Isolation of virally-infected insect cells from a population containing infected and uninfected cells

A method was developed that can be used to isolate virally-infected insect cells from a mixed population containing infected and uninfected cells. Specifically, Spodoptera frugiperda Sf-9 cells infected with the Autographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus were treated with a primary antibody specific for the gp64 protein present on the surface of virally-infected cells and a secondary antibody labeled with a fluorochrome. The resulting labeled cells were isolated by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting.