Use of primary fat body cultures for the study of baculovirus replication

Fat body cultures of Trichoplusia ni and Estigmene acrea were established for use in the study of the two baculoviruses Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) and Estigmene acrea granulosis virus (EaGV), respectively. Multiplication of AcNPV observed by phase and electron microscopy was correlated with an increase in viral specific proteins as determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Although EaGV morphogenesis was not observed in fat body cultures, an increase in specific proteins of this virus could be detected with the ELISA.