differentiation between the two viruses. In an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, purified OpMNPV and OpSNPV polyhedrins could be detected by specific monoclonal antibodies at concentrations as low as 2 and 5 ng/ml, respectively. The antibodies were also capable of identifying their homologous polyhedrin in extracts of infected insects. These antibodies would be useful for monitoring production of the viral insecticide, TM Biocontrol-1, which by license must contain only OpMNPV, and to confirm that insect mortality after aerial spraying with this insecticide is attributable to OpMNPV infection.     

High-level expression of human acidic fibroblast growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) using recombinant baculovirus

A hybrid of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus and Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus, which is infectious to both Spodoptera frugiperda and Bombyx mori, was prepared in our previous study. Two recombinant hybrid baculoviruses, carrying cDNAs of human acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, respectively, were successfully constructed in this study, for the large-scale production of human aFGF and bFGF using silkworm as host. These recombinant viruses were used to inoculate silkworm larvae. After the infection, the recombinant proteins were not found in the hemolymph. Such nonsecretion from cells has also been observed in the established insect cell lines, Sf21 and Tn-5. Tissue distribution analysis indicated that the expressed products were mainly located in fat body and the production of the recombinant aFGF and bFGF was maximal at around 80 h postinfection. Therefore, silkworm larvae infected with recombinant viruses were dissected and fat bodies were collected for the purification of recombinant aFGF and bFGF. The expression levels in both cases were estimated to be as high as approximately 600-700 microg per larva. Furthermore, the recombinant proteins were characterized and their biological activities were evaluated by in vitro bioassay using cell culture.     

In Vitro Survey of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Interaction with Nontarget Vertebrate Host Cells

Thirty-five nontarget host cell lines, 23 of human and 12 of nonhuman vertebrate origin, were exposed to Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus preparations derived from four different sources: polyhedra, hemolymph, cell culture medium, and cultured cells. The virus and cells were incubated together at two different temperatures, 28 or 37°C, for four different lengths of time, 16, 40, 64, or 168 h, and the cells were assayed for the presence of virus by a peroxidase-antiperoxidase detection method. The estimated sensitivity of the assay as routinely conducted was 0.98 ng of alkali-liberated viral protein and 1.95 ng of budded viral protein per mm². No evidence of frank replication was obtained in any of the 35 cell lines tested, although virus uptake appeared to be quite common. Virus uptake was confirmed in some cases by electron microscopy. The degree of virus uptake appeared to be dependent on cell type, time and temperature of incubation, and viral phenotype. Virus purified from polyhedra was generally taken up more readily than were the other forms tested.